“How many times did you worship at the church before you went on staff? Once, twice?” asked a friend the other day.
“Zero,” I replied.
“Huh?”
“It’s a bit complicated, but let me try and explain how United Methodist churches work…”
I’ve had the above conversation many times recently. Most of my friends from high school and college are members of Presbyterian, Baptist, or non-denominational churches. Explaining how a pastor ends up at a church in those traditions is similar to how anyone else in America ends up at a job—you’re open for a position, you find openings at churches you’d like to serve, you interview and send in reference materials, a group at the church gives you an offer, and you decide whether to accept or keep looking.
To understand how pastors end up at United Methodist churches, forget all of that.
Churches in the UMC receive new pastors through a system called itinerancy. Itinerancy is a system of church organization in which ministers are sent to local churches by a Bishop and are regularly rotated from one to another. Ministers and Bishops are all part of a geographically organized conference (mine is North GA), which is broken down further into districts. The conference limits where a Bishop can appoint each pastor to serve.
The appointments aren’t random—every year the Bishop and District Superintendents consult with those like me seeking a pastoral appointment and with each church in the conference. Through much prayer and conferencing, they then seek to determine where to send pastors so that the UMC can best live out its mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The gifts of the pastor, his or her family/life situation, the needs of a local church, the needs of the denomination, and many other factors are involved in the process.
Typically, pastors find out where they’re sent via a phone call in the spring. Some are sent far away, some are sent to a church nearby, and some are asked to stay where they are. Those moving begin to envision life and ministry at a church they’ve never visited. One week in June, all the pastors who have been appointed to new churches move and begin ministry at their new churches. All appointments are made for only a year at a time. However, the average length of a UM pastor is around four years. There is also a trend towards longer appointments. You can read more about the current itinerant system here.
Many Methodist Churches in Britain, Central America, and all over the world continue to use this system that has a historical basis from Methodism’s earliest days.
The UMC website sums up the history well. “John Wesley began the itinerant system during his work in England. Wesley developed circuits for his assistants to travel, each of which included a large number of appointments. Preachers visited these appointments about once a month and changed circuits from year to year, depending on the current circumstances.”
On American soil, itinerancy adapted to the conditions at hand. Traveling preachers became known as circuit riders as they rode from one outpost to another helping organize, lead, and perform the sacraments for groups of Christians across the frontier. This system enabled Methodist preachers to reach new settlements quickly. The rapid growth of Methodism throughout the 18th and 19th centuries in America can be partly attributed to this form of organization.
“We have found by long and consistent experience that a frequent exchange of preachers is best. This preacher has one talent, that another; no one whom I ever yet knew has all the talents which are needful for beginning, continuing, and perfecting the work of grace in a whole congregation.” – John Wesley
If you are still reading at this point and you’re not a Methodist, you are probably thinking, “What a crazy system!”
If you are a Methodist congregant, you are probably thinking, “I’ve seen a lot of itinerant preachers come and go. I’ve seen some crazy ones and many gifted ones. I’m just thankful that we’ve never had a time without a pastor and that this church isn’t dependent on one person.”
If you are a Methodist pastor, perhaps like me you are thinking, “Lord, this itinerant system is counter to a culture that tells us to do what we want, look out for ourselves, and never submit to authorities. I’ve placed myself in the hands of your church—in its beauty and brokenness. I’m trusting that the Holy Spirit is present in the appointment process and that you are actively working all things together for good. Give me strength, peace, joy, and a renewed love for you and your people as I travel to a new place.”
In the future I hope to write about the strengths and weaknesses of the itinerant system. For non-Methodists, what do you think about this system? For Methodists, how have you found living within this system?
Jonathan – this was a great read! Our history is certainly different from others’, and it makes it difficult to explain to non-UMs, even several who are in the UMC. You’re presenting a side of the history that it’s good for me to remember – how the itineracy has stayed the same in many ways.
In a few weeks, I’m beginning a series that explores how the itineracy has evolved. I’m actually proposing that we need to make some serious changes that will perhaps be closer to its original intent. Would love to have more discussion with you about it.
Teddy, I’d love to be in conversation about it. I had great fear of itinerancy for many years due to “war stories” I heard growing up. Over time, I’ve come to see its strengths and have found myself willing to submit to it. However, I am a believer that in twenty years it will look much different than today for a variety of reasons. Would love to be in conversation about it.
A book I had recommended to me a while back is “Send Me? by Donald Messer (Link here), former president of Iliff. It has essays critiquing itinerancy in its current form, visions for its future, and words from Methodists around the globe who no longer practice the system. I’ve only flipped through it but it has some interesting anecdotes — the number of churches and members in Korean Methodism nearly doubled in the twelve years after they abolished the appointment system.
Very helpful, Jonathan. Thanks! I’ve heard lots of “war stories,” along with lots of affirmations that “we don’t do it that way anymore.” I’ll have to check out that book.
I’ve been thinking all day about how this is one structural area of the church that has received very little contemporary theological reflection.
As young people in ministry, there is a great opportunity to begin thinking creatively about how the appointment system would be best structured in the future for the church’s mission. Perhaps your blog series can delve into that more.
The big questions right off the top of my head are, “Is technology utilized in any way? Is there a portable electronic file that has each pastor’s history, gifts, etc for DS’s to easily look at? Considering some conferences/jurisdictions have more resources and people going into ministry than others, how can the appointment system take this into account (ie Southeast Jurisdiction and Western Jurisdiction) in a way that doesn’t lead to geographic competition?”
Recently I have been researching the connection between John Wesley and (Jacob Arminius). That period (16-17th century) is fascinating: Keswick, Faith mission and leading up to a great Irish reformation (for lack of better term). William Irvine and Eddy Cooney were inspired to go in the way wherein I found Jesus and know the teaching of the Holy Spirit of our Father God and His only begotten son. Really, I have been concerned to know if I would find the same Spirit in the United Methodist congregations here. Sincerely, William
Interesting Jonathan, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by Matt! Hope you’re doing well.
Any information as to whether its possible for a British Methodist to get stationed to a umc appointment
Gareth,
Yes it is possible through a ministerial exchange program like this one from the World Methodist Council:
http://worldmethodistcouncil.org/whatwedo/ministerial-exchange-program/
I actually have a friend from the USA headed to Australia for a few months this fall!
Wow, I’ve never really looked to deeply into the itinerant system. It honestly sounds like a great way for ministry to be conducted. It keeps the pastors on their toes which helps keep them from getting to comfortable at a particular church and possible losing focus on what the mission is.
Jason — those are great benefits of the system. Of course, there are challenges in figuring out how to make the system work well, but every church polity has those.
Thanks for stopping by!
I often use this article to help explain itinerancy to non-Methodist friends. It can be hard to explain getting a new pastor every few years to someone who’s only ever had one. You do a great job of doing this.
Thanks for the encouragement Krissa!
Hello Pastor Anderson,
I have been a member of Granger UMC in Medina, Ohio for about 3 1/2 years. Prior to this I was not a member of any church although I was raised Catholic. Our current Pastor Doug Lewis in leaving at the end of June (becoming DS in the district west of us.) He is the only Pastor I have had since coming to the UMC. I understand that it is the way of the church, but that does not help me accept it.
We have a group in NE Ohio called Youth Musicale. They tour area churches for a week or so each summer performing religious (for lack of a better word) music and witnessing to the audience. My daughter will be joining for the 4th year this summer. Her first year in YM came after she had decided not to be confirmed. She had been in the choir and after that first year in YM, she joined the youth praise band. Working with Doug and talking about things led her to be confirmed that fall of 2012. He has become a large part of her spiritual life.
Doug had been a member of Youth Musicale as a teenager. We thought it would be great to have them perform at our Church this summer, given his past and Katie’s current participation. We have not heard back about that yet, but this all gives rise to my question.
His wife said that as much as they would like to, they would not be allowed to come back for the performance. In fact she says, they would be allowed no contact with us for at least the first year after they leave. Why is that complete dissociation necessary?
Thanks for reading, and thanks for any answer you may be able to give.
Mike
Mike,
Thanks for commenting. Pastoral transitions due to itinerancy can be difficult for all people–pastors, church members, and communities.
Over time the UMC has developed some “best practices” that they recommend to clergy as they move. Many of these practices are due to problems in the past that come up again and again. Your situation of the pastor saying he’s not allowed to come back within a year is one of those best practices that has arisen over time.
The rationale behind this is simple: Many pastors have been moved to new churches yet have consistently meddled in their former church’s business making the job of the new pastor extremely difficult.
When a beloved pastor leaves, people are tempted to want to keep them in the loop about the new pastor and changes occurring. The former pastor is tempted to ask former congregants about what’s going well and what isn’t and make judgements about the new pastor. It’s hard for everyone to let go and trust that God is going to use someone different to continue the work at a church. In response to these inclinations, many conferences and pastors like to draw hard boundaries to help them not fall into these traps. Some will not contact former congregants for a year, some will not return for funerals/weddings, and some will defriend congregants on facebook.
This is challenging for both the pastor and the congregants, yet many believe it is the best way forward to set up a new pastor for success.
I always thought “other denominations” , Congregational, Episcopal etc. spent far too much time on the process of “pastor searches” , by a “search committee”, more often than not one, two even three years; meanwhile said churches…..languish till one is found.
Is there any information about Rev. Frances Ballantyne who transferred from another denomination.
Interesting
I am a local preacher in an AME CHURCH
I wish that it was just one system for all preacher and n uchthing as local or itinerite
Sometimes I feel looked down on and not important as a local preacher
I feel that a lot of the rules and laws are so out dated. It is 2015 and rules and laws are still present today. It is hard to believe. Why are they still ineffect. Time you get use to a Pastor you like they are moved. Circuit are not good also when you are connected to other churches sharing the same Pastor it is not good. When one Church have a problem with that Pastor and wish for them to be removed but the other church don’t want that, here is where the problem come in at. You maybe stuck with that Pastor and when people are unhappy they will leave the church and worship some where else. It can be a mess. Then the members from each Church will have a problem with each other when they have to meet up. These rules need to be changed.
As a Methodist congregant all my life I understand the system. I respect the idea behind it. However, it is my least favorite part of the church. I have had to tearfully say goodbye to friends and wonderful pastors. I have also seen a few pastors come through where I didn’t care for their message. I currently have a wonderful pastor. The best I’ve ever heard. I’m scared that this may be the year they move on. I’ll once again be heart broken, but will wish them the very best.
Having been a circuit-riding itinerant a very long time ago when I was a college senior, I discovered an interesting fact whose significance took me years to appreciate — almost everyone in the congregation came to Sunday school, but at least at first, very few attended the main worship meeting. Eventually the main worship meeting became well attended, however. This was a puzzle to me. My sermons had not improved that much!
However, I now believe that the Sunday school was the only part of church life that the perceived as being truly theirs. Over many years a succession of preachers was imposed upon them of varying degrees of spiritual health and knowledge who were usually nothing great and in whose selection they had no effective voice. They could easily get along without them and usually, they did. The preacher’s job in such a case was little more than a very unsatisfying sinecure in which he went through the motions of leadership with little substance behind them.
In subsequent experience with other denominations of the Wesleyan tradition I noted another thing: Itineration was often very bad for the preacher’s family life — often producing conditions of real hardship for them in churches too poor, or more usually too stingy, to offer them proper support — especially in remote rural areas. I would not have wanted to subject my family to such a crapshoot. And this is to say nothing of the stress of leaving familiar schools, friends, and other networks every two years.
Full disclosure: I ran across this site in the course of research for a book on the life and ministry of Lucy Drake Osborn. If I have irritated anyone with these comments, please avenge yourself by sharing anything you may know about this remarkable Methodist woman, foundress of the Union Missionary Training Institute in Brooklyn, NY, in the early twentieth century.
Oh, and I am now an elder in a “Plymouth Brethren” meeting where salaries are not paid! With several “pastors” we may be able often to avoid what used to be called the pastoral death grip in my college days, although sinful human nature being what it is, Diotrophes does sometimes bully his way to the top roost even so.
Can the bishop appoint two pastors to a charge when only one is requested?
Yes. They’re seeking the whole church’s good and sometimes that may mean sending co-pastors or putting the church on a charge.