R.I.P. Guaranteed Appointment

Today, at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, one of the most heated issues was decided by consent calendar. No discussion from the floor, no holy conversation. Just like that, guaranteed appointment for United Methodist clergy met its end.

Once people realized what happened, Twitter and Facebook “blew up,” in social media parlance, in opposition to the decision. Much of the frustration was not the decision itself, but that reality that such a monumental decision deserved conversation from the floor rather than anti-climactic adoption on the consent calendar. A motion to reconsider was proposed, spoken in favor of because “the world is watching” (on Twitter and Facebook) and asking for more conversation. Unfortunately, the motion to reconsider did not pass, and with that, guaranteed appointment went away for good.

This is a significant decision in the life of our church, and we all have our opinions. I share with you in this space my own reactions, not as an expert on United Methodist polity, but as a member of the order of elders in the UMC, and thus as someone directly affected by this decision.

First, I am proud of our church, because social media influenced the proceedings. Ultimately, the social media conversations were ignored by the body of General Conference, but the fact that Twitter feeds entered into the conversation is historical. As a church, we are beginning to understand the benefits of new methods of communication, and to me this is one small sign that we are willing to think and act in new ways.

Second, I am flummoxed at the double standard that has been set in the UMC in the last 24 hours. Yesterday, legislation to set term limits for bishops in the United States was defeated, and bishops retained lifetime episcopacy. The main argument in favor of this was that it gives bishops the security to speak with prophetic voices without fear of “losing their job.” The same argument has been made in favor of retaining guaranteed appointment. Clergy with guaranteed appointment can speak more prophetically in their ministry without fear of “losing their job.” And yet, General Conference acted inconsistently on these similar issues.

I know there are strong feelings about both lifetime episcopal appointment and guaranteed clergy appointment, but the arguments for both are so similar that there must be consistency between the two. As a church, we have now used the argument of protecting prophetic voice to retain episcopal job security, and ignored it to eliminate guaranteed appointment. Regardless of one’s personal opinion on either, I find it difficult to support one without the other.

Finally, I am in favor of ending guaranteed appointment, and support the action that has been taken. I do wish we had been consistent by also setting term limits for bishops, and I do wish there had been more conversation on the floor before it was passed. However, I believe this action will positively address the problem of clergy ineffectiveness and mediocrity in the UMC. Removing clergy who are underperforming or no longer fit for appointed ministry will now become easier, and in true Wesleyan fashion, we will become more accountable to each other.

I am aware of the arguments for retaining guaranteed appointment. One is that guaranteed appointment is the benefit that balances the sacrifice of submitting to itinerancy. The other is that ending guaranteed appointment makes discrimination easier against female and minority clergy. Both are legitimate concerns that we must address as we put this decision into action. However, both arguments also display a complete lack of trust in church authority, namely district superintendents and bishops.

I realize that there are times when the distrust of conference and denominational authorities is well-founded. However, I am deeply grieved by the extremely high level of distrust, fear, and paranoia I am already hearing in the reaction to this decision. Friends, how can we expect to operate as the church if we cannot trust each other? Please know that I am not proposing blind trust and assent to the authority of bishops and cabinet. They too must be held accountable to effectiveness and faithfulness. Rather, I am proposing that we live out the grace which we profess, and expect the best of our leaders rather than the worst.

Those who are angry at the end of guaranteed appointments must not be silenced. Let us share our own concerns and frustrations, and listen to those of others. But the anger must not lead to long-term bitterness and distrust. Such a reaction will only hurt our mission and ministry as brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope and pray that we who are clergy will move forward with courage and trust, and will seek excellence and faithfulness in our ministry. I also pray that we will hold our bishops and cabinets accountable to act with grace and understanding rather than discrimination or personal biases.

Most importantly, I pray that we will all move forward without the fear and distrust that is so common in the world. Brothers and sisters, this is a chance for us to show the world a new way of living and being. This is a chance to model genuine trust and selflessness in our lives and work. Can we take this opportunity to model Christian relationships based on love and grace, or will we again let cynicism, fear, and mistrust determine our thoughts and actions? May we trust each other, hold each other accountable, and trust in the one God who is above all, through all, and in all.

5 Things Never to Say to a Young Pastor

5. So, who's the senior pastor?
Me. Contrary to popular belief, sometimes young adults can be trusted in a single pastor appointment. In fact, until recently, these appointments were quite common.

4. Oh, our kids/grandkids are your age!
The observation itself is not usually annoying, but you can see that the speakers are imagining their kids/grandkids as a pastor. This often leads to them realizing that their kids would not be a good pastor because they see them as: a)irresponsible, b)not into religion or its traditions, c)still kids even though they're adults, or d)all of the above. They then associate you with all of these things, and start doubting whether or not someone their kids or grandkids' age has any wisdom to share.

3. I'm sure you're great with the youth!
Age has less to do with being gifted in youth ministry than one might think. Some young adults, many of my friends included, are great at youth ministry. Others, myself included, are not. In fact, my father is more gifted in youth ministry than I am. I love the youth, I enjoy hanging out with them, teaching them, and learning from them, but I'm not gifted in youth ministry. Not all young adults are.

2. Oh, so you're going to do contemporary worship/get rid of our traditions/kick out the old people?!
Nope. Just because you think younger people hate everything you love and love everything you hate doesn't always mean they do.

1. You're too young to be a pastor.
Thanks. In one sentence, you have completely invalidated my choice of vocation. How is this any less offensive than telling a 60 year old, "You're too old to be an administrative assistant"?

Finding Solitude in Community

Greetings from Nashville, TN! I am spending my week at a clergy spiritual formation retreat through the Upper Room Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Clergy of many denominations, from all across the country, have gathered here to participate in Companions in Ministry 2 (CiM2). The purpose is to be nurtured in spiritual formation through clergy covenant groups, then leave here with the assignment of beginning our own clergy covenant groups when we return home.

So far, this week has been a welcome relief from my usual weekly rhythm. Instead of preparing and preaching sermons, I have been enriched by the sermons of others. While praying for others, I have been prayed for by my colleagues. I have sat in the back pew of a worship service, shared laughter as well as silence with my peers, and re-discovered my deep love and yearning for table fellowship. I have reconnected with old friends and made many new ones. I have even watched the World Series with a room full of baseball-loving pastors. It has been a productive week indeed.

One of the most enriching experiences I have had this week is the chance to listen to sermons and lectures by Trevor Hudson, a United Methodist pastor from South Africa. He has challenged us to being rather than doing, to living a cycle of grace rather than a cycle of works, and to following God out of loving, creative initiative rather than duty and obligation. Through his words, God has called me out for my incessant desire to always be accomplishing tasks like a dutiful servant. Through forced hours of silence, I have discovered that being left alone with my own thoughts is not as scary as I thought it would be. And I have re-ignited my love for journaling, a spiritual practice I have abandoned for the sake of being more efficient with my use of time, whatever that means.

My prayer this morning is that you find ways to retreat and re-connect with God as I have this week. Take a “spiritual health day” off work. Take a walk alone, letting your mind wander. Tap the stagnant energy out of your armpits, as we did during a morning meditation session. Rediscover the spiritual practices that call you into being God’s beloved. And find friends that can join you in a community of solitude. Find soul friends that will pray with you. Find soul friends that will keep you accountable. Find soul friends that create safe spaces for you to live and work and play and be as God has created you to be. I invite you, as Paul invites Timothy, to “join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.” May the peace of Christ be with you today and always. Amen.