A review has begun for the “Fixing of the Appointments” at Annual Conference in June. All of the appointments are reviewed by the Cabinet every year. A number of factors arise in the process of review that have to be considered: the desires of the local church, the needs of the Conference for particular gifts and talents, and the pastor’s assessment of their circumstances in their congregations and personal and family lives. Discernment of the varying needs of church, pastor, and conference so that our pastors are most effectively deployed for the advancement of God’s Kingdom IS the vital business of the appointment making process.
Pastor-Parish Relations Committees participate in the process. Each minister of the conference has a time of consultation. The Bishop and Cabinet (all the District Superintendents) gather the input from each of these, plus the information from retirements, leaves of absence, departures from ministry, and new pastors. As all of these factors are considered the recommendations and decisions clearly need to be undergirded by prayer.
Prayers for wisdom are part of all of the Cabinet discussions for we realize the life and Kingdom changing impact of these decisions. We do ask our churches and people to also be in prayer during this time. Please pray for the gifts of discernment and vision to be with us, and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all of the work of the appointment process. Pray that we will follow our Wesleyan “Simple Rules” both in the appointment-making process and in every congregation: Do no harm; Do good; and Stay in love with God. Pray that we will all share in the commitment to Offer Them Christ as we work together, clergy and laity alike, for the good of God’s Kingdom being made known on earth as it is in heaven.
To download a guide for use both in corporate worship and in personal prayers and devotion click here. From February 8th to the Friday of “appointment week” is 40 days, and this guide has Scripture, a reflection, and prayer for each week during this Season of Prayer.