UMNS Photo Courtesy of the Rev. Nancy Neelley
Ordinands
New United Methodist clergy, such as these three shown at their ordination, face very different ministry prospects than previous generations, writes the Rev. Jerry Eckert.
A United Methodist Insight Exclusive
Having watched The United Methodist Church and its predecessors for fifty years, I have seen some patterns change.
For example, when I entered the Wisconsin Conference in 1962, the superintendents were all experienced and in their last years before retirement. They mentored the newer pastors and were the outside resource who could help resolve problems even in the larger churches.
Another thing that was true at the time was that the Cabinet saw all of us clergy as "works-in-progress" and their task was to help us succeed in the churches to which they appointed us. Pastors' Schools were important events where we heard the newest thinking from some of the best teachers and preachers of our denomination. No Cabinet meetings were held during Pastors' School. The focus was on everyone there learning and being a part of the fellowship of study.
A third thing that really helped us pastors grow in understanding and knowledge of the mission of our Church was that we were part of the sub-district, district, and conference program and administration groups. We actually had to know something about the areas for which we were responsible. Over the early years of my ministry, that's how I learned about confirmation options, junior high youth work, conference rules, statisticians tasks, and conference history, worship, and agenda responsibilities. I felt a part of what our conference was doing.
The fourth thing was that annual conference was actually spent discussing administrative and mission issues with few special privileges or worship events. It was hard work going through all that arcane material but then, most of it had originated in subdistrict, district, and conference groups like the ones of which I was a part, so it wasn't arcane to us. We had a real chance to hear from those involved and felt the passion for the work they were asking us to support as a conference. And we argued, knowing the resources were limited, but at the same time, feeling that if the conference voted for more than it had originally budgeted, God would provide. That hope and energy went back to our respective home churches. Most churches made their apportionments.
Anyone entering the ministry since 1972 will not recognize that as the way the church is now. In fact, some conferences may never have been like that. Now it appears that no conferences are like that. There no longer are Pastors' Schools. Program staffs have replaced the old sub-district/district committee structures. Annual conferences have turned into celebrations and inspirational events with little or no business to do because those decisions have already been made by a handful of staff and leaders.
Our denomination has been in decline for many decades and under the leadership of the Council of Bishops, the reason for the decline has been identified: incompetent pastors. That is a major change in attitude toward their fellow Elders over the past fifty years.
Now the presumption seems to be that every new pastor is fully competent and mature. Thus if there are any complaints, it is because the pastors should have been able to handle whatever came up. Even older pastors who have many years of good-to-excellent service discover they no longer are respected for that service and are seen as the problem when something goes wrong. In other words, pastors' problems are not supposed to become matters for which Cabinet members are to help.
Why would that be?
Wesley's famous phrase, "The world is my parish," is the definition of the work of the bishops. In order for them to do that glorious ministry, they need their superintendents to be involved in the mission and ministry of the conference and general church to fulfill it. So superintendents are chosen that support the bishops' ministries. Appointment-making is not as fulfilling as changing the world, eliminating malaria, etc. So the realities of serving in today's churches are secondary to the purpose of changing the world by making disciples. And whose job is it to make disciples? Pastors. And why are we to make disciples? Finally, to support the bishops in their ministry to the world.
At least, this appears to me to be what is happening in our denomination.
The coming months are crucial in the life of every annual conference. The bishop has to choose one or more superintendents. And the Board of Ordained Ministry has to select the best candidates for ministry and remove the incompetent ones. The ambitious pastors because of their willingness to support the bishop's ministries tend to find their way onto the list of Cabinet prospects. The pastors who face difficulties that rise to the attention of the Cabinet through complaints end up on the "dump" list for the BOM.
Are my observations valid? Or is this just a rant of a grouchy old man who can't change with the times?
Let me offer some questions that might help you discern the merit of my argument.
How experienced are the new superintendents chosen by the bishop? Have they seen "everything" to the point where they can enter a conflict situation and not be caught off-guard by the action of a pastor or lay people? Have they enjoyed their ministry in the local churches they've served?
Have they tended to be the ones who were the "glue" of the area who other clergy came to see at meetings, the "sparkplugs" among their fellow clergy, the ones to whom fellow pastors turned for advice? Have they loved being a pastor, think it is a high calling, and look forward to returning the serve a local church?
Are good pastors retiring early, getting out of the ministry as soon as they can afford to do it?
How is the health of clergy holding up? Are clergy staying in ministry longer or less long on an average than a decade ago?
What happened to all those second-career people who used to choose to enter the ministry? Are fewer of them applying to join your conference? Are there fewer of them in the seminaries now compared with ten years ago?
What of the younger people who are entering seminaries? What do they expect to do with their degrees? Will the most promising of them be joining an annual conference to become clergy?
Given the current working environment for pastors, is there hesitancy among them to strongly encourage others to enter the ministry?
This was a test. It tests my presumptions as an observer and it tests the presumptions of the denomination and its leadership. Those who honestly answer the questions may realize our problems will not be solved following their current assumptions. Or prove that I am just that old-fashioned out-of-touch curmudgeon...
Patterns change, for better or worse. What do you think? What patterns will you work to support or to change?
The Rev. Jerry Eckert is a retired clergy member of the Wisconsin Annual Conference and a co-founder of Associates in Advocacy, an organization of volunteers who represent clergy in The United Methodist Church's "fair process."