The Port Huron District

The following document was approved by the Cabinet in December 2003

Foundational Values and Understandings

• The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. All appointment making is to strengthen this disciple-making mission. We believe that through prayerful discernment, the Holy Spirit moves throughout the process of appointment making.
• In making appointments the Bishop and Cabinet attempt to match clergy gifts and skills with the needs and opportunities of congregations to reach the next level of disciple making.
• Pastors are part of covenant community. Pastors are sent to serve churches to provide servant leadership. Therefore, movement in the appointive process will not necessarily always mean step-by-step raises or increases in the size of congregation.
• The Detroit Annual Conference practices open itinerancy. Appointments are made without regard to race, gender, or age.
• Every appointment needs to focus on disciple making possibilities. However, each situation will have unique circumstances impacting the disciple-making potential of that congregation. Strategic appointments are called for when conditions in church and community present unusually compelling opportunities for new forms of ministry and disciple-making. These appointments may include equitable compensation for a limited period of time.
• We exist in a time of tension between our historic commitment to full itinerancy and the current culture. We reaffirm full itinerancy. The Cabinet also seeks to be sensitive and just to family, personal, and health issues of clergy. When a pastor requests a limit on the geography of an appointment, we will continue the practice of asking that the pastor indicate a willingness to accept a different relationship with the conference if no appropriate appointment is available.
• While all appointments are year-to-year, longer pastorates can encourage effective disciple-making. It is our goal as a Cabinet to encourage appointments of 8-plus years.
• It is the Cabinet's intention when there are difficulties in the relationship between a congregation and pastor, to intervene quickly with appropriate responses including conflict resolution.
• Though there are times when appointments much be made throughout the year, it best serves congregations when moves and retirements happen in accordance with the regular conference time move schedule.

What and when is "Consultation" in Appointment Making?

The 2000 Disciples paragraph 431 requires consultation by District Superintendents with Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations Committees and Pastors in appointment making process.

Consultation takes place in a wide variety of locations and situations. Each personal contact by the District Superintendent within a congregation or with the pastor(s) becomes a part of the consultation process. Sunday worship, Charge Conference, and educational or social events are included. In addition, the following specific contacts are consultations:

Pastor

• Annual Consultation with DS (one-on-one meetings)
• Pastor's Appointment Advisory form
• Any special meeting regarding appointment
• Regular Profile Update
• Specific Telephone Calls

Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee

• Annual Consultation with DS (meeting with S/P-PRC at Church Conference or at another time)
• S/P-PRC Appointment Advisory Form
• Any special meeting regarding appointment
• Regular Profile Update
• Conversation with Chairperson

Expectations of Trust

To the best of his/her ability, the DS will communicate full and accurate information about the parish to the pastor...and about the pastor to the parish.

The pastor being considered for a new appointment should limit consultation about that appointment to the DS, immediate family members, and other agreed upon by the DS.

Confidentiality is important whenever there is a change in pastoral appointment. To insure that this is maintained, contact between members of the congregation and pastor is not to take place before an appointment is officially announced.

The outgoing pastor will support and affirm the incoming pastor, arrange for conversation to share pertinent pastoral information that will facilitate the transition, and remind the congregation that he/she will not return to the parish or community for pastoral services.

The outgoing pastor will publicly acknowledge having accepted the new appointment.

A congregation's ministry is a continuing journey of faith. The new pastor will treat the predecessor's work and memory honorably.