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A question about the Methodist church

Discussion in 'Religion & Spirituality Forum' started by PantherPaul, Jul 18, 2005.

  1. Jul 18, 2005 at 9:52 PM #1
    PantherPaul

    PantherPaul Nap Enthusiasts

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    My wife works in a Methodist church. Why do the Methodist ministers get moved around every 5 years. I go to a church for a good sermon (ie the minister) What do they gain by taking a minister and moving him every 5 years. Seems like the church folks where a good minister is at would stop going when the minister leaves
     
  2. Jul 18, 2005 at 10:43 PM #2
    wossa

    wossa Not a ********* any more

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    I am no expert - but I believe they do it just to keep new blood in the church - they don't want it to become "Pastor Bob's" church.

    The pastor at our church just recently moved on after seven years which was a long time for a methodist church.

    Interesting thing is that two of the pastors I had as an adult at Sharon Methodist near South Park had also been pastors at Jamestown methodist when I was growing up.

    But yeah - sometimes it stinks when you have a really good pastor that has good sermons and good enthusiasm and just when you get used to him he moves on.
     
  3. Jul 22, 2005 at 4:30 PM #3
    Paladin

    Paladin Full Access Member

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    The short answer is because it has been part of Methodism from the very beginning. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, required itenerancy (the formal term) for all ministers in Methodism.

    Some could say it is a system of checks and balances. I dunno, maybe.

    It does expose a church to different ministers with different gifts and likely different epmhases in their preaching, teaching, and pastoral care.

    It can encourage the laity, the non-ordained members of the church, to play more of an active role in the church. I personally believe that there are too many churches where "participation" is not one of most members reasons for coming to church.

    The system does take its toll on ministers and their families. My wife's father is a Methodist minister. She lived in about 5 different places growing up. Depending upon the distance between new "appointment" and old "appointment," the minister's spouse may or may not have to change jobs. In South Carolina, the Methodist Conference at least attempts to keep a minister in a general area so a spouse can keep a job, but it doesn't work out for every minister's family.
     

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