The reason I [Paul] left you [Titus] in Crete was that you might put in order
what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Titus 1:5 NRSVUE
Dear Clergy of Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey,
I greet you in the name and with the love of Jesus who is the Christ.
Appointing clergy is one of the most critical responsibilities of a bishop in The United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church’s practice of appointing itinerant clergy is based on our biblical understanding of ecclesiology—the theological nature and structure of the church—and our theological understanding of human nature and faith communities. Because no single individual can possess all the gifts needed for any faith community to flourish perpetually, and no community’s needs remain stagnant, clergy leadership is appointed for a season so that the community may benefit from that leader’s gifts. When different needs emerge or when another community requires a leader’s gifts more urgently, the leader itinerates.
As United Methodists, we also believe that the itinerant system helps focus ministry on the vision the people have discerned from God rather than on the personality or vision of a particular pastor. Theoretically, United Methodist ecclesiology balances lay and clergy leadership regarding mission and ministry, and the itinerant system helps maintain that balance. Incidentally, clergy have a greater balance of authority and responsibility in matters related to clergy accountability, worship, and the order of the church.
In our episcopal system, the bishop appoints clergy following a process of consultation with the pastor and congregation. Increasingly, this consultation process also involves the surrounding community. This consultation is essential because bishops are required to consider the unique needs of the charge, the community context, and the gifts and evidence of grace in the pastor.
The United Methodist appointment process differs from a congregational call system, in which pastors apply for a specific church after being made aware of the congregation’s needs and the compensation being offered.
The “Open Appointment Process”
There has been some confusion regarding the definition of open itineracy. According to the Book of Discipline, “Open itineracy means appointments are made without regard to race, ethnic origin, gender, color, disability, marital status, or age, except for the provisions of mandatory retirement” (¶ 425.1). The Book of Discipline goes on to say, “Annual conferences shall, in their training of staff-parish relations committees, emphasize the open nature of itineracy and prepare congregations to receive the gifts and graces of appointed clergy without regard to race, ethnic origin, gender, color, disability, marital status, or age” (¶ 425.1).
For a couple of years, the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference and the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference have had a practice of what has been termed an “open appointment process.” Profiles of open appointments were publicized on the website, and pastors were invited to communicate whether or not they would like to be considered for a specific appointment by sharing with the cabinet their gifts that they felt matched the publicized needs of the church. For several theological, justice, and polity concerns, we will not be continuing this practice.
Theological Concerns
Theologically, every church has unfinished business; therefore, every church is an open appointment. Some appointments may seem more open than others, but based on the United Methodist theological understanding of gifts and evidence of grace in clergy leadership and of the provision of the Holy Spirit which moves to reveal emerging needs, every appointment is open each appointment season. If the cabinet and clergy do not approach each season from this perspective, we may create systemic barriers to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Justice Concerns
Inviting pastors to submit their interest in a particular appointment preferences certain appointments, creating issues of justice. Appointments above a certain salary level and in certain regions of the conference have received more letters of interest than others.
Inviting pastors to submit their interest in a particular appointment also preferences certain pastors. There are some pastors who will not submit their names for any appointment because of their cultural understanding of the role of the bishop and/or because of their theological understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in the appointment process. Further, there are some pastors who have been so negatively impacted by their observation of privilege that they are hesitant to volunteer for or think they will be given honest consideration for certain appointments. These cultural realities create inequities in those who submit their names for consideration which then becomes systemic injustice.
Polity Concerns
Our polity also presents challenges in the “open appointment process.” While every active clergy person is eligible for appointment consideration, the Book of Discipline requires the cabinet to consider the requests of all clergy and churches asking for a change of appointment. While consideration does not necessitate a change of appointment, requests for a change must be taken seriously. This mandatory consideration is made more challenging if a pastor, who on their clergy profile and during their one-on-one interview with their district superintendent clearly articulated missional and personal reasons for wanting to remain in their current appointment, later submits their name for consideration when a particular church becomes open. The district superintendent must then ascertain what has changed since the one-on-one and that clergy person must now be considered for every remaining open appointment.
Impact on Relationships and Expectations
Finally, the “open appointment process” has strained relationships between district superintendent and clergy and among clergy themselves. The mere act of submitting a letter of interest has led some pastors to believe that they would receive the appointment. It led others to believe they would not receive a call to accept an appointment for which they did not submit a letter of interest. This process, in some cases, created false expectations.
As a result, when some pastors did not received the appointment for which they expressed interest and someone who they felt was less qualified did, they voiced disappointment to their district superintendent. In the secular world when an internal candidate does not get the promotion or job to which they applied, that internal candidate often looks for employment with another company because of the awkwardness of the strained relationships. It is a challenge to overcome the awkwardness of a pastor not receiving the appointment to which they applied.
Next Steps and Ongoing Communication
For all of the above reasons, we will not utilize an “open appointment process” going forward. I am communicating this change transparently and well-before the appointment season to give you time to reflect on the information you share with your district superintendent between now and January. The information shared in letters of interest for open appointments should be routinely shared with your district superintendent in your one-on-one meetings and in your clergy profile, which must be completed by December 1st. It is information that I expect the superintendents to bring to the appointment table.
Following the appointment retreat in January, I will share more information about the goals, values, and processes the cabinet will use for making appointments in an effort to remove as much anxiety as possible from an inherently anxiety-provoking process.
I invite you to help us by beginning to pray for insight and wisdom for the bishop and cabinet regarding appointments. I also invite you to be as honest and open with your district superintendent as possible. If there is any information that might help the cabinet in its discernment, please include it in your clergy profile by December 1st.
Grace and peace to you,
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi
The United Methodists of
Eastern Pennsylvania & Greater New Jersey
BishopMoore-Koikoi@epaumc.church | 484-474-0939
BishopMoore-Koikoi@gnjumc.org | 732-359-1010