THE MINISTRY

Paul T. Stallsworth

            June 22nd, a Tuesday, is “moving day” throughout the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church.  On that day, pastoral changes in our conference will take place.  So on that day, Rev. Matt Whitacre will become the pastor of Broad Creek United Methodist Church, and yours truly will remain the pastor of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church.

            The decision for this pastoral change is a classic case study in how pastoral changes occur in The United Methodist Church.  Our New Bern District Superintendent, Rev. Caswell Shaw, received input months ago from both the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee of the Broad Creek Church and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee of St. Peter’s Church.  The Broad Creek Church committee requested a pastor who would be appointed only to the Broad Creek Church, and the St. Peter’s Church committee requested a pastor who would be appointed only to the St. Peter’s Church.  Receiving these requests, Rev. Shaw took them to Bishop Edwards and his Cabinet.  The result, after prayer and consultation, is that Rev. Whitacre will become the pastor of the Broad Creek Church, and Rev. Stallsworth will remain the pastor of St. Peter’s Church.  We believe, we trust, that God’s providence is guiding both of these appointments.

            A pastor in The United Methodist Church is sent by the Bishop to the congregation(s) he/she will serve.  That is, a United Methodist pastor is given orders by his/her Bishop to serve a particular congregation or a group of congregations.  In some denominations, the congregation searches for a pastor until it finds one who seems suitable.  The congregation then offers that pastor a call, and the pastor either accepts or rejects the call.  This could be described as a ministerial marketplace in action.  On the other hand, within United Methodism, the pastor is sent by the Bishop (after having received input from the congregations and pastors involved).  This might be described as a military-like command structure for ministry.

            This is one of the aspects of ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church that inspires this pastor: when it comes to appointments, my main task is to take orders from the Bishop (who, when faithful, speaks for Christ) and serve as faithfully as possible.  Therefore, the pastor is relieved of having to make many decisions about where he/she will serve.  For in the main, the pastor simply takes orders.

            Decisions about a congregation’s pastoral ministry are best made with the good of the congregation in mind.  Pastors are servants.  Their vocation is to serve Jesus Christ, the Church universal, the Church’s faith, the congregation(s), and the world (or the community) through Word-and-Sacrament ministry.  A pastor is appointed to a certain congregation or group of congregations to serve, to increase the faith of the congregation(s), or, as we usually put it, to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Appointments should not be made to benefit the pastor.  Rather, appointments are made to advance the Church’s faith in the congregations and in the conference.  The pastoral change at the Broad Creek Church that will take place on June 22nd is being made with that goal in mind.

            As the pastor departing from the Broad Creek Church, I would like to thank the Broad Creek Church and St. Peter’s Church for working well together.  Both congregations have been patient in sharing a pastor for five (5) years now.  And both congregations have been faithfully active: many members of the congregations have stepped up and gracefully offered their service to Christ and His Church.  Also, I would like to thank Carole Stalnaker for the administrative and secretarial assistance she has given to both congregations over the last five (5) years.  At times her load has been heavy, but her service has always been rendered with care and with good cheer.

            This pastor does not relish the thought of saying good-bye to the Broad Creek United Methodist Church.  My family and I have enjoyed serving the People of God at Broad Creek.  We admire the Broad Creek Church’s faith, life together, and good works; and we love you.  Your love to us has been a strong, God-blessed encouragement.  At the same time, we know that God’s providence is at work in the appointment of Rev. Whitacre to the Broad Creek Church.

            As June 22nd approaches, let us all give thanks to God for providing ministers for our United Methodist congregations.

            To God be the glory.

From June  2004 St. Peter's Post