Taking it One Year at a Time

Itinerate - "To go from place to place, especially in a regular circuit."

Early Methodist preachers, called "circuit riders,"
itinerated by horseback. 

Last Saturday, Bishop Tom Bickerton appointed me for a third year of ministry at Faith UMC.  It was a joy to hear my name called to return to a place I love.  While my return to Faith was expected, it is never guaranteed.  In the UMC pastors itinerate, which means we are appointed to our places of service one year at a time.

Itinerancy is one of the most misunderstood aspects of our denomination's ministry.  To many church members, it can seem like a cruel way to treat pastors and their families.  To others it seems like an antiquated method of deploying pastors - a remnant of eighteenth century America.

I believe that itineracy - at its best - is a vital missional strategy of the church.  Rooted in the itinerant ministry of Jesus and the apostles, and the calling of the Holy Spirit, itinerancy allows bishops to move clergy to places where missional need matches clergy gifts.

While the bishop has the ultimate authority over appointments, no bishops acts alone in the process.  Each appointment is the result of the prayerful discernment of the bishop, the cabinet, clergy, and church members.  The great gift of itinerancy is that it allows space for communal discernment that can open up ministry possibilities that may have been thought impossible otherwise.

If I had been required to apply for a pastoral position, I probably would have thought myself under qualified to serve at a place like Faith UMC.  Further, if Faith was looking for its own pastor, they certainly would have looked for a pastor with more experience than me.  Itinerancy opened up the possibility for someone like me to serve at a place like Faith.

That said, itinerancy also means that we are working together one year at a time.  Every year we know that there's a chance I will be called to serve elsewhere.  While such uncertainty can be uncomfortable, I believe it has the ability to strengthen our congregation.  When we make plans for our long term future, we must always work together, so that ministry is the work of the Spirit by the hands of the congregation. Our ministry cannot be centered on a pastor.   Itinerancy is a reminder that ministry belongs to God, not to the pastor.

I'm honored to have a third year to serve at Faith.  I recognize that each year we have together is a gift, and my desire is to do everything I can to serve Jesus in this place...One year a time.