Clergy excited about calling,
not process This article is the third in a series about the changes in pastoral
leadership in the Florida Conference. To share your views, please e-mail Michael Wacht at MWacht@flumc.org.
By Michael Wacht
LAKELAND — As the Florida Conference faces a potential shortage
of ordained elders and an increase in local pastors serving churches, conference leaders
are looking to local churches to help young people respond to the call to ministry. But
local church pastors share a mixture of excitement and concern about the ministry of the
United Methodist Church and its system of attracting, educating and ordaining elders.
Nearly 50 Florida Conference clergy responded to an informal e-mail
survey asking them to share how they feel about talking to people in their churches about
the ordained ministry, their last experience talking to someone about it and what they
think the conference can do to help more young people discern their calling.
Many pastors said talking about the ministry was their duty or
responsibility, while others said they make the effort for personal reasons.
The Rev. Jeremy Rebman, associate pastor at First United Methodist
Church, Orlando, said he has a desire to help others understand their calling
“…because my own calling was very powerful and unexpected.”
The Rev. Matthew Hartsfield, pastor of Tampa’s Van Dyke United
Methodist Church, said Christian ministry is “the greatest adventure of all,”
and he constantly encourages people to respond to God’s call. “I enjoy telling
people how much fun it is to have a front-row, center seat to see God change lives,”
he said.
The Rev. Debbie McLeod, a pastor at Christ Church United Methodist
in Ft. Lauderdale and former chairperson of the Florida Conference Board of Ordained
Ministry, said pastoral leadership is only half the formula for producing ordained
pastors. “You need both a dynamic leader and a vital community,” she said. That
community can be a “vital tiny church or a vital large church” where lay people
are passionate about and committed to ministry.
“If someone came out of a vital community, they’re going
to want to be a part of a community like that,” McLeod said.
McLeod said she has seen several vital churches, both large and
small, sponsor multiple candidates for ordained ministry during her 10 years with the
board. In many cases, a pastor, Sunday school teacher or youth minister was the person
helping people to respond.
Some clergy said negative relationships between clergy and church
members can hinder people from responding.
The Rev. Bill Payne, pastor of Sarasota’s Parrish United
Methodist Church, is working with three high-school students he believes have a calling,
but said most youth “are not overly energized” by the United Methodist Church.
“Considering what happens in the average church, why would a
promising young person want to commit his or her life to that institution?” Payne
said.
The Rev. Marvin McClain, a retired pastor and former Navy chaplain,
said power struggles and unrealistic expectations of church members make the ministry
unattractive to young people.
“Most of our clergy come out of our or other conferences’
churches,” McClain said. “They have seen how clergy are treated by church people
and conference officials. They have seen power struggles to oust a pastor…Only a
zealot would respond to a calling under those conditions.”
Other clergy believe the system of education, ordination and
appointment discourages young people.
The Rev. Jorge Acevedo, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in
Cape Coral, said the United Methodist Church’s understanding of clergy is not
reasonable to people of the postmodern generation.
“The clergy shortage is not because God is not calling women
and men, young and old alike, into vocational ministry,” Acevedo said. “I see
many young people anxious to serve Jesus and the church, but not as clergy in our current
United Methodist system. As I talk with them, they want to serve God with all their lives,
but wrestle with whether appointed ministry will be the best expression of their calling
and gifts.”
The Rev. Vance Rains, pastor of Grapevine United Methodist Church in
Port St. Lucie, said the educational requirements can be difficult. “I just recently
spoke to a young woman…who is wrestling with her call,” he said. “Her main
problem is that she only has an associate’s degree and cannot imagine facing five to
six more years of education at this stage in her life.”
Rains said some people believe seminary is too expensive and
“many of our seminaries are out of touch with the needs of the local church.”
The Rev. Leo Jackson, pastor of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in
Palatka, said his experience with the ordination process has been difficult. He said he
felt he had to be re-called in the United Methodist Church, even though he was already
ordained in another denomination.
The education process also concerns Jackson. Many of the young
people with whom he works are rural African-American teenagers who would need help to pay
for college and seminary. “Maybe we need to look at how we fund the educational
process to make sure we have a crop to pull from,” he said.
Many clergy said there are simpler ways they and the conference can
help more young people respond. The Rev. Skip Parvin, pastor of Orlando’s Tuskawilla
United Methodist Church, said an emphasis on spiritual development and discipleship has
helped seven youth in his church begin exploring careers in the ministry.
Several clergy said pastors should serve as role models for young
people and intentionally mentor those who express an interest. “Our people observe
more than we think,” said the Rev. Carrill S. Munnings, pastor of Spring Glen United
Methodist Church in Jacksonville. “They listen to what we say, but they do what we
do.”
Others said placing young people in leadership roles within the
church, district and conference would help them experience ministry and form relationships
with clergy.
Many clergy said the conference needs to place a high priority on
ministries to youth and young adults. “Our conference camping program and our campus
ministries are vital links and must be made a priority,” said the Rev. Brenda Lewis,
chaplain at Florida Southern College. “They provide a rich source of future clergy
and active and vital lay leadership.”
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