The process of making appointments begins when district superintendents consult with pastors and the pastor-parish relations committees at the beginning of the year. All pastors and pastor-parish committees complete a preference form that indicates their respective preferences for the appointment of pastors following the Florida Annual Conference in 2002. These preferences are advisory to the cabinet. District superintendents meet with pastors and pastor-parish committees when personal consultations by the superintendents are needed.

Pastors and pastor-parish committees also present their respective profiles to the cabinet. Pastors present a profile of their gifts, skills and spiritual journey. Committees present a profile of their congregations’ mission, community and needs for pastoral leadership. These profiles represent the voice of the pastors and the congregations, and they are carefully consulted by the cabinet during the making of appointments.

It is the commitment of the cabinet to match the gifts and skills of pastors with the missional needs of the congregations. We seek to appoint pastors in order to advance the cause of Jesus Christ through the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. In the next issue of the “Florida United Methodist Review” I shall present the Guidelines for Appointment-Making adopted by the cabinet.

I believe that the most important aspect of appointment-making is listening. We who must make decisions affecting the lives of pastors and their families and the lives of congregations seek to listen to pastors and pastor-parish committees so that we are able to discern effectively their respective needs. In and through the entire process we are in prayer, seeking grace to receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that experience has proven that longer term pastorates are effective in building up congregations as part of the Body of Christ. There are often misunderstandings and disappointments in the relationship of pastors and congregations. When tensions emerge, it is best to try to resolve the problems and to work together in a spirit of unity rather than to end the relationship. However, sometimes it is best to make a change in pastoral appointment. Also, sometimes the cabinet will need to initiate a change in pastoral appointments in order to meet the needs of the entire conference.