news article
From the desk of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez: 2024 Appointment Season
January 11, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following message was sent to United Methodist of Upper New York via email on Jan. 11 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez about the 2024 appointment season.
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - Romans 10:15
Dear partners in ministry,
Grace and peace from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, be with you in the New Year!
I thank God for Upper New York congregations’ passionate and faithful witness during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Seeing the countless ways UNY congregations offered radical hospitality, inspiring worship experiences, fellowship opportunities, generous giving, and service to their community was inspiring.
As we move forward in 2024, the cabinet diligently prepares to begin discerning appointments for UNY congregations. I thank God for our clergy and congregations who faithfully engage in an itinerant system.
This season, we face unique realities that may impact appointment-making. Disaffiliations and the continued trends of contraction will require adaptability in how we go about this sacred work. At the same time, these challenges provide us with exciting opportunities to explore creative and collaborative approaches to pastoral leadership and congregational ministry.
Below, I share an overview of the values and principles that guide the cabinet in our discernment and decision-making during the appointment season. I call on United Methodists of Upper York to surround the cabinet and the appointment process in your prayers during the coming months.
Appointment Discernment Process
In The United Methodist Church, the responsibility for appointment-making is given to the resident bishop and district superintendents of the annual conference. All appointments are prayerfully made to continue moving forward with the Church’s mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
While appointment-making is a sacred task that happens year-round, most appointments are made from January through April 15 and then finalized at the regular session of annual conference.
The following values and principles guide our discernment process for appointment-making:
- Pursue God’s vision for congregations and their communities
- Match gifts, graces, and strengths
- Acknowledge and honor our diversity
- Connectionalism and itinerancy
- Inter-personal relationships and conflict resolution
- Pursue equity in the appointment process and decisions
- Excellence, effectiveness, and fruitfulness
During the appointment discernment process, the cabinet pays special attention to the ethnic, cultural, and theological makeup of the congregation. The personal needs of pastors are also important to the superintendents and to me as your bishop.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, the cabinet bases appointments on:
- God’s vision for the congregation and the missional needs/opportunities in the community, the congregation, and UNY.
- A congregation’s willingness, passion, and track record of collaborating with pastoral leadership to faithfully move forward the mission and God’s vision for their community.
- A pastor’s willingness, passion, ability, and track record of engaging a congregation and the community in a fruitful collaborative ministry.
The cabinet and I will also consider:
- The conflict level of the congregation and other sensitive issue(s) that might be impacting the congregation’s health and fruitfulness.
- The congregation’s ability and track record of paying Ministry Shares, pension, and health benefits. As needed, the cabinet will “right-size” the appointment or align the congregation with another congregation to ensure long-term sustainability.
When discerning appointments, the cabinet will prayerfully consider the following three missional-critical questions:
- Is the potential pastor’s character, personality, and shepherd’s heart suitable for the congregation and the community?
- Do the potential pastor's spiritual gifts, skills, and experiences intersect with the congregation's needs, hopes, aspirations, and the community?
- Will this appointment maximize disciple-making in the unique context of the congregation?
When the cabinet makes appointments, we will consider full-time appointments first, then work on less than full-time appointments.
Pastors and congregations may ask for reconsideration of an introduced appointment if there are serious concerns based on missional reasons (pastor’s or congregation’s ability to spread personal and social holiness and lead the congregation in growing the five core ministries of worship, evangelism, faith formation, hands-on missions, and generosity). The following will not be considered: race, ethnic origin, gender, color, disability, marital status, age, or educational achievement of a pastor or congregation, as well as the location and size of a congregation. Based on the reflections and prayer by the pastor, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), and the superintendents, the bishop will decide on a request for reconsideration based on missional reasons.
Retirements
The 2024 clergy retirements will be announced by Feb. 1 on the UNY website here. I thank our retirees for their faithful servant leadership over the years. This information will be updated as needed. I invite you to pray for and thank our 2024 Class of Retirees.
Open Churches
Again this year, starting Jan. 24, on Wednesdays, the cabinet will post on the UNY website here a list of the open churches currently being considered for a new appointment. Clergy who prayerfully discern that they want to be considered for one of the open churches are to inform their superintendent exclusively via email by Thursday at 4 p.m. and share why you believe you would serve the congregation well. The cabinet will prayerfully consider these requests during their discernment process.
Clergy communicating their interest in an open church,
- Must understand that requesting to be considered for an appointment is advisory and does not guarantee you will be appointed to the open church.
- Cannot, in any way, communicate with the members or the pastor of the open church to advocate on their behalf or indicate an interest in serving that church.
- Can be assured that their request to the cabinet will remain confidential, will not affect their current appointment, and will not be shared with your present church’s SPRC.
New Appointments Announcements
Each Wednesday, at 1 p.m., the official episcopal announcement of new appointments will be posted on the UNY website here. We anticipate that we will start making appointment announcements on Feb. 14.
Transition Process
The appointive cabinet is committed to resourcing pastors and congregations experiencing a new appointment to ensure a smooth and effective transition. Congregations experiencing an appointment change will be provided with a comprehensive guide and toolkit that includes best practices, checklists, and ideas. This will help pastors and congregations transition smoothly from the current pastor to the new pastor.
On behalf of the cabinet and myself, thank you for your service to Christ, The Church, your community, and the world.
Together in mission,
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
The United Methodist Church
Serving United Methodist of Upper New York