Waiting, Waiting, Waiting
The past few weeks I have been asked on numerous occasions when we will hear who the Claybanks United Methodist Church’s new pastor will be beginning this summer. The discernment to appoint a new pastor for Claybanks is part of a very long process along with many other United Methodist Churches in Michigan.
I would like to describe for you what the process is: The Michigan United Methodist Conference will have pastors who are retiring, pastors who would like to be assigned a new church, and churches who would like to have a new pastor appointed to them. They are to inform the district superintendent, the bishop, and his cabinet during the month of December. I did inform Jodie Flessner, the Western Waters District Superintendent, of my intent to completely retire as of June 30, 2026. At that time, Claybanks became one of many churches who will receive a new pastor on July 1st when our conference appoints new pastors to begin serving churches throughout the state of Michigan. This process could include as many as seventy to eighty pastors being appointed to new churches. Beginning in the month of January, and running into the spring, the bishop meets with the cabinet to discern those pastors to be appointed to new churches. In the fall, for our Church Conferences, one of the forms we completed describes who Claybanks United Methodist Church is and who we want to be in the future. This church profile helps the bishop and the cabinet decide the right appointment for a church. As the cabinet begins the process, it is like the domino effect. A pastor retires or requests a new church, a pastor serving at a church or coming out of retirement is presented to the new church that needs a new pastor. This may then lead to an opening at a church who will be losing their pastor possibly and needing an appointment there. The process can be quite lengthy and complicated in its planning, organization, and execution.
Once the cabinet and bishop have discerned through prayer, discussion, and finalization, the district superintendent will contact the local church and set up a meeting with the church’s Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) for an introduction of the new pastor being considered to be appointed to the local church. An interview is held and it is determined by the SPRC and that potential new pastor whether this will be a good fit for both. Should it be determined that this will be a good fit for the church and the pastor, announcements are made and shared with the new church family (Usually during Announcement Time prior to worship) on a Sunday to be determined and if the pastor is moving from a previous church, their appointment is shared with both churches simultaneously. This process is repeated numerous times throughout the Michigan Conference and concludes during May as the final appointments are made.
This means for us that Claybanks can be anywhere within the appointment cycle. We can be rest assured that Claybanks United Methodist Church will have an appointed pastor in the very near future that has been prayed over, discerned, and evaluated as to their gifts and blessings that will best serve the Claybanks United Methodist Church.
I, as your appointed current pastor, have been praying for a pastor who will love the Claybanks United Methodist Church and be loved by the church as you have loved Reba and me over these many years.
We are all waiting, waiting, waiting.
Pastor Gary
Claybanks United Methodist Church 