Today we said goodbye to our pastor...

It has been a roller coaster for the past few months. First, it became clear that we needed to cut expenses, and the pastor, unsurprisingly, putting her love for this church before her own desire to stay in the loving embrace of our family, and suggested we may not be able to afford her salary.

The annual Charge Conference did indeed vot to cut the pastor's salary by 6K, meaning she would not be allowed to stay with us.

Then, 5 weeks ago, she was told there was no one available who fit the needs of our church, and no appropriate opening for her, and she would actually stay for another year. The DS offered alternatives to the salary cut.

But, alas, three weeks ago, the picture changed once again, and today we said Shalom.

It was a very emotional day. We didn't have a lot of time to plan for her departure, but we did what we could. She will continue to be a part of our church through the "new traditions" begun during her 4 years with us, and our new pastor will, I know, bring her own unique talents and gifts, but it was very hard to let go. She was well loved, and we will miss her. :cry:

We sent our pastor off into her retirement to be with her family, who have at times unwillingly, but good-naturedly, "shared" her with her flocks around the country.

Sorry to hear your church is in such financial straits. :-( Do you have someone who could serve as interim, like a lay pastor? Or maybe a seminary student? I'm sure they would love the practice. And the smaller salary wouldn't be such an issue to a student.

Just brainstorming. Your minister sounds like a great lady. :pals:

and will begin officially on July 1. She also was ordained 24 years ago, but was not "under appointment" for several years, having served a hospital chaplaincy for a while, and is, therefore, that much lower on the pay scale chart.

Because I am the lay leader of my church, I have already had several conversations with her, and I'm sure she will be wonderful.

It was all obviously meant to be, and I will, of course, trust God's Will in all of this.

It is just so hard because of the way it happened. It hit like a ton of bricks after having been told she would be with us for another year.

I had become very close to this pastor, and she had grown very close to this particular church family. She had been through what was very close to Hell at her last appointment, and very nearly left the Ministry because of it. We were as healing for her as she was special for us.

I will miss her terribly, but will embrace our new pastor and help her to adjust to us, just as we must adjust to her....

Ahhhh, the wonders of the UM itinerant traditions.

the "itenerant" part, I mean.

I remember in college my best friend married a Methodist seminary student. She was trying then to adjust to the whole idea that 1) she would be a minister's wife (she's a painter); 2) every few years they would have to pull up stakes and move somewhere else.

that a pastor can get complacent, or stale if left too long in one place. To some extent, I think that is true. Our last pastor was with us for 11 years, and there was a sense, I think, of that complacency. I was really ready, when he retired, to move on...to bring some new understanding into the picture.

Different pastors bring different teaching, different slants, fresh air.

In my ...very short...5 or 6 minute farewell speech after lunch, I told her we knew it would happen sooner or later, we just had hoped for later, rather than sooner.

:hug: Believe me, I know what you're going through... all too well.

Today, I am celebrating staying in the same place for year 3. This is the first time this has happened for me, in 10 years of ministry. (oh yeah, this is my 10th anniversary of parish ministry, too.) I'm holding back, because I don't want to tempt fate here, but I'm hoping I can stay in place for a while. :)

I glad you seem to be happy where you are and I hope you get to stay for a few more years. :hug: I think your congregation is very lucky to have you. Your compassion is palpable, your faith and your love are compelling.

This is the first transition I have seen since I became Lay Leader. I am trying very hard to accept this so I can be as helpful to the new pastor as I am to this one, I mean...that is my "job", but I am finding myself to be really angry about how it was handled.

I'm sure this will be as awkward for the new pastor as it is for us. I am finding it a little scary,and I'm surprised by that emotion. I have met her, and I like her very much. But I don't KNOW her...her politics...her philosophies...or her theology, for that matter....and it is a little intimidating to me. Oh, well....I know it will turn out alright...The DS has assured me of that...and she knows our church makeup pretty well. I will just have to trust her...Oh yeah...and trust God, huh?

Trust the system, trust the DS, and as a last resort, trust God. :evilgrin:

You'll do fine. Just remember the first several months are very confusing for a new pastor. Lots of people to learn their names, and the most annoying thing: you have to ask questions ALL the time. Tell her to not be hesitant to ask questions, or to repeat herself.

It takes a good 1-1/2 to 2 years to get to know a congregation, and vice-versa. I'm glad she's got you for a lay leader!

But at least you have an opportunity with another pastor! :-)

The transition will be sensitive, but you're right. There is an opportunity to experience the different nuances that this new pastor will bring.

That is one thing I really love about the UMC. We have basic, written guidelines, yes, but those are written with a combination of clergy and laity participation, and they are meant, I think, as that..guidlines.

Beyond that, we are not dictated to by anyone on exactly how to think, or what to believe. We are allowed..actually encouraged...to think for ourselves and make decisions on how literally (or not at all literally) to interpret the Bible, for instance.

There are UMs ranging from the literalists to the liberals, and everywhere in between.

For us...every new pastor brings new opportunity to learn.