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6-25-03
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE CABINET
“CALLED TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT”
Our Covenental Values for Appointment Making
(Appointment
Process Diagrams)
We believe that the Spirit of God moves through the appointment
making process. It is not invested in any person or persons but
is the result of the interaction and relationships of the appointment
making process.
- Prayer is a primary means of discerning the leading
of God in appointment making.
- Scriptural wisdom, images and metaphors
will be used to inform our understanding of appointments.
- Telling
the truth in love with elected and appointed spiritual
leaders and churches is important for meaningful appointments.
It is our desire to appoint the best spiritual leadership available
to each ministerial setting. We lift up the following values
for appointment making within a process of spiritual discernment.
I. Connectional Vision
- We see each appointment as part of a whole pattern of serving
the conference and fulfilling the mission of the Church.
- We see
each appointment as addressing the needs of the present and
as a preparation for the future.
- We will be open to new configurations
of spiritual leadership and ministry.
II. Local Congregations
- The mission and vision of the local church
is the primary consideration for identifying the qualities
and characteristics of leadership
to be appointed.
- The context of the local church will inform
the conversations regarding the leadership needed not only
for the local church
but also the cluster, parish, communities, etc.
- Listening to
the elected and appointed spiritual leaders, churches and
communities is a primary means of gathering appointment
information.
- We see each appointment as a covenant between the
appointed spiritual leaders and the spiritual leader(s) of
the local church represented
by the local church Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee,
and the Cabinet.
- Local congregations can financially support
the appropriate level of leadership for their ministry.
- Local
congregations will normally thrive on longer appointments
when there is a good match.
- The appointment covenant year is July 1st
to June 30th, but special circumstances are addressed as
they arise.
- We entrust the spiritual livelihood of the congregation
to the appointed spiritual leader.
III. Cabinet Teamwork
- The Appointive Cabinet works together as a team.
- The District
Superintendents extend the office of the Bishop.
- Information shared
with one member of the Appointive Cabinet related to pastoral
effectiveness is shared with the whole
cabinet.
- Honest sharing and truth telling will mark cabinet conversations.
- We
trust each District Superintendent to know the needs for
ministry in his/her district.
IV. Transformation in Each Ministry Setting
- We approach each appointment with the expectation of mutual
transformation of the congregation, appointed spiritual leader
and all creation.
- We expect appointed spiritual leaders to be
listening, learning leaders.
V. Justice in Appointment Making
- We will prepare congregations
to welcome spiritual leaders regardless of gender, race, age,
or marital status.
- Cross-racial appointments are an expression
of being “One
People of God.”
- We make appointments based on pastoral qualities
and not gender, race, age, or marital status.
Update 6-25-03
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