Beginning Another New (Appointive) Year

For United Methodist pastors–at least in the Kansas West Conference, the new appointive year starts on July 1.  As of that date, I will begin my ninth year as pastor of First United Methodist Church in downtown Hutchinson! I have never served (or lived!) anywhere else as long as that!

Indeed, this coming year’s service will match the longest pastoral tenure in the history of First United Methodist Church. Only Wayne Findley served this long, from 1982 until 1991.

I arrived in Hutchinson in the summer of 2001, looking a little like the opening credits of the “Beverly Hillbillies.” I was driving our 1996 Ford Ranger pick up, with a dog in the front seat and our porch swing in the back. There was a wondrous variety of items stuffed in around the edges and tied on with rope.. The rest of my family arrived in more stylish means of transportation. My first trip to the store in Hutchinson included a purchase of cat litter and a gallon of milk.

I had grandiose expectations of what would happen here under my leadership. I fully expected that, by now, we would be averaging more than 400 persons in worship and that we would have a full time associate pastor. For two or three years, that looked like a reasonable trajectory, but several things happened that altered the course of our life together.

More than once in the past years, I have questioned my own capacity to serve effectively as pastor of this congregation. There have been those in the congregation who also expressed their doubts and disappointments about what I have done—or failed to do. Some have left, and that has been painful to experience.

However, I continue to have an abiding conviction, which I believe is God-given, that I do have the gifts and graces, the commitment and the compassion to serve effectively here. I am grateful for all those who provide support and encouragement as well as accountability in that venture.

How much longer will I serve as pastor of First United Methodist Church? I honestly do not know. All I know that is I am appointed here for another year, and I am looking forward to see what God has yet in mind for all of us, as we move forward in faith together!