A Little Thing Called Itinerancy

These words were published in an United Methodist News Service article and I found them simple and profound. While I am United Methodist my family and most of my friends are not... and they just don't get this itinerancy thing... nor do they get why I think it is a good thing. Well, I'm not sure if I could have explained it any better than Wesley or Whitaker... Read on...

Maybe you loved her.

Maybe you thought one more Sunday with him in the pulpit and you would lose your religion.

Then suddenly, one hot summer day, it all changes. A decision is made and it's out with the old and in with the new.

In The United Methodist Church, after annual (regional) conferences have conducted their meetings, it's customary for many congregations to say goodbye to their current pastor and hello to their next. The United Methodist Church has a unique tradition of assigning clergy to churches. Ordained elders must be willing to go where they are sent. The itinerancy system means every pastor has a church and every church has a pastor. In some cases, larger churches have more than one pastor and pastors of smaller congregations may serve two or more churches. Some pastors serve in positions outside the local church such as in church agencies, institutions and specialized ministries.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, began the itinerant system in England. Wesley developed circuits for his assistants to travel, each of which included a large number of congregations. Preachers visited these appointments about once a month and changed circuits from year to year, depending on the circumstances.

"We have found by long and consistent experience that a frequent exchange of preachers is best," Wesley wrote. "This preacher has one talent, that another; no one whom I ever yet knew has all the talents which are needful for beginning, continuing, and perfecting the work of grace in a whole congregation."

"I believe the process of itinerancy gives us the perfect opportunity to renew ourselves and for the congregation to become revitalized for the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ," says Asa Whitaker, long-time member of The UMC.