Newsletters

February 22, 2010

Dear Members and Friends of Porchtown, UMC, 

Change is coming.  As the chairperson of the Pastor-Parish Relations (PPR) committee, this past Sunday I announced that Pastor Bak accepted an appointment to the Hightstown, NJ United Methodist Church.  The appointment is effective July 1, 2010.  Hightstown is off Route 130, just north of Interstate 195, in Mercer County, NJ.  From Porchtown, it is about a 55-minute drive.

For the past eight years, God has blessed us with Heidi as our pastor, spiritual leader, and friend.  The good news is that Heidi will remain with us over the next few months as we transition to a new pastor and we will have time as individuals and a congregation to give Heidi a proper farewell.  I also believe God has a plan for us and this is a step forward for this church, not a step backward.

To start the process of finding a new pastor, we have a critical decision to make in the next week. At the Sunday services, I outlined our options, but I wanted to provide a brief summary in this note for those who could not attend the services.  After the Saturday and Sunday services this week (Feb. 27/28), the PPR committee will meet with members and friends to obtain input and ideas from everyone.  At the Administrative Council meeting on Monday, March 1, the council will discuss the options, input from everyone, and decide on what pastoral option or options to pursue.

As you think about the options, put God’s ministry first and then think about which option or options allow us to continue that ministry.  I encourage us to resist selecting an option and then fitting a ministry into that option.  Also, think of the things we do that are important to you and what talents you would like our pastor to have.

OPTION ONE:  Local Pastor

This option appoints a local pastor to the church.  The local pastor may be a younger person, or a retired pastor.  The pastor may not have completed seminary, but attends yearly training at Wesley University in Dover, DE.  The pastor typically has a source of income other than the pastoral appointment and usually does not require a parsonage.  We select the level of effort needed, from quarter time, half time, three-quarter time, and full time.  A full-time local pastor’s salary may be $4,000 per year less than we pay Pastor Bak.  The real savings would if we do not have to pay the $12,750 per year housing allowance.  According to the District Superintendent, the current pool of pastors available for such an appointment is small.

OPTION TWO:  Provisional Member

This option appoints a pastor that is a recent seminary graduate.  The salary would again be a few thousand dollars less than Pastor Bak’s salary, but we would have all other costs associated with a full-time pastor, such as housing, medical, pension, insurance, and travel.  While there is less cost savings compared to a local pastor, there is a larger pool of eligible pastors to choose from because graduation is in May.

OPTION THREE:  Two-Point Charge

This option has us sharing a pastor with another church.  The district is not aware of churches seeking to share a pastor; however, I am confident they would approach candidate churches if we were interested in this option.  The two churches split costs of a full-time pastor based on the level of effort each church needs and the membership of the two churches.  The PPR committees from the two churches would negotiate and agree to the cost-sharing arrangement.  The two churches are encouraged to share bible studies, special events, social gathering, and other functions to make best use of the pastor’s time.

OPTION FOUR:  Full-time Ordained Pastor

This option is what we had with Pastor Bak and means only the pastor changes.  To maintain this option, the church needs about $2,100 per week in tithes and offerings.  We currently receive about $1,700 to $1,750.  We also know that health insurance costs are increasing at what seems an uncontrolled rate and there is no indication that this trend will slow.

I look forward to seeing many of our members and friends at the services this week.  I encourage everyone to offer opinions, advice, or concerns.  Members of the PPR committee will stay as long as necessary after the service to discuss the pastoral appointment process.  For those who wish to discuss their thoughts individually, you may contact any member of the PPR committee.

Howie Klei, PPR Chairperson

PPR Committee Members:

Jill Huster

Lisa Pantelione

Jack Moore

Carol Decker

Eileen Oczkowski

Mike Dziuba

Lynn Tharpe

Bill Schmidt

Chuck Simpkins