New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15
THE METHODIST PASTORAL TERM.

,,ocad tbe attention of MethOdists for some
cora has beoun again in the papers of the de-
nomination and may possibly reach the noo' VI
the General Conference which Will meet III
Philadelphia next May. We refer 10 inc oe-
bate over the existing rule which limits d pas
tors continuous service of one church 90 'iireo
wears. A long list of exceptions has come 10
exist under which many who are technlcaiv
itiperants serve without time limit Professors
In colleges. chaplains, missionaries and editors
are excepted from the operation OF the RUE.
Bishops serve foi life. These exceptions make
the placcs to which they apply especially de-
sirab.e. But all pastors serve under the three
years rule and many of the best pastors feel
that the rule is n hardship. But in the denomi-
nation at large the average time OF service 10
less than two years at "a time In one place.
Many men-perhaps the moJority-serVe p"'
one wear. and few of them desire to serve
longer. OF course these one-year men supply
poor churches or circuits, are moherateiy
edncated and receive small pay. But as the
churches grow in wealth and the educated MID
;sters increase, the discomfort among ooth lay
men and ministers increases. A Few laymeh
and few ministers go every year to other
churches because they are dissatisfied with the
inaexible limitation OF the pastoral term. Ihese
n.rsous are not, however, numerous enough TO
weigh mach in the discussion.
Those who advocate change by when
bi.bop might appoint n minister to the same
chureh wear after year indefinitely, do not ask
70, . settled pastorate. They wish to preserve
wha, t,,ry call the annual review-tbat at the
end ~ each wear every man shall be subject to
removal and eligible to reappointment accoId-
ing In the Judgment of the bishop preslding at
80 .,nuaI ron ference The conservatives
claim that such a change would destroy the
itiueracy and introduce the settled pastorh'e'
Il is, of Course, question Tor Judgment "h"'
would happen after the change; and a. tho pro-
posed method has not been tried under sueh
| conditions As now exist-thougb there was no
time limit during the first forty years OF Amefi-
can Metbedism-it is no wonder that the spirit
| of gloomy prophecy has been poured out upon
| the conservatives The problem lies in this
matter of forecasting the effects OF a repeal OF
| the limiting rule Of three. All that the re
| sormers say they want the other side would
nrobably grant, IL they dill not fear far more
serious consequences from the change. W IL
| not easy for onlookers TO measure the merits oil
| the controversy. For example, the conserva-
| tiyes point ont that the so-called settled pas
| tors sdo not average terms OF three years.
Well. then, what is the danger that impends III
| the fix rd limit il reno, ed II other churches
have not secured higher average than three
years. a three years rule seems to be unneces-
| ,orv to a scheme of rotation. The answer IA,
however that "a favored few will get and
| le.n the best places and the best churches.
| Rut the advocates of the change point out that
the favored few now have the best places and
,,. hest pastors"; they change places regu-
| Ia,lv but A. u. C. and ID. are always filling the
best pulpits. The conservatives excel IN the
s,r,ng anpeal TO human fears. The late Bishop
Erastus Haven called the proposed change
huIIct through the heart of Methodsm. Others
have coined equally startling figures. The ad-
vocates of change seem to be In no hurry
They profess to expect no change Mt present
the Church, they say, must grow gradually up 10
change.
Meanwhile another mode of conciliating the
| diseontepted is to "extend the term to hye
| veors.p II this mode should prevail-and ii
has many advocates-the time-limit system
would practically remain form, hut only
form. for n very long time. The wise Bishop
lane, once said that if pastor remained in
ono place five years no power could theh re-
move him. The conservatives are quoting this
statement with approval, and most OF them are
said to favor the extension To five years. ii
the two sides should compromise oil an extern
sion to five years. the results would probably
not differ from those hoped and feared as the
outcome of repeal OF the limiting rule-i
Bishop Jahes was rs wise as Methodists be
lisyed him to be. We have an impression
however, that it was not quite the thing Il
drag the bishop out Of bis grave to make Thu
chance remark over again. So many pastors arr
removed from other churches after serving iiv'
or even twenty five years that we incline to be
lieve in the removabilty of Methodist pastors
whenever they are no longer the beat men TO
the places they iill-though there were M
time limit tn hoist them out vi itself.
90 Co.. n,u0 tba rat