Smyrna times., 1883-07-25
The Methodist Pastoral Term.

The Methodist Pastoral Term.
The most serious discussion which |
has engaged the attention of Metho-
dists for some years has begun again in
the papers of the denomination and |
may possibly reach the floor of the
General Conference which will meet in
Philadelphia next May. We refer to
the debate over the existing rule which
limits PASTORS continuous service of
one church to three years. A long list
of exceptions has come to exist under
which many who are technically itin-
Grants serve without time limit. Pro-
fessOrs in colleges, chaplains, mission
aries and editors are excepted from the
operation of the rule. Bishops serve
for life. These exceptions make the
places to which they apply especially
desirable. But all pastors serve under
the three years rule and many of the
best pastors feel that the rule is
hardship. But in the denomination at
large the average time of service is less
than two years at time in one place.
Many men-perhaps the majority
serve but one year, and few of them
desires to serve longer. OF course
these One-year men supply poor
churches or circuits, are moderately
educated and receive small pay. But
as the churches grow in wealth and
the educated ministers increase, the
discomfort among both laymen aud
ministers increases. A few laymen
and few ministers go every year to
other churches because they are dis
satisfied with the infexible limitation
of the pastoral term. These persons
are not, however, numerous enough tC
weigh much in the discussion. Those
who advocate a change by which {
: bishop might appoint minister to th'
same church year after year indefinite
/ ly, do not ask for a settled pastorate
4 they wish to preserve what they cal
the annual review-that at the end o
each year every man shall be subjec
to removal and eligible to reappoint
ment according to the judgment of tn
bishop presiding at an annual confer
i ence, The conservatives claim tina
u such a change would destroy the itin
eracy and introduce the settled pastor
ate. 1t is, of course, a question fc
judgment what would happen after tn
change; and as the proposed metho
has not been tried under such cond
io tiOns as now exist-thOugh there W;
no time limit during the first fort
years of American Methodism-it is I
wonder that the spirit of gloon
prophecy has been poured out upC
the conservatives. The problem Ii
L. in this matter of forecasting the effeC
of a repeal of the limiting rule of thre
&C All that the reformers say they wal
rk- the other side would probably grant,
to they did not fear far more serious CO
sequences from the change, 1t Is II
e. easy for onloOkers to measure the m'
its of the controversy. For examp
the conservatives point out that the :
called settled pastors "do not avera
-, terms of three years" Well the
"' what is the danger that impends
re the fixed limit is removed? If 9th
= churches have not secured higl
average than three years, a thl
years rule seems to be unnecessary +
IN scheme of rotation. The answer
u however, that "a favored few will
and keep the best places and the b
churches" But the advocates Of
: change point out that "the favored
now have the best places and the b
pastors"; they change places regular
= but A. B. c. and d. are always fill
IL, the best pulpits: The conservatives
Gel in the strong appeal to human fe'
The late Bishop Erastus Haven cal
the proposed change bullet thro'
, the heart of Methodism, Others b
coined equally startling figures,
advocates of change seem to be In
hurry. They profess to expect
change at present-the Church, t
., :. say, must grow gradually up t
:, change.
l. Meanwhile another mode of COZ
iating the discontented is to "ext
the term to five years." If this m
should prevail-and it has many az
"a cates-the time-limit system W.
practically remain form, but on
lSu form, for very long time. The
Bishop James once said that if pa
, remained in one place five year
power could then remove him.
ts conservatives are quoting this s.
J. ment with approval, and most of
power are said to favor the extension to
dious ssSss years. II the two sides should
good and promise on an extension tp FIVE Y
cssiF. the results would probably not {
J iiSgtb. from those hoped and feared as
PRES, pNtcome Of 4 fepeal Of the linn
ss-== rule@if Hishop James was as wi
RS. Methodists believed him to be.
have an impression, however, tn
was not quite the thing to drag
Bishop out of his grave to make
99rPP 9.tPs chance remark ever again. So I