Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-03-27
Methodlst church Jottlnes.


Next Sabbath will close this
conference year The manifest
interest taken in the church in all
departments of its work has been
and is, a source Of constant pleasure
to the writer
The topics for next Sabbath are,
"The Resurrection of the Body and
the Life Everlasting the last Ger
mon on the Apostles Greed, aud
1.-THE Divine Presence The even
ing service will be appropriate for
the closing Of the year.
Are the present relations between
pastor and people to be continued OF
is there TO be a changef This ques-
ton has been generally asked among
our people and It furnishes an
opportunity to give some facts about
the Methodist Episcopal church, and
the way appointments are made.
In the first place we might say that
the bishop is the appointing power.
Since he does not know the churches
and their requirements, nor the men
and their ability, he needs some
men to advise with him and explain
the work. This brings into view
the second factor in the making of
appointments, namely the presiding
elders, who do the nominating
They visit each field three or four
times a year, or oftener If needed,
and in consultation with the church
officials of each church and with
the individual pastors, learn the
needs and wishes of all and nominate
men for the churches where, in
their Judgment they can best serve
the church and advance the Re-
deemers kingdom. Sometimes this
brings about changes that the peo-
pie do not desire. For example, a
pastor may be doing good work IN a
small field and the people may wish
him to remain The elder, however,
may see that this pastor can best
serve the church in a larger field,
and may nominate him for that
field, or he may have a difficult
field for which some minister is just
suited and for that reason make a
change. There is however, another
factor in the making of appoint
ments, and that Is the local com.
mittee. When a church wishes tc
consult with the elder IN a special
manner about a pastor a committee
is appointed for this purpose. Il
this committee is not satisfied will
the pastor offered by the elder Il
may go to the bishop and protest
and ask for some other man. Ther
it is for the bishop to decide. Aftel
the bishop has all the facts it is lii
duty to appoint. He has a given
number of churches to supply witt
pastors and an equal number of mel
TO place. Some men no churcl
wants, and some churches no maj
} wants. The bishop has to do thr
best he can. These facts you cal
readily see, make the appointment
of any man to any field, uncertain.
Personally 1 have the utmos
confidence in our Elder DR.. Wright
He is spiritual father to his pas
tors, and an instructor in hol.
things TO the people. He will Il
for both pastor and people tina
which is best. He has suggested
promotion to the writer, and frou
4 that fact has arisen the uncertaint
about the continuance of presen
z relations. Whether he can brin
this about to his satisfaction at thi
conference is, at the present writing
= unknown. Whatever his nomins
tion and the bishops appointment
1t is the duty of both pastor an
people to accept as the best that ca
be done and remain true to Tia
: work of the church which is th
9 work of God. The Methods
; church has grown to the first plac
u among the protestant churches c
2 America, under this system, an
q that is its justification.