CONNECTING WITH YOUR PASTORS AND STAFF

John Ross Thompson

January 28, 2008


University United Methodist Church is one of an increasingly small number of United Methodist Churches to have two full-time pastors. Pastor Kennetha and I are blessed to be part of a vital church that continues to expand its ministry and mission. We are differently gifted, but both committed to providing the best pastoral ministry we can to the people of UUMC and the community. We also have a large church staff, with 14 persons serving us, plus two staff persons for the Wesley Foundation. All of these persons and their contact information are listed every week in the Sunday bulletin, and also on the church website (www.uumc-msu.org) under “Pastors and Staff”.

Kennetha’s three-month maternity began January 21. It may raise some questions about availability of pastors. The fact that 11 of our staff members are part-time also means that you may have questions about how and when to reach staff members when you need them. Here are some tips on reaching out to your pastors and staff. The bottom line is: If you wonder whether or not you should contact a pastor or staff member, you should!

Pastor Alice Fleming Townley is serving us half-time from January 21 to April 20. As an experienced ordained United Methodist pastor, she brings to us lots of gifts and enthusiasm. Her plan is to be in the church office mid-day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, to be with us each Sunday morning, and available at all UUMC-U-on-Wednesday evening activities.

Thanks to modern technology, your pastors and staff are accessible most of the time. The pastors’ cell phone numbers and email addresses for all the staff are printed in every church bulletin and are on the church website. A cell phone number is on the church answering machine. There is no need for you to apologize for calling our cell phones. The reason we have these cell phones is precisely to be accessible when people need us. We turn them off or do not answer them when we are tied up in other things, but we receive voice mail messages as soon as they are turned back on.

My day off is on Friday. After a busy week, this is a day for rest and “Sabbath”, but Alice is available then, and I am available if needed for hospital calls, funeral home visitations, wedding rehearsals and weddings, and emergencies. This day off helps me to be prepared for the busy weekend ahead, when I see so many of you and join in leading worship and other activities. It is important for me to be physically and spiritually fit, and I appreciate your respecting this day off except in emergencies.

One of the biggest responsibilities your pastors have is to lead the church staff. It’s a complex responsibility keeping in touch with other staff members, most of whom have other jobs and some who cannot attend our Wednesday staff meetings because of those jobs. However, the pastors meet with most staff members weekly, helping to coordinate the many ministries with which they assist.

In order to be at the church when other staff members are present, working each week to build our staff team, we publicize that the normal pattern for our pastors is to be in the church office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Therefore, this is the best time to find me in the office, even though a large portion of those days is spend meeting with individuals and groups, and leading study groups or meeting with church committees. Therefore, it’s always best to call ahead if you want to meet with one of us. You, as parishioners, are our first priority. I am working on Mondays, too, reading, writing, answering emails and phone calls, and planning the week ahead, but usually not from the church office.

Other days of the week we also are available. We attend meetings, do counseling, and make pastoral calls every day of the week as needed. I try to schedule activities away from the church, such as conference and district church activities, on days other than Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We also take time for reading and study, reflective thinking, creativity and rest, to say nothing about time with family and friends. We believe all of us as Christians should model balanced, focused lives as Christians.

The bottom line is that your pastors and staff are accessible and available to help others. We are pleased to meet with individuals and with groups as needed. Call us, email us, or see us at the church. If you wonder whether or not to contact us, you should. The times we are away are publicized, and one pastor is always on call. Thank you again for the honor of serving you as a part of our church staff!