Resources for Staff-/Pastor-Parish Relations Committees: 

SPRC/PPRC members are essential leaders during a time of pastoral transition—thank you for serving in this way! Please do your best to welcome the pastor and say goodbye well to the exiting pastor.

Below are links to more practical information, such as forms and a list of dates and policies. The Transition Policy in particular includes names and contact information for conference staff who might be helpful to you.

Transition Policy 2024 - This document (Spanish) lists a host of dates and practices regarding moving, parsonages, and benefits.
2024 Compensation Forms (One Church) - Each new appointment will require a new, signed compensation form with the name of the new pastor. If your church wants to change the compensation amount from what was adopted for this year, you will need charge conference approval, which you arrange through your district superintendent.
2024 Compensation Forms (Two Churches) - See “One Church” form note above.
Compensation Form Instructions
HealthFlex Rates 

Resources supporting leaving well and starting well:

Find a full range of excellent Pastoral Transition Resources from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Below are links to suggestions for saying goodbye and saying hello, honoring what has been and preparing the way for what will be.
Letting Go of This Pastor and Preparing for the Next, by Susan Beaumont
Blessing and Sending Forth of a Pastor, adapted from the United Methodist Book of Worship
50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor, from “Leading Ideas,” Lewis Center for Church Leadership
50 Ways to Improve Pastoral Transitions, from “Leading Ideas,” Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Effective Pastoral Transitions in the Time of COVID, from “Leading Ideas,” Lewis Center for Church Leadership

Karen Horan and Kendall Waller discuss reaching the community

Practical Resources for Clergy:   

On behalf of the church, thank you for your faithful participation in the appointment process! You are bearing the responsibilities of leadership—leaving your current place well and starting well in the next, and you're also tending to your personal and perhaps family needs as well. We want to support you during this time and assure you that you’re not alone!

Each pastor receiving a new appointment is asked to participate in the Right Start event, held in May. That’s a time to come together to support each other in this transitional process. Follow the link below for more information.  

Right Start – riotexas.org/rightstart - Scheduled TBD. Place TBD
Moving Policy - If you have concerns about the logistics of moving this year, especially if you need to sell or buy a home during this time of social distancing, please know that we will work with you to help your move go as smoothly as possible. Please contact Monica Moore in the conference office (210.408.4500) to learn about the options available to you.

Documents required from every pastor changing appointments:

Clergy Benefit Contact Change Form
UMPIP Enrollment Change Form
Wondering how new appointment decisions are made?

Bishop Schnase explained the process he and the Cabinet use for appointing pastors every spring. View his video, “Demystifying the Appointment Process,” here.