Stationing

It is a delicate and fragile time of year for many Methodists. The Stationing Committee is meeting to match up ministers who are moving with circuits who need new ministers. Our circuit will need a new Superintendent Minister next September, and we await a phone call tomorrow to hear the name of the first candidate we must consider. Today, Ruby Beech, the current Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, posted a prayer on the UK Methodists group on Facebook, which I share with the permission of that group’s moderator, John Cooper. I like the lines, ‘Mission belongs to you, O God. The ground is holy because you are already there.

Here is the prayer:

Gracious and loving God

We bring before you those who you have
called to be ministers in the British Methodist Church. We give thanks
for those who have responded to that call and been ordained.

As
Stationing Committee meets we pray for those who face changes, that
they will be aware of your presence with them, that they may know your
love and peace at this time.

We place into your hands those who
are partners in the task of discernment in the stationing process: the
ministers and their families, the Churches and Circuits, the Chairs of
District, the Warden of the Diaconal Order, the lay stationing
representatives, the Chair of the Committee and members of the
Connexional Team who seek to advise and inform.

Mission belongs
to you, O God. The ground is holy because you are already there. We ask
for all that is needed for this work and that the vulnerability, trust,
commitment, faithfulness, openness and kindness shown in this process
will be reflected in the life of the Church.

May we all go
forward to serve the Church and the World which God loves as God in
Christ reaches out to touch us and the Spirit shines light on our path.

Amen

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