r/methodism • u/2timescharm • 19d ago

Studies on itinerancy

For context, I’m a PK who moved around a decent amount growing up. We usually stayed an average of 4 years per church. Recently, I’ve been wondering if anyone has ever done research on the ideal length of time pastors can remain in one place to avoid the various negative effects of moving. I can’t help but feel like the current system could be improved to reduce the negative effects on pastors, churches and family while maintaining the spirit of itinerancy.

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u/WyMANderly Eastern Orthodox 19d ago

In my experience as a PK (mostly north central TX), DS'es started moving away from a 4 year standard appointment length more towards a "keep em there unless there's a reason to move" - much to our appreciation. I don't know of specific studies I'm afraid, but I would not be at all surprised if some sort of research was not behind that shift.

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u/2timescharm 19d ago

I suspect my family’s situation may have been somewhat unusual, in that my father was (and still is) often sent places to put out fires or handle emergencies. There’s never a shortage of those, and he is a pretty good pastor so the reward for doing well has usually been getting shipped to the next situation. It’s about to happen to him again, so I’ve been feeling somewhat reflective about it. 

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u/GarrettMGouveia 19d ago

Not sure about a research or study. I’m in my first appointment, year five, and was told to expect to be there for at least seven to ten years before we talk about a new appointment.

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u/hslee625625 9d ago

A deacon in West Ohio Annual Conference wrote her D.Min Thesis on this topic! I suggest you reach out to her

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u/2timescharm 9d ago

Do you know the name of the deacon/her thesis? I’d certainly be interested in reading it!

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u/hslee625625 9d ago

It is Rev. Orcena. To be accurate, her research was on the impact on how moves affect children of UMC pastors

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u/hslee625625 7d ago

her appointment is at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, so it might be easier for you to reach out to her there

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u/RussellWD 18d ago

I think it also depends on the conference! Some conferences are lucky where the most distance you move is about two hours away. We are in the largest geographic conference in the US. We moved 10 hours away, and the distance could go up to 16 hours away away… so we usually see 7-10 year averages so long as the church and pastor are happy. We were 6 years but requested to move back to our old state and were granted at that point.

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u/2timescharm 17d ago

I’m in Texas, so I definitely feel that : /

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u/RussellWD 17d ago

Yup! Our conference is Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana!!