Sunday June June 15 was Father’s Day, but another issue weighed on our minds as we worshiped on that morning. Several months ago it was announced that the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference had decided to not re-appoint Rev. Dr. Larry Potts to our church as our senior pastor. Instead, he will be appointed to the Franklinville UMC. In addition, our Associate Pastor, Rev. Kee Young Yang will be appointed as the senior pastor of the St. Paul’s UMC in Bayhead NJ.
Pastor Kee and Pastor Larry at Annual Conference after Pastor Kee’s appointment to PUMC.
Pastors in the United Methodist Church are appointed by the conference to a local church one year at a time. The appointments take effect on July 1. According to the schedule given by the conference, Pastor Larry and Pastor Kee’s final Sunday with us was on June 15. During the next two weeks they will prepare for their new appointments.
And while we look forward to the arrival of our new pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jim Bolton, it is difficult to part ways with these two men who we have known as our pastors. Pastor Kee joined our church three years ago, and Pastor Larry has been our senior pastor for the past six years. Our time with them has resulted in many good memories spent with friends and in personal growth and learning under their leadership.
During the service, Pastor Larry wore a stole which was recently purchased by the church for this occasion. The Elder’s stole represents the yoke of teamwork between the clergy and the laity of the local church. For his final Childrens’ Sermon, Pastor Larry used the analogy of hats to symbolize the meaning of the stole and to teach about the partnership that we share in the ministry of building God’s Kingdom.
This stole will be placed on the alter during the next two Sundays as we pray for Pastor Larry and Pastor Kee. This stole will also help us to pray for our new pastor. When Pastor Jim assumes leadership of our church, he will put on the stole left behind by Pastor Larry. In a symbolic way, the “torch will be passed” as we move forward into a new chapter of our church’s life.
At the end of every service, the pastors stand at the back of the church to great the congregation as they leave. On this week, that process took much longer, as hugs were exchanged and many tears were shed.
We will continue to pray for both Pastor Kee, Pastor Larry, and their families as they move into their new homes and new ministries.
Pastor Kee and Pastor Larry after their final worship service at PUMC. The stole that Pastor Larry is wearing will be given to Pastor Jim when he becomes our new pastor.
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For additional information about the change in pastors or about our staff in general, Click Here.
