{"id":33492,"date":"2024-06-29T13:57:03","date_gmt":"2024-06-29T17:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=33492"},"modified":"2024-07-15T14:05:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T18:05:43","slug":"pumc-ready-to-join-in-ministry-with-pastor-mike-chapman-7-1-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=33492","title":{"rendered":"Celebration is Set to Welcome Pastor Mike Chapman! (7\/7\/24)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clergy in the United Methodist Church are “itinerate”; they are appointed to a local church for a season.\u00a0 Earlier this year, we bid a difficult goodbye to Pastor Jim Bolton.\u00a0 But we have now reached the time where a new “chapter” will begin under the leadership of our new pastor, Rev. Mike Chapman.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The Chapmans have arrived in Pitman!\u00a0 Soon, we will celebrate their arrival to PUMC and we’ll kick off our ministry together with them.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

A Bittersweet Transition…<\/span><\/h3>\n

In January 2024, District Superintendent Rev. Glenn Conaway called a special meeting with our Staff-Parish Relationship Committee.\u00a0 Rev. Conaway announced that our pastor, Rev. Jim Bolton, was not going to be reappointed to our church.\u00a0 Pastors in the United Methodist Church are appointed to a local church on a year to year basis, and most serve somewhere between 5-10 years.\u00a0 Pastor Jim had been with us for 10 years.<\/p>\n

It was a difficult meeting.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

But, several weeks later, Rev. Conaway called another meeting to introduce our new pastor, Rev. Mike Chapman.\u00a0 Pastor Mike and his wife Jackie made a big impression on the committee, and we began to look forward to serving Christ under their leadership and inspiration.<\/p>\n

It was a joyful meeting!<\/span><\/p>\n

Pastoral appointments in the UM Church begin on July 1.\u00a0 When a change is made, typically the “outgoing” pastor shares his\/her last Sunday with their church at the end of June and then takes a 2-week vacation to work through the transition.<\/p>\n

At the end of June, Pastor Mike and his family said goodbye to their churches in Dennisville and Tuckahoe, and then moved into our parsonage.\u00a0 On Sunday July 7, we will worship together with the Chapmans for the first time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

It will be a time of celebration and hope!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00a0For more about Pastor Mike’s appointment, check out this post:\u00a0 \u00a0 Pastor Mike Appointed to PUMC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

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Not Alone in Transition…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Due to family health issues, Pastor Jim decided to retire before his term was to end on June 30.\u00a0 His last Sunday with us was March 3.\u00a0 But we were not left alone.\u00a0 Rev. Glenn Conaway, our District Superintendent filled the gap.\u00a0 First he filled it personally, by joining with us in March (and June), and then he filled it by arranging tor guest speaker Rev. John Redkoles to worship with us.\u00a0 Lay speakers Jim Kier and Steve Crispin also helped to fill in.\u00a0 Pastor John led our worship during the months of April and May and then re-joined us at the end of June.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\t\t