Bible Q & A Bevere
BSP: How does the UMC appointment system today compare to what you believe was practiced in the 1st century church?
AB: In some ways that is a difficult question to answer. I am not well enough versed on the episcopacy in the earliest centuries to compare to the modern practice of episcopal appointment. However, I am glad to speculate.
The modern itineracy system is based upon the idea that Christ has endowed the church with divine discernment. As the church must confirm those who are called to ministry, so the church has been given the wisdom to discern where pastors can best serve.
The dilemma as I see it as that often the appointment process is less determined by the leading of the Holy Spirit and more revealed in how dying churches can be revived while appointing gifted pastors into impossible situations that simply demoralize them.