Diary of a Young Pastor

Ugh.  Politics.  An anonymous individual mailed this to select individuals:

To those interested in the future welfare of our District.  We have been made aware that Rev. David Emery now seems willing and open to be considered and nominated as a candidate for the open DS position.

Rev. Emery is greatly admired and we thought his willingness to serve would be of interest to many pastors and delegates in our district.

We want to make Pastors and delegates aware of his availability in order to let them know there is an alternative to the person that will be nominated by the DBA.

Rev. Emery has not asked for this endorsement and he is not aware that this mailing will be sent. Our desire is to have a level playing field for the election at District Conference.

This is a tragedy.  Here’s my reply that I attempted to send the address stated above:

To: ncwd4change,

I am extremely disappointed by the e-mail that was sent to many people in the West District for multiple reasons:

1st - your unwillingness to sign your name to your ideas.  A grass roots movement happens from time to time, and that is ok.  But, mass mailing people with a personal agenda needs to be just that - personal.  I think that sending an anonymous e-mail of this nature is extremely rude and inconsiderate of everyone involved - the recipients, David, and especially Jerry.  Be a man (or woman), and stand behind what you are saying instead of hiding behind an address.

2nd - sending this type of mail is unfair for Jerry.  David has every right to allow his name to come up from the floor and delegates have the right to nominate him, and vote for him.  However, Jerry is the only one of the nominees who has gone through the process, and an attempt to undermine him in this manner is despicable.

3rd - sending this e-mail is unfair to David.  What was said, overheard, or assumed by you or your colleagues was obviously not intended for public consumption as David has not made any of these feelings public.  You’ve already undermined the trust of the one you are trying to get into office.

4th - this type of politicking is only destructive to the district.  We need to be men and women of God who are holding ourselves to the highest level of integrity.  Already, other pastors and districts are aware of this “campaign”, and I can only imagine what it makes them think of us (hint: not good things).

Let’s be a people of God, not of politics.  Step up.  Shape up.  If you really want to change this district - please, let it begin with you.

Matthew D. Tietje

5763 Rainhill Church Rd.
Morganton, NC
h: 828.584.8444
c: 828.403.8705

To add to the cowardice, the address was not accepting incoming mail.  Here’s what I received:

ncwd4change@gmail.com, it’s time to shape up. Seriously.

~pastor matt

One Memorial that had me concerned was number 325 - Executive Session for Local, District and General Boards and Committees.  It can be summarized by this direct quote from the memorial:

All meetings and sessions of boards and committees elected or appointed by the local church conference or by the local board of administration are executive session, except for non-members or guests who are specifically invited by the chair to attend as observers or as resource persons to provide information or expert advice helpful to the consideration or conduct of church business.

I wasn’t quite sure why this Memorial was even discussed, let alone recommended…we are already allowed to call an “Executive Session” under the current ruling of the Discipline.  Why promote more secrecy, and take away the ability for the people to be informed about the decisions and rulings of the church?  And should our church’s “celebration committee” (a committee established by the Local Church Conference) be sworn to total secrecy (I can see it now…”If I told you what activities we were having at our harvest festival…I’d have to kill you…”)?

~pastor matt