Happy New Year! My prayer for you this year is that you will know God’s Presence through the work you do, the people you love, and the beauty of creation.
This year we want to continue the practice of posting our clear appointment openings. We do this in an effort to provide transparency, and to have creative flow and collaboration in the appointment process.
As we begin the appointment process, we start with those churches in need of a new pastor through a retirement, ending of an interim period, or a change in status of the previous pastor. These are the set group of churches needing a new appointment. These churches are listed below with brief descriptions of their ministry settings. Specific statistics about the churches are available through the Annual Conference Journal, and demographics of the surrounding communities are available through MissionInsite.
Clergy members interested in putting their names forward for specific openings should contact both their current District Superintendent and the District Superintendent of the district with the church opening. In some cases, it might be the same D.S. who supervises both appointments. As a courtesy, if the D.S. is not the same, notification to both is required. There is absolutely no guarantee that the clergy member will be selected for an appointment based solely on the request, but the Bishop and Cabinet will deeply discern the gifts and graces of the clergy members putting their names forward, and the needs of the mission fields and the local churches. We are committed to making appointments based on the match between what is needed in the local communities and churches, and the gifts and skill sets of the potential pastors.
All inquiries will be held in strict confidence. Pastors wishing to put their names forward are not to contact their own local churches, nor the pastors or laity of the churches in which they have interest, as this has the potential to harm their current church appointments. The Cabinet will not release any information regarding those who put their names forward.
We do ask that clergy who plan to put their names forward to enter into a prayerful discernment before contacting their District Superintendents. Consider taking part in the process only after a careful consideration of where God is leading you, and be affirmed by God that this is both realistic and a true calling.
For those the Cabinet eventually asks to move to new appointments, we are committed to providing the specific reasons why we are asking for this new opportunity. As mentioned earlier, the Cabinet will deeply discern the match between mission field and local church, and the gifts and graces of the pastor asked to serve. The Cabinet will share the rationale of why we believe this match is necessary. There is also the expectation of an open itinerancy, and if one cannot move because of grave family issues, we will enter into a “covenant of limited itineration,” whereby full-time appointment may not be granted, as we see what is available in any given local area.
We hope and pray that this way of appointment making will continue to be both liberating and helpful to our annual conference and God’s Kin-dom that we are pledged to serve.
Grace y paz,
Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank
Los Angeles Area Resident Bishop
The United Methodist Church
EAST DISTRICT
Community United Methodist Church of Wrightwood – 75-100% Lead Pastor Appointment
1543 Barbara St, Wrightwood, CA 92397
Membership: 48 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 53
Wrightwood UMC is a vibrant and welcoming church nestled in the San Gabriel mountains, serving as a beacon of faith and fellowship. The congregation is committed to nurturing spiritual growth, fostering community engagement, and making a positive impact in the lives of church members and the broader community. Through inspiring worship services, meaningful outreach initiatives, and a supportive community atmosphere, Wrightwood UMC stands as a place where everyone can find belonging, purpose, and a deeper connection with the divine.
United Methodist Church of Cucamonga – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
7690 Archibald Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Membership: 135 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 35
UMC of Cucamonga is a dynamic and diverse community located in the city of Rancho Cucamonga. Rooted in a rich tradition of faith, the congregation embraces individuals from all walks of life, fostering an environment of warmth and acceptance. The church is more than a place of worship; it’s a vibrant family dedicated to offering opportunities to foster deeper and authentic connections with Christ, each another, and the community.
HAWAI`I DISTRICT
Wahiawa United Methodist Church (Island of O`ahu) – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
1445 California Ave., Wahiawa, HI 96786-2598
Membership: 127 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 65 (45 in-person; 20 online)
Wahiawa UMC is a full-time lead pastor appointment. The church is located in Central O`ahu. It is a Reconciling church and is also active in several types of outreach. It has a solid music program (blending traditional with contemporary) and is known for its hospitality. It is an ethnically diverse congregation. They need a pastor who is progressive, and also culturally competent, being sensitive to all and who can lead them in the present and into the future.
Wesley United Methodist Church of Hawai`i (Island of O`ahu) – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
1350 Hunakai St., Honolulu, HI 96816-5542
Membership: 196 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 90 (40 in-person; 50 online)
Wesley UMC is a full-time lead pastor appointment. The church is located in the Kahala section of Honolulu, in one of the wealthiest communities in Hawai`i. It is an ethnically diverse, Reconciling congregation. They are financially stable. They need a pastor who is progressive, culturally competent, with an ability to relate to many types of people and lead this congregation into its present and future reality.
Christ United Methodist Church of Honolulu (Island of O`ahu) – 100% Associate Pastor Appointment
1639 Ke’eaumoku St, Honolulu, HI 96822
Membership: 1160 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance, English Language Worship Service: 65 (50 in-person; 15 online)
Christ UMC is one of the largest congregations in our annual conference; most participants conduct ministry primarily in Korean, with a smaller English ministry. The church is located in the Makiki section of Honolulu, near the center of the Korean business community. The church seeks an associate who can pastor to the English-speaking adults, most of whom are Korean American but not exclusively so. The congregation is somewhat more conservative in theology. Cultural competency in Korean and local Hawai`i culture is extremely important.
NORTH DISTRICT
Pacoima First United Methodist Church – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
12550 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331-1354
Membership: 89 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 78 (25 in-person; 53 online)
The church is located in the San Fernando Valley. The church community is focused on excellence in worship and outreach. It has a thriving online ministry. Currently the church is hosting Discovery Charter Preparatory a K-12 school. Pacoima First is traditionally a Black Church and would like to focus on further outreach to the neighborhood surrounding the church. The church is seeking a Bi-lingual (Spanish and English) pastor to help with reaching their community, which is mostly Hispanic.
Burbank First United Methodist Church – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
700 North Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502
Membership: 310 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 181 (95 in-person; 86 online)
Burbank is a full-time Lead Pastor appointment. The active laity along with the staff values creating events, studies, and worship to deepen their spiritual lives while fostering community. They engage in several outreach programs to help those beyond their walls as well as a deep connection with the city of Burbank.
Sherman Oaks United Methodist Church – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
14401 Dickens St., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Membership: 208 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 44 (29 in-person; 15 online)
Sherman Oaks UMC is a full-time lead pastor appointment. This multi-cultural congregation values excellences in worship and developing the spiritual lives of members. There is a strong commitment to leadership development of the laity. In addition to focusing on the development of current members, they have a passion for reaching out to their community in service.
Westlake Village United Methodist Church – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
1049 S. Westlake Blvd, Westlake Village CA, 91361
Membership: 321 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 146 (79 in-person; 67 online)
Westlake Village is a full-time appointment lead pastor appointment. This congregation’s laity and staff are exploring new ministry opportunities in their community with a focus on diversity and being a presence in the community. They want to continue their commitment to service by partnering with many non-profit organizations while evaluating what it means to be post pandemic church.
SOUTH DISTRICT
Laguna Beach United Methodist Church – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
21632 Wesley Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Membership: 176 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance: 100 (80 in-person; 20 online)
A congregation ready to move into new ways of engaging the community, seeking a collaborative, transparent, empowering pastor who will continue to strengthen the capacity of lay leadership; has gifts for creative worship and solid proclamation, someone who inspires trust and communicates well, and has strong staff management and administrative gifts.
WEST DISTRICT
Holman UMC – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment AND 100% Associate Pastor Appointment
3320 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90018-1838, USA
Membership: 1702 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance 653 (483 in-person, 170 online )
Holman UMC is one of the largest congregations and it is the largest African American church in our annual conference. Holman continues on the mission of seeking, building up disciples of Jesus Christ and sending them out to the world to expand God’s love to all the nations. The church seeks a lead pastor and an associate who can collaborate in leading the church into the cutting edge of the community and society and changing the world in the process.
First UMC of Santa Monica – 100% Lead Pastor Appointment
1008 11th St, Santa Monica CA 90403-4107, USA.
Membership: 920 | Average Weekly Worship Attendance 410 (240 in-person, 170 online)
FUMC of Santa Monica has been a significant presence in the larger Santa Monica community for over 125 years. Through their worship, music, study opportunities, mission work, care ministries, they are able to proclaim God’s love to all people in the Westside of our conference and to the world. SMFUMC is considered one of the largest churches in our conference with a vibrant multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-staff congregation worshiping in English. They are committed to fostering a beloved community and openly invites all people to participate in this work of making the world a better place to live.