has been unwelcomed by many ministers;
has been counterproductive for many churches;
has lowered the morale of many ministers;
has created unnecessary tension between minister and laity;
has eroded the trust level of both ministers and lay people;
has caused lay people to think they are to control and remake the minister;
and has run counter to the historic prophetic role of the minister as a free spokesman for God, independent of favor or disfavor by the hearer;
Therefore, as a minister of the North Carolina Annual Conference, I do hereby petition the General Conference,
That the procedure of annual evaluation of clergy by the pastor parish committee be discontinued as an expectation of all ministers and churches, and that only those churches and/or ministers which choose to follow the procedure do so as a voluntary choice.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20036-MN-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference