When the DS calls

The traditional role of your District Superintendent is to provide counsel and support for every pastor and congregation within his or her District.  As such, occasionally a DS might give you a call for a variety of positive reasons. 

However, there are moments when the DS is pursuing a complaint against you.  It is therefore important that you find out the purpose of the call.

Ask, “Is this routine or do you have some sensitive matters to discuss?"

Hopefully, the call is about something where you can help the DS.  If the reason is appropriate for the meeting (clearly not about a complaint) and is not vague, continue the call.

If it is about a complaint, DSs don’t like to have to say so.  They tend to not be very straight forward about what they want.  They usually say something like “I’d like to talk with you about career goals,” or “We are updating our files on appointment preferences.”

If you get a call something like that, here’s what you do:

Say you will call back in a few minutes.  If you have to make an excuse, tell him/her that you have diarrhea or that someone’s at the door.  And hang up.

CALM DOWN AND REREAD THIS ARTICLE.

Also read the article 'BEFORE The DS Calls.'
 
Then read in its entirety Paragraph (P) 362 of the 2004 Book of Discipline (BOD). 

When you call back, let the DS say whatever he/she will.

If there is no mention of a complaint but there is an insistence on meeting with you, say nothing about your fear or anger or guilt or grief (see the article on Emotions).  The DS will ask for a meeting as soon as possible, usually at a place and time convenient for him/her.  Do not make a fuss about it unless you have a serious prior commitment such as a funeral or treatment for a medical problem for you or for a family member.  Quietly negotiate what you can, which may be very little.

If the subject of a complaint comes up,

     1. ask for a copy of the complaint and any supporting materials for it.
 
     2. Ask for time to get a "person" and to study the complaint. 

     3. Ask if the complaint could end up in civil or criminal court
        so that you will know whether or not you will need a lawyer. 

     4. Ask who else will be coming to the supervisory response meeting. 

     5. Ask for twenty days minimum to prepare for it.

Cabinet officers ordinarily deny most of those requests even though Paragraph 362.1b states the interview is "administrative" and Fair Process is required in all "administrative" hearings. 

Some cabinets prefer to get you by yourself, unprepared for a complaint, so they can apply intimidation and your ignorance of Fair Process for complaints.  Then they can blind side you and make it easier on themselves by tricking you into confessing and/or within 24 hours giving up your credentials without a fight.

Do not be defensive or hostile during this phone call.  Do not give them something else to charge you with.  Just put off the meeting with the superintendent for as long as you can so that you have time to get someone to go with you. 

Basically, say as little as possible.  All pastors have things about their ministries for which they feel great guilt.  Take those up with a professional counselor.  This is no time to hope the DS will be wearing his counselor’s hat.  He’s the sheriff in our system. 

DSs may realize this is their only chance to get you alone and they will want you to say something that they can use against you.  Hang up as soon as you can. 

YOU CANNOT TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS!

Go to the article 'AFTER the DS Calls' and begin the preparations suggested there.

9/27/07