Being Connected
PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND
May 7, 2025
BEING CONNECTED
The fund raiser for the Rev. Matthew Pickut and his family which was held at the Plymouth First United Methodist Church on April 27th was a wonderful success. More than $19,500 was raised from the dinner, the bake sale, the silent auction, the life auction, and donations with money still coming in.
From 4:30 to 5:30 I helped at the door to the dinner. In the hour I worked a wide cross section of the Marshall County community passed through the door. A number of persons I recognized from other settings than the church. Some said they were in a hurry and could not eat or stop by the silent auction but wanted to leave a donation.
Matt and his family not only have the support of the Marshall county community, but also of the North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. In the United Methodist church all clergy are under appointment by the resident bishop. I have a retired appointment. The Rev. Larry Marhanka, pastor of First UMC, has an appointment to be the senior pastor of the church. As of April 1st Matt’s appointment was changed from being an appointed to First UMC to incapacity leave.
Pastors on incapacity leave have their health insurance, pension, and a reduced salary paid by the annual conference. When I first started in ministry I had a friend who was placed in this category after only ten years of active service. He remained in that category for more than thirty years until he eventually passed away. The whole time the Annual Conference supported him and his family spiritually, emotionally, and economically.
The United Methodist Church is what is known as a connectional church. The ultimate authority for polity and practice is with the General Conference which meets every four years and is made up of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates who have been elected by the Annual Conferences. The polity and practice is implemented through the agencies, annual conferences, bishops, and individual churches.
In Acts 2:43-47 we find a brief description of the early church. “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (vs. 44, 45) The members took care of each other. When a person was in trouble, the whole community rallied to their aide. They were mutually connected with each other.
One of the major concerns for Paul as he travelled was to take a collection for the poor in Jerusalem. He rallied the whole Christian body to come to the aide of their brothers and sisters who were having hard times. The early church was a connected church through Paul.
The connections Matt and his family have through their involvement with the church, the ministerial association, a preschool, the debate team at the local high school, and the fire department where Matt was the chaplain have rallied to offer their support and caring when tragedy struck. His connection with the United Methodist church has provided a spiritual, emotional, and financial underpinning to help them face the days and months ahead.
The health of any community is directly related to its social capital. The truth of this statement has been made manifest by the overwhelming support that Matt Pickut and his family have received over these last few months. Being connected has made all the difference.
(This article was originally published May 6, 2012. Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)