From what I heard tonight… (10:30 PM, September 6.)
Jerry Pence, new GS for the Wesleyan Church. In the four-way
race (Joanne Lyon & Bob Black withdrew earlier) Don Bray and Jerry Pence
gained the most votes with Ken Heer and Aaron Willis trailing. After four ballots Jerry Pence was
elected. 
Like
Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, Jerry Pence is a solid
conservative-but-not-too-conservative nominee that is hard to resist. He is progressive in some ways and
conservative in other ways. People
describe Jerry pence with terms like “solid” “steady” “careful” and “team
player;” You wouldn’t expect to hear
jerry pence suggesting overturning the applecart by planning a wine and cheese
party at general conference or tossing overboard ancient church doctrines. He will change things but probably not “shake
things up.” He seems more committed to evolutionary change than revolutionary
change.
(the next morning)
So
what does this mean?
1. Pence will now have to be replaced in E&CG. Some say H C Wilson was a rumored contender for Global Partners if Don Bray had been elected but ender for E&CG is not so clear—presumably that will be Wednesday’s work. Will they try to slot Ken Heer in this post? Who else? Insider or outsider?
2. What were the “outside factors” in this election? There are always “additional factors” besides the person’s character and record in any election—especially in a national election—what were they? What role did the interview play—did someone disappoint the board or shoot themselves in the foot in the interview? What role did “obvious successor” play—was H C Wilson truly open to Global Partners and how did that affect Bray? How did the candidates answer to the question on “lowering membership standards” affect them? How about women in ministry? Who knows? I don’t—but I do know that votes usually have a host of “other factors” feeding into the consideration. I wonder what they were in this vote?
3. The Tom & Jerry show. Seldom have we elected two GSs so similar as Tom Armiger & Jerry Pence. Both with similar backgrounds they both hold Nazarene Seminary degrees and both hold subsequent D.Min degrees from Fuller Seminary. They have had a similar style in leading the church. What will their joint agenda be and how soon will they implement it? Certainly they won’t wait 3 more years for Earle Wilson to finish his victory lap so we should see the effects of this now coalition soon I suspect.
4. Bray vs. Lyon. Don Bray is now the obvious “front runner” for the 2008 election to replace the retiring Earle Wilson. However, Joanne Lyon’s withdrawal letter seemed to indicate she was open to her own election as GS in 2008—if this is true does it mean a Bray vs. Lyon election is on the agenda for 2008? Boy that’s be something—Bray and Lyon are already similar candidates with like-minded approaches to things. Bray has already indicated he is quitting Global Partners in 2008. Will one of these shake-em-up “progressive” candidates drop out in favor of the other or will they “let the people decide?” Whatever, the new GS in 2008 (Bray, or Lyon, or you) will join a Armiger-Pence style BGS—what does this mean? The average pastor or DS can’t imagine the leadership style of three equal leaders in a church or district—but that is how Wesleyans (and Nazarenes, and Free Methodists) do it. So in cases like these the “mix” and the “compatibility” is how leadership happens. What will this mix be—we have almost three years to see the the Armiger-Pence style emerge.
5. What else? That’s all I can think of…I have classes to teach after breakfast this morning…
(Wednesday afternoon)
More news…
1. Phil Stevenson was
just elected to replace Pence in E&CG. Phil
is a great choice and will now have to be the carrier of “young blood” into the
headquarters system. He’s got lots of
experience in church planting and mothering churches, in the assessment center,
a bit of experience as a DS, good record of “calling people out,” and he’s a
great team ball player which will help him succeed and I would not be too
surprised to see him elected a GS in the future. His only challenge (and Joni’s) will be to
move from California here to the Indiana!
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