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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

In an innovative measure designed to explore new ways of doing ministry and enhance discipleship, the Rev. Mark Derby has been called to serve a unique appointment: continuing as superintendent of the Washington West District, and also becoming senior pastor of Grace UMC in Gaithersburg.

'This is an opportunity to explore new ways to lead districts and congregations to make and engage disciples and bear Acts 2 fruit,' said Bishop John R. Schol, episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. 'Our goal is to serve all churches well. This will help Mark and the Cabinet stay more connected to the local church.'

The bishop noted that in the West Ohio Conference, three of its current 14 districts are served by Elders who also serve local churches. The Baltimore-Washington Conference Cabinet is adapting the West Ohio model with Derby.

According to the bishop, this appointment opens the possibilities of resourcing the district in new and exciting ways. The Discipler Groups (groups of 8-10 clergy facilitated by a conference staff member), along with conference staff now being responsible for churches and pastors, lends itself to new models.

'This is a new thing for us,' said the Rev. Andrea Middleton King, chair of the district?s Committee on Superintendency. 'It?s a pilot program.' The appointment takes effect July 1.

'We will evaluate the success of the venture in a year?s time,' she said.

While details of how Derby will continue to oversee the district?s 68 churches and lead the 1,650-member congregation are still being ironed out, the church is excited about being chosen to participate in this new configuration for ministry and about being served by a three-member clergy team, said King. A third pastor is expected to join Derby and the associate pastor, King said.

'I am looking forward to returning to pastoring a local church and helping the congregation of Grace UMC to incorporate the Discipleship Adventure into their life and ministry,' Derby said.

While praising the church?s current leadership, Derby acknowledged the Gaithersburg area continues to transition and change and that economic, ethnic and generational diversity presents unique challenges for the congregation.

'I find all of these challenges exciting and I look forward to this new pastoral partnership with the leaders and members of Grace UMC, which is a strong, vibrant congregation with a great history and heritage and an equally great future,' Derby said.

Derby, who has served as a district superintendent since 2000, will take the place of the Rev. William Louis Piel, one of 31 pastors in the Baltimore-Washington Conference who are retiring this conference year.

Additional changes in pastoral appointments are announced on the conference Web site, www.bwcumc.org, each Tuesday.