On Thursday, January 2, 2025, Bishop Carlo and his Appointive Cabinet, ABQ & El Paso DS’s, Ross Whiteaker and Pam Rowley announced the first round of clear openings. Clear openings are churches that will need a new pastor due to retirements, or other changes in pastoral status. The two clear openings announced in the first round were both in the El Paso District: St Paul’s-El Paso and St Paul’s-Las Cruces. Both churches are open due to retirements.

In the coming weeks, other clear openings will be announced due to pastors being appointed to the previously announced openings, leaving their churches open as a result. Pastors who have discerned that they’re called to be considered for these openings are encouraged to make their wishes known by contacting their current DS and (if needed) also the DS who supervises the church of interest.

This appointment process is new to the NM Conference. Prayer and discernment on the part of the Cabinet is still an enormously important component but the process allows for increased transparency and agency outside of the Cabinet. Every pastor who makes their interest in an appointment known, will be seriously considered. Along these lines, one of the benefits of the clear openings process is that (hopefully), it takes some of the anxiety out of appointment season. How many pastors and their families dread getting the unexpected phone call from their DS between January and June? While it’s still possible to get an unexpected call, more likely, pastors will be in control of that part of the process.

To view information on the Clear Openings Appointment Process and find a link to the clear openings for the week, CLICK HERE.