On the other hand, it can mean that a minister stays within his area of expertise or speciality, and thus is available for wise consultation, even if he gains a wider interest rather than his or her original sphere of influence.
Having seen the benefits of the traditional 'village pastor' model in Australia, some of the more modern manifestations of Christian worship have been changing their policies.
For example, some of the larger Pentecostal churches sees their founding Pastor staying for many years, while the Salvation Army has abandoned the practice of moving their Captains every two years and now allow them to stay in the one location for longer (if things are working well). The Uniting Church, too, has moved to longer stints in parish work, having long ago moved from their 'five year' appointment policy.
Sometimes external circumstances dictate the procedure; for example, country Baptist churches have tended to have their ministers 'turn-around' on a regular basis, often due to 'younger' Ministers wanting to relocate to a regional or city area. This is similar to the situation with doctors and teachers in country areas; it is not necessarily a phenomenon that the Church (or others) can control.
The fact that this has nothing to do with Baptist policy, is shown by the Canberra Baptist Church, whose Ministers have consistently had long stints. The late Reverend F P McMaster MBE was there for 29 years.
The Presbyterian's have likewise enjoyed longer term pastorates. For example at Tweed Heads the current minister, the Reverend Stephen Taylor, is in his 15th year. He said the Tweed Heads Church celebrates its 100 anniversary next year with only five incumbents, the previous minister was in Tweed Heads for the 50th anniversary.
The policy of the Anglicans and Catholics are a little different, in that their Bishops determine the appointment of the Rectors / Priests by need and vacancy.
The Church Life Surveys now show that Baptist and Pentecostal churches have the largest congregations with 'bottoms on seats'; and according to their combined statistics, the longer a Minister says, the more satisfied are the parishioners, and the more effective in their ministries is that local church.
There are other areas of Christian Ministry where continuity plays a similar role for long-term effectiveness.
Many Ministers serve in areas such as theological education, missionaries in the field (including medical personnel) and chaplains to the military, industry and commerce staff, youth and community groups, university staff and students, professional sport athletes and coaches, fire services, the SES and in numerous other community roles.
The same principles apply here as it does to parish based ministry. Imagine those missionary couples who have each learnt a new language and worked diligently to understand a different culture, having served in that situation for many years. Continuity of ministry becomes imperative.
It would be a loss to all concerned if they were to leave such a post before they were ready. Normally it is family or health matters that are the determinants for ministers leaving a particular area or even a congregation.
Mark Tronson, Baptist Minister and chairman of Well-Being Australia, admits that there are occasions where public recognition of Christian Ministry is given, but he considers that this is not the norm. A minister can serve faithfully in a rural or regional area for much of their ministry while community workers around them get acknowledgement 'gongs'.
"I wonder if there is a sense in which the 'calling' predominates such thinking," muses M V Tronson. "In this theology, God's call to a specific situation is the critical factor. In my view, servants of the Lord live and work in community, and all Ministers, Missionaries and Chaplains who have served faithfully should be acknowledged with due and equal credit. Maybe it's a perception of value issue."
Mark Tronson advocates some extra consideration. For example, he considers something like a Commonwealth Medallion would be fitting for Christian Ministry for all Ministers who have served for thirty years; and also for the Ministers who have given their all in 'out of the way places', or in other 'unpopular but necessary' areas within Christian organisations.