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I know this is an older thread, but I just now saw this and wanted to make a few remarks. I am an ordained United Methodist minister. Methodist bishops mostly just move preachers around every two years.

Methodist Bishops do far more than move clergy around: Bishops are responsible for the spiritual lives of their clergy, for ensuring they are properly trained, and for ordaining them (for, in the UMC, only a Bishop may ordain). Bishops have many other duties, including presidential and teaching authority.

As for clergy tenures, we tend to stay longer than 2 years. In my Conference the average stay is now about 6 years.

I think they still confirm the kids, but it's just not a big deal. They waffle on infant baptism as well.

What in the world are you reading that would lead you to think such is the case? The UMC is hardly "waffling" on Infant Baptism. Quite the contrary, in fact. As for confirmation, it is a very "big deal." Perhaps you're thinking about the UMC of the 1940s or 1950s??

Do you know if they still communicate just once a month? Last I heard that's all they did.

Frequency of partaking in Holy Communion will depend upon the congregation. Many celebrate the Eucharist only once a month, but many others offer Communion more frequently. For example, in my congregation the Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated in the mornings on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, and in the evenings on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.

One branch of our family is Methodist. My grandfather in law was a Methodist minister for something like 65 years (he died in his 90s). Probably my notions on the practices of the church derive in large part from his probably rather old-fashioned Southern Methodist habits (so your 40s & 50s weren't far off.) I will say that he was a saint, I'm glad I was privileged to know him, and I hope he's putting a good word in for us with St. Peter . . . he always stayed on good terms with his counterparts in other denominations so hopefully he will stand by us Catholics . . .

I will say that the North Georgia Conference still plays "musical ministers" to an alarming degree. When my Aunt was buried up in Rome GA, she had been an active member of her church for upwards of 75 years, but all the poor preacher who conducted her funeral could say is that he heard she was a pillar of the church . . . she had been ill for his entire tenure, which at the time of her death was less than six months. We all felt sorry for him . . . wasn't his fault.

And when your frame of reference is daily communication as an ideal and once every Sunday as a minimum requirement, four times a month just doesn't seem like much. < g >