Our Structure
Its Organization
Ours is a "connectional" church. The local church is part of a district (or cluster of churches). The district is part of a conference (a state or an area). The conference is part of a jurisdiction (region). The collective body of United Methodists in America is called the General Conference. The General Conference meets every four years and so do the Jurisdictional conferences.The state or area "conference" is called the Annual Conference. Local church meetings and district meetings occur many times during the year, though each church meets annually to assess its work in what is called its Charge Conference.
Its Book of Rules
At the conclusion of each General Conference, The Book of Discipline is amended and approved. This Discipline (as it is called) contains the current doctrinal statements, general rules and social principles of the denomination. It is the organizational manual for all United Methodist churches on all subjects. All churches, in their operation and administration, conform to The Book of Discipline. This 'law of the church' is historically grounded in the first discipline of 1785 and continues to be the authority on church structure and polity.Its Local Organizaton
While subject to the laws of the church as laid down in The Book of Discipline, the local church affirms connectionalism and accountability. All groups, committees and agencies within the local church are governed by the Church Council. Within the Church Council, the Board of Trustees constitutes the legal entity that represents the congregation. Notwithstanding, the Church Council serves as a clearing-house for most meeting activity and confirms all decision making by vote.An annual event takes place for each local church called the Charge Conference. At that meeting, the District Superintendent presides and assesses the State of the Church. Church leaders are nominated for approval, and an annual budget may be adopted and approved.
Each local church elects delegates from its membership to serve at the meeting of the Annual Conference. Those persons collectively form the pool from which lay delegates are elected for the Jurisdictional and General conferences of the United Methodist Church.