Church Hierarchy

[Hediru]

I've noticed that many people on this board have questions about how the UM church is run. Here's an as-brief-as-I-can primer. The General Conference is the international governing body of the denomination. The General Conference meets every 4 years to discuss issues and doctrine. The set-up to church "government" is very similar to the government of the United States. The General Conference is similar to congress in that churches from different regions send representatives who vote on issues. They usually modify our constitution, which is published every 4 years under the title, "The Book of Discipline". There are also smaller regional conferences that work in a similar fashion. Jurisdictional Conference is held every 4 years as well, and the main purpose of these conferences is electing bishops, who are elders (pastors) whose function is similar to that of a catholic bishop. There are 6 jurisdictions: Northeast, Southeast, North Central, South Central, Western, and International. The bishops preside over the Annual Conferences which is most similar to a state conference (though a few larger states, such as my home state of PA, are divided into regions of that state due to a large number of churches in that state. I'm in the Western PA conference.) These conferences are divided into districts, which is usually made up of a couple of counties in the conference. The supervisor of this is the District Superintendent, an elder (pastor) who has been appointed by the bishop and serves on the bishop's cabinet. The charge conference is the smallest division and consists of each individual church. (In the rare case of a multi-church charge where 1 pastor serves multiple churches, they all share the same charge conference). The pastor of the church is in charge. The annual and charge conferences meet annually. And the districts usually don't have their own conference, but they do carry out business as well. Hope this helps!

[svdbygrace]

I've noticed that many people on this board have questions about how the UM church is run. Here's an as-brief-as-I-can primer. The General Conference is the international governing body of the denomination. The General Conference meets every 4 years to discuss issues and doctrine. The set-up to church "government" is very similar to the government of the United States. The General Conference is similar to congress in that churches from different regions send representatives who vote on issues. They usually modify our constitution, which is published every 4 years under the title, "The Book of Discipline". There are also smaller regional conferences that work in a similar fashion. Jurisdictional Conference is held every 4 years as well, and the main purpose of these conferences is electing bishops, who are elders (pastors) whose function is similar to that of a catholic bishop. There are 6 jurisdictions: Northeast, Southeast, North Central, South Central, Western, and International. The bishops preside over the Annual Conferences which is most similar to a state conference (though a few larger states, such as my home state of PA, are divided into regions of that state due to a large number of churches in that state. I'm in the Western PA conference.) These conferences are divided into districts, which is usually made up of a couple of counties in the conference. The supervisor of this is the District Superintendent, an elder (pastor) who has been appointed by the bishop and serves on the bishop's cabinet. The charge conference is the smallest division and consists of each individual church. (In the rare case of a multi-church charge where 1 pastor serves multiple churches, they all share the same charge conference). The pastor of the church is in charge. The annual and charge conferences meet annually. And the districts usually don't have their own conference, but they do carry out business as well. Hope this helps!

Thanks! :) I have really been wondering this. The Church I am now attending shares a pastor with another local church.

[herev]

I would only caution not to compare The Book of Discipline to a Constitution, we actually do have a constitution, as well.
Otherwise, good summary

[Law of Loud]

Just curious, but as a Methodist, should we be reading the Book of Disciplines? I've not really heard of anybody in my church reading it (though I'm certain the pastor has), but it seems a fairly minor issue from where I came from. I was just wondering if that was pretty much a consensus, or rather if there were areas where the Book of Disciplines was seen as something everybody should be familiar with.

[Hediru]

Just curious, but as a Methodist, should we be reading the Book of Disciplines? I've not really heard of anybody in my church reading it (though I'm certain the pastor has), but it seems a fairly minor issue from where I came from. I was just wondering if that was pretty much a consensus, or rather if there were areas where the Book of Disciplines was seen as something everybody should be familiar with.

The Book of Discipline isn't exactly a book for reading. lol :) However, I think that it is a good idea for Methodists to familiarize themselves with what is in it so that they may be better informed about what the church stands for and what we feel about different issues. Even more importantly, if there is something in there that you disagree with (which happens more often than you may think) then you can actually petition the General Conference to change it with a resolution. The chances of a resolution getting passed can be slim, but it never hurts to try!

[ClementofRome]

Just curious, but as a Methodist, should we be reading the Book of Disciplines? I've not really heard of anybody in my church reading it (though I'm certain the pastor has), but it seems a fairly minor issue from where I came from. I was just wondering if that was pretty much a consensus, or rather if there were areas where the Book of Disciplines was seen as something everybody should be familiar with.

I believe that we do a disservice to ourselves to not know what is contained in the Book of Discipline. For all you know, you might totally disagree with it. :doh:

[dsppastor]

Is there any wesleyans out there? The wesleyan Church. This denonanation came out of the um church in 1843, a man by the name of orange scott, left and started the wesleyan church. They have the doctrine of sacitification as a main theology. I have been a part of the Wesleyan church for 40 years. Hope to talk with others from it.
In CHrist steve:crossrc:

[alaurie]

Thanks, Hediru. :) This is helpful information.