Organization
It is the organization of The United Methodist Church that creates a structure for connectionalism. The United Methodist Church is intentionally decentralized and democratic. Clergy and laity alike help determine the ministry and workings of The United Methodist Church through their actions in their local churches, annual conferences, general agencies and through petitions and resolutions they send to General Conference, and through the voting delegates who go to General Conference, the only body that can set official policy for the church. It is individuals, the people called United Methodists, who make possible the connection of hearts, minds, hands and lives as the body of Christ around the world.
From UM 101, an interactive course on United Methodism
Local church
It is primarily at the level of the charge consisting of one or more local churches that the church encounters the world. The local church is a strategic base from which Christians move out to the structures of society…Therefore, the local church is to minister to persons in the community where the church is located…to cooperate in ministry with other local churches…and to participate in the worldwide mission of the church... (2008 Book of Discipline)
Most individuals have their initial contact with the denomination in the local church. Some local church members don't realize that they are part of a bigger whole-the connection: an annual conference, a jurisdiction, the General Church, and churches and annual conferences around the world.
The Book of Discipline outlines rules and organization that local churches must follow but there is also room for a local church to express its ministry according to the community and its congregation.
Find a local church in your area
Districts
Groups of churches in a geographic area are organized to form a district, somewhat similar to the way cities and towns are organized into counties. Often, churches in a district will work together to provide training and mission opportunities.1
Each district is led by a district superintendent (“DS”), an elder appointed by the bishop, usually for a six-year term. The DS oversees the ministry of the district’s clergy and churches, provides spiritual and pastoral leadership, works with the bishop and others in the appointment of ordained ministers to serve the district’s churches, presides at meetings of the charge conference, and oversees programs within the district.2
1 From United Methodist Member’s Handbook by George Kohler (Discipleship Resources, 1997), p. 24.
2 From What Every Teacher Needs to Know about The United Methodist Church (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 30.
Find districts and district offices
Annual Conferences
When you hear the term "annual conference," it could be referring to any one of three things. The annual conference is a regional body, an organizational unit AND a yearly meeting.
Regional body
The annual (sometimes referred to as 'regional') conference is described by the church's Book of Discipline as the "basic unit" of the church.
An annual conference may cover an entire state, only part of the state, or even parts of two or more states. There are also three missionary conferences in the United States, which rely upon the denomination as a whole for funding.
The United States has 63 annual conferences, supervised by 50 bishops. There are 59 annual conferences in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, which are supervised by 18 bishops.
Organizational body
The annual conference has a central office and professional staff that coordinate and conduct ministry and the business of the conference. It likely has a director of connectional ministries, treasurer, directors of program areas (such as camping), communications director, and other staff as deemed appropriate for the annual conference and as required by the Book of Discipline. Clergy and laypersons may also serve on conference boards, commissions and committees.
Annual Conference sessions
Each year—usually in May or June—all clergy members and an equal number of lay members selected from the local churches attend their conference’s Annual Conference sessionmeet together to worship, fellowship, and conduct the business of the conference, which may last 3-5 days. During these sessions, members of the conference hear reports of past and ongoing work; adopt future goals, programs and budgets; ordain clergy members as deacons and elders; and elect delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every 4 years). The bishop presides over these meetings.
Find out more about annual conferences
Jurisdictional / Central Conferences
In the United States of America, The United Methodist Church is divided into five areas known as jurisdictions: Northeastern, Southeastern, North Central, South Central and Western. These provide some program and leadership training events to support the annual conferences. Every four years the jurisdictional conferences meet to elect new bishops and select members of general boards and agencies.
From United Methodist Member's Handbook, p. 25.
Annual conferences located outside the United States are organized into central conferences, much like jurisdictions. There are seven central conferences: Africa, Central and Southern Europe, Congo, Germany, Northern Europe, Philippines, and West Africa.
From What Every Leader Needs to Know About United Methodist Connections by Linda Whited (Discipleship Resources, 2004), p 14.
Go to a map of Jurisdictions
General Agencies
United Methodist general agencies (boards, council, and commissions) are created by and responsible to the General Conference. The purpose of the general agencies is to provide resources and services that will enable individual congregations to serve God effectively in the world. Through the work of these agencies, The United Methodist Church is able to maintain a common vision, mission, and ministry throughout the worldwide connectional system.
What Every Leader Needs to Know About United Methodist Connections, p 14.
Each general agency has its own governing board of lay and clergy members. Members of these boards are selected from individuals nominated by annual conferences and other groups. In addition to board members, there are staff members who coordinate and carry out the day-to-day ministry work of each agency.
The purposes of each agency are outlined in the Book of Discipline.
For example, the General Council on Finance and Administration oversees funds of the church. The General Commission on Religion and Race reviews and monitors the practices of the entire church to ensure racial inclusiveness.
Find out more about each general agency
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