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Organization and Structure of the United Methodist Church
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." --John 20:29
The organization of each unit in the church is carefully spelled out in the Book
of Discipline. All members are at least acquainted with the local church.  It
includes those who have professed their belief in Christ, have been baptized, and
have taken the vows of membership. The local church is the context for hearing
the Word of God and for receiving the Sacraments. It reaches out in the name of
Christ to bring persons into its fellowship, to nurture the members in their faith,
and to witness to and serve the community, both local and global. Groups of
local churches work together as a district and are supervised by a clergy
superintendent. These districts are part of an Annual Conference, the basic unit
of the denomination. Central conferences are those regional units outside the
United States. Conferences in the United States are grouped into five geographic
jurisdictions.
Checks and balances are built into all aspects of church life. The organization of
the denomination resembles that of the U.S. government. The General
Conference is the top legislative body; the nine-member Judicial Council is
the "supreme court"; and the Council of Bishops is similar to the executive
branch.
Churchwide agencies are primarily accountable to the General Conference. Their
staff are governed by boards of directors who are lay and clergy persons.
Please contact us for more information!
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