Organization of the Local Church United Methodist Church This project will attempt to outline the organization of the local church of the United Methodist denomination. All information and or pictures are from the Book of Discipline or the UMC.org if they are not specifically detailed.

Organization of the United Methodist Church This picture shows how the United Methodist Church is organized from the top down including the 1993 number both in and outside the United States. http://www.gcah.org/GC96/struct.html#lc

The United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church is a global church. By this I mean that it has conferences and churches outside of the United States. In addition to this, it has ministries and missionary groups around the world. And it’s global ministries

General Church www.umc.org The General Church includes all the United Methodists and United Methodist Churches in the United States. Now that we also have churches outside the United States, they would be included also, but originally the General Church meant the churches and people within the United States. www.umc.org

Jurisdiction The General Church is broken down into smaller geographic areas called jurisdictions. There are five jurisdictions within the United States. Ours is called the North Central Jurisdiction.

Annual Conference Jurisdictions are broken down still further into conferences. A conference is sometimes and entire state, other times it can be two (or more) states in one conference such as the Dakotas Conference. Still other times there can be two conferences in one state, such as the Northern Illinois Conference and the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Our conference is called the Wisconsin Conference.

District District Lines Capital District Wisconsin is then broken down into 8 districts. These are geographic areas that are smaller than the state. Our district is called the Capital District. It is from Sun Prairie to Beloit, and Albany to Lake Geneva.

Asbury United Methodist Church Local Church Finally, within each District are the many local church. The local church is the individual church with the members that worship and belong there. Asbury United Methodist Church is a local Church. Asbury United Methodist Church

Local Church Word of God is preached Community of true believers Under the Lordship of Christ The church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world. Word of God is preached Arena through which disciple-making occurs

Administrative Committees of the Local Church SPRC Church council Committee on finance Board of Trustees Committee on lay leadership

Church Council N Nurture Education, worship, Christian formation, membership care, small groups, and Stewardship O Outreach Sharing the ministries of compassion, justice, and advocacy W Witness Develop and strengthen evangelistic efforts

Church Council’s Responsibilities Review Membership Fill officer vacancies between Annual Conferences Budgetary Recommend to the Charge Conference salaries of staff Review SPRC recommendations; salary, housing, other allowances

Church Council Representatives Chair person Lay leader SPRC Rep Finance Rep Trustees Rep Treasurer Lay member of Annual Conference President of UMW President of UMM Youth Rep Pastor

Chair Person’s Responsibilities Lead Church Council Prepare & Communicate Agenda Review & Assign Responsibilities Communicate with members to permit action at meetings Coordinate Activities Provide Initiative & Leadership

Committee on Lay Leadership Identify, develop, deploy, evaluate, and monitor Christian spiritual leadership for the local congregation Guide the church council; recruit, guide, and train spiritual leaders; asses changing leadership needs Assess the Spiritual gifts and abilities of the membership and give recommendations to the church council Three year terms with no more than nine members, in addition to the pastor and the lay leader, and at least one of which is a young adult

Staff Parish Relations Committee Encourage, strengthen, nurture, support, and respect the pastor, staff, and their families Assist the pastor and staff in assessing their spiritual gifts Make recommendations to the church conference on behalf of the staff and to make evaluations Five to nine members of three year terms. To include a young adult, the lay leader, and a lay member. No staff or family member may serve Assist in pastoral appointment making and keeping; ordination and candidacy; and pastoral remunerations Educate the community on the value of diversity of selection of clergy and staff

Board of Trustees 3-9 people of legal age 1/3 lay women 1/3 laymen 2/3 professing members of the United Methodist Church Receive and Administer funds Hold the title to and manage the property belonging to the entire charge Annual review of insurances, properties, and finances Receive and Administer bequests, trusts, and investments

Committee on Finance To include: chairperson, pastor(s), lay member, chairperson of church council, chairperson of SPRC, representative of trustees, chairperson of stewardship, lay leader, financial secretary, treasurer, church’s business administrator, and any other members. The Chairperson of the committee will also be a member of the church council The Treasurer and secretary may not be the same person, be of the same family, or live within the same household Treasurer is to disperse all money, make reports to the financial committee, annual audits, and annual report to the charge conference

Program Committees of the Local Church Church School & Small-Group Ministries Children’s Ministries Young People’s Ministries United Methodist Women United Methodist Men

Church School & Small Group Ministries Support the formation of Christian Disciples Teaching & learning, fellowship, support, community ministries, & accountability Church School, Accountable Discipleship, Mission & Ministry groups, Support Groups

Children’s Ministries For, with, and by children All ministries involving children Coordinator Insure that children are considered and included in the life of the congregation Lead children’s council Work closely with clergy, staff, and other leaders of the church Employ ‘Safe Sanctuary’ procedures to ensure the safety of the children Children’s Council Planning, visioning, and advocacy for children with in the congregation, the community, and the world Oversee planning of short and long term experiences for the ministry needs of the children

Young People’s Ministries Youth Council 3 or more youth; one young adult; coordinator of youth ministries; any youth serving in a higher committee All offices held by youth; meets semi-annual Plan and develop activities Finding &encouraging adults to work with youth Develop a covenant of all volunteers Encourage & facilitate further education for coordinator and staff Encourage & educate youth on ministry careers Promote camping, Youth Service Fund, and connectiveness

United Methodist Women The organized unit of the United Methodist Women Shall be a community of Women Whose purpose is to know God And to experience freedom as whole persons Through Jesus Christ; To develop a creative, supportive fellowship; And to expand concepts of mission Through participation in the global ministries Of the Church.

United Methodist Men Support effective men’s ministries Promote spiritual growth & centrality of Christ in Every man’s life Support effective men’s ministries Daily Bible study & prayer Bear witness to Christ’s way Assist men in their ever changing relationships, roles, & responsibilities Engage in Christian service

Resources Book of Discipline Chair of Church Council Clergy Colleagues District Superintendent