1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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

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