United Methodist Church: Structure
John Wesley's grassroots movement
As a denomination, we’re organized around conferences. John Wesley believed “Christian conferencing” was critical for discerning the Holy Spirit -> we believe we need each other to sort out who we are and where we go.
Lots of local churches, like FUMC LaGrange, that are led by a Pastor
Each local church is called a “charge conference.” Pastors are appointed to charge conferences by the District Superintendent and the Bishop.
There are about 45,000 local churches in the UMC.
There are about 45,000 local churches in the UMC.
Multiple churches make up a District, like Chicago Southern District, that are led by a District Superintendent
There are 49 local churches in our Chicago Southern District. Our District Superintendent is Rev. Jacques Conway.
Multiple Districts make up an Annual Conference, like the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, and are led by a Bishop
There are 6 Districts in our Northern Illinois Annual Conference: Chicago Southern, Chicago Northwestern, Elgin, Rockford, DeKalb,
and Aurora. (Head here for an interactive map showing all the churches in the conference).
There are about 370 local churches in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, and we are led by Bishop Sally Dyck.
There are 131 Annual Conferences in the UMC, 54 of those are inside the U.S.
and Aurora. (Head here for an interactive map showing all the churches in the conference).
There are about 370 local churches in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, and we are led by Bishop Sally Dyck.
There are 131 Annual Conferences in the UMC, 54 of those are inside the U.S.
Multiple Annual Conferences make up a Jurisdiction, like the North Central Jurisdiction. Outside of the U.S., these are called Central Conferences instead
There are 11 Annual Conferences in our North Central Jurisdiction (red on the map below), and 12 Jurisdictions/Central Conferences in the UMC: North Central (U.S.), Northeastern (U.S.), South Central (U.S.), Southeastern (U.S.), Western (U.S.), Africa, Congo, Germany, West Africa, Central & Southern Europe, Northern Europe and Eurasia, & Philippines.
While all Annual Conferences are bound to the Book of Discipline in its entirety, Central Conferences have the right to interpret parts to their specific context.
While all Annual Conferences are bound to the Book of Discipline in its entirety, Central Conferences have the right to interpret parts to their specific context.
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There are Methodist churches in many other parts of the world (in countries like Kenya and South Korean, for example), but they are distinct from the United Methodist Church
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As a Global Denomination, we have three branches of governance:
General Conference (legislative) - meets every 4 years to produce the Book of Discipline, which is the book of church law
Council of Bishops (executive) - don’t get a vote at General Conference but can be seen as the guiding leaders of the denomination
Judicial Council (judicial) - operates much like the US Supreme Court
General Conference (legislative) - meets every 4 years to produce the Book of Discipline, which is the book of church law
Council of Bishops (executive) - don’t get a vote at General Conference but can be seen as the guiding leaders of the denomination
Judicial Council (judicial) - operates much like the US Supreme Court
There are about 12,400,000 United Methodists in the world today.
Prepared by the Task Force at FUMC LaGrange, May 2019