Annual conferences within Methodism explained

An annual conference is a regional decision-making body within various Methodist denominations. Conferences are a key characteristic of the connexional (connectional) system of government in Methodism. Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge (a charge is one or more churches served by a minister under appointment by the bishop). Each conference is a geographical division. In general, the smaller states in the United States hold one conference each, while larger states often include two or more conferences. Several annual conferences are held in other nations as well.

Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection

With regard to the membership of Annual Conferences of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection, the 2014 Book of Discipline states:[1]

Evangelical Wesleyan Church

In the Evangelical Wesleyan Church, two annual conferences exist, the Eastern Annual Conference and the Western Annual Conference. It is presided over by a bishop. Annual Conferences in the EWC are invested with the responsibility of reviewing candidates for holy orders.[2]

Free Methodist Church

¶200 of The Book of Discipline of the Free Methodist Church states that:[3]

Global Methodist Church

The Global Methodist Church launched in 2022 following significant differences of opinion and doctrine within the United Methodist Church regarding issues of human sexuality. Numerous United Methodist Congregations voted to disaffiliate from their UMC Annual Conferences and affiliate with the GMC. Structurally, the GMC remains very similar to the UMC.

United Methodist Church

Role and composition

The annual conference is the primary unit of denominational government. Regional groups of conferences within the United States make up the Jurisdictional Conferences, and outside the United States they make up the Central Conferences. The entire group of all annual conferences makes up the General Conference which meets every four years. Only the General Conference can speak officially for the church.

The annual conference is composed of an equal number of clergy and laity. Each charge conference elects as many lay members to the annual conference as they have ministers appointed to that charge. In most cases that is one. The Lay Member must, at the time of election, be a professing member of the United Methodist Church for at least two years and four years an active participant in the church. This requirement may be waived for those under 30 years old in the Central Conferences, and is waived for newly organized churches. The annual conference also consists of a number of "at-large" members, also known as "additional lay members," the number of at-large members being the number necessary (after the members elected by charge conferences are seated) so that the laity and the clergy are equal in number. First seated among at-large members are lay persons holding certain lay positions or offices designated by the Book of Discipline or by the annual conference itself. Among those officers are the lay leaders of the conference and each of the districts within the conference, as well as the Conference presidents of the United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, the young adult organization, the college student organization and the youth fellowship. Also all the diaconal ministers, home missioners and the deaconesses under Episcopal appointment are lay members. When there are multiple congregations in a charge conference, members from each congregation in that charge are encouraged to become at-large members. After all lay members who hold their seat by virtue of office or position are seated and if additional lay members are needed the annual conference will elect any active United Methodist lay person who is interested in holding that position.

Among their other duties the annual conference elects delegates to the general, jurisdictional and central conferences, and votes on amendments to the church constitution. Its executive committee, composed of its ordained clergy members, authorizes the ordination of clergy, also disciplines and hold accountable its members.

Within the United States, conferences are grouped into the jurisdictional areas:[4]

Outside the United States the church is divided into seven central conferences (similar to US Jurisdictions):

Each jurisdiction or Central Conference may comprise Episcopal Areas which are groups of Annual Conferences who share a single bishop. In the US, this is often a precursor to a reorganization or combining of multiple Annual Conferences into one due to churches closing or disaffiliating.

List of annual conferences

The following is a list of the episcopal areas and annual conferences of the United Methodist Church and the current Resident Bishops in each Episcopal Area as of 2023.

USA North Central Jurisdiction[5]

USA Northeastern Jurisdiction[6]

USA Southeastern Jurisdiction[7] [8]

USA South Central Jurisdiction[9]

USA Western Jurisdiction[10]

The Western Jurisdiction is also served by the following active and retired bishops that lead other functions within the jurisdiction:

Africa Central Conference[11]

Bishops are elected to four-year term and re-elected for life

West Africa Central Conference

bishops are elected for life

Congo Central Conference

Bishops are elected to four-year term and re-elected for life

Central and Southern Europe Central Conference[12]

Germany Central Conference

Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference

Philippines Central Conference[13]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference). 2014. Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection. Salem. English. 26.
  2. Book: The Discipline of the Evangelical Wesleyan Church . 2015. Evangelical Wesleyan Church. English. 84–90.
  3. Book: The Book of Discipline of The Free Methodist Church in Canada . . English . 2014.
  4. Web site: Jurisdictions . United Methodist Church . 6 July 2023.
  5. Web site: 2022-2024 Episcopal Assignments . North Central Jurisdiction of the UMC . 6 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Conferences . Northeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC . 6 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Annual Conferences . Southeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC . 6 July 2023.
  8. Web site: College of Bishops . Southeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC . 6 July 2023.
  9. Web site: College of Bishops . South Central Jurisdiction . 6 July 2023.
  10. Web site: Active Bishops . Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church . 6 July 2023.
  11. Web site: Central Conferences Africa . United Methodist Church . 6 July 2023.
  12. Web site: Central Conferences Europe . United Methodist Church . 6 July 2023.
  13. Web site: Philippines Central Conference . United Methodist Church . 6 July 2023.

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