Foundational documents, including the doctrinal statements and the social principles, are found in the what we believe section. This leader works with the financial secretary and chair of the committee on finance to make regular financial reports to the committee on finance, church council, the charge conference and, in some cases, the trustees. The trustees shall be of legal age as determined by law, and at least twothirds shall be professing members of the united methodist church see 258. Subject to the direction of the charge conference, the board of trustees shall have the supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the local church and of all property and equipment acquired directly by the local church or by any society, board, class, commission, or similar organization connected therewith, provided that the board of trustees shall not violate the rights of any local church. From the book of discipline of the united methodist church. Cokesbury has now made available a free online edition of the book of discipline, 2016 edition, limited to view and search capabilities. Local church property sale, transfer, lease and mortgage. The board of trustees shall have supervision, oversight, and care of all real property. Free online editions of both the book of discipline and the book of resolutions are available from cokesbury. Numbers in parentheses refer to paragraphs in the 2016 book of discipline. What does the umcs book of discipline say about the.
Permanent endowment and planned giving ministry committee a charge conference may establish a local church permanent endowment and planned giving ministry committee. Second, plaintiff argued that because the complaint only addresses violations of secular law, rather than the umc polity, it is immaterial whether the book of discipline constitutes applicable authority to govern rev. At least onethird of the trustees shall be from each gender, and twothirds must be members of the united methodist church. This guideline is intended to be a guide as you begin fulfilling your responsibilities, and a reference throughout your tenure as trustee. A provision in the book of discipline allows for up to onethird of the trustees to be nonmembers of your church. Designated gifts and bequests are managed by the trustees in accordance with the book of discipline. Board of trustees reedsville united methodist church. Basis because of the current deep conflict within the united methodist church around issues of human sexuality, a local church shall have a limited right, under the provisions of this paragraph, to disaffiliate from the denomination for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the book of discipline. The united methodist church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. Positions may be combined except for the financial functions. United methodist local church committee and officer structures and guidelines i. The book of discipline of the united methodist church describes the specific responsibilities of board, committees, and work areas. Generally, annual conferences require bonding of trustees and provide a means for such action.
The book of discipline of the united methodist church. The local church board of trustees is an important part of the local church. Additional reports should be made as requested by the charge conference or church council or equivalent. United methodist churches and other official united methodist bodies may reproduce up to 1,000 words from this publication, provided the following notice appears with the excerpted material. Adapted from guidelines for leading your congregation. At no cost, you may view an online version of the 2016 book of discipline andor book of resolutions 2016. From the book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016. The term trustees as used in the book of discipline of the united methodist church may be construed to be synonymous with director of corporations when. The responsibilities of trustees in congregations often involves legal understanding and compliance with local, state and even federal law regarding property, bequests and foundations. Leadership council fredericksburg united methodist church.
Inclusiveness of the church the united methodist church is a part of the church universal, which is one body in christ. Guidelines for church renovations new builds real property purchases. Quorum the members present and voting at any duly announced meeting shall constitute a quorum. The book of discipline of the united methodist church is the product of over two hundred years of the general conferences of the denominations that now form the united methodist church. The board of trustees is composed of not more than nine nor fewer than three members.
The book of discipline of the united methodist church 20. Trustees shall be of legal age as defined by law, and 23 shall be professing members of the united methodist church. The book of discipline 2016 free edition the northwest. Conference trustees eastern pa conference of the umc. Longview united methodist church ministries trustees. Subject to the direction of the charge conference, the board of trustees shall have the supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the local church and of all property and equipment acquired directly by the local church or by any society, board, class, commission, or similar organization connected therewith, provided that the board of trustees shall not violate the rights of any local church organization elsewhere granted in the discipline. Boards of trustees north alabama conference of the umc. Presented below are the basics how the board is organized.
There may be a person who is involved in your congregation, not yet a member, who would make a good trustee. Your role as trustee is governed by the book of discipline. From a practical perspective, held in trust means the denomination has a right to succeed to the title of local church property. At least onethird of the trustees shall be laywomen, one third laymen, and two thirds must be members of the united methodist church.
Local church leadership guidelines the michigan conference. This is one of the twentysix guidelines for leading your congregation 20172020 that cover. Church council, finance committee, staff parish relations committee human resources and trustees facilities. The trustees together have several legal and administrative functions. This pamphlet gathers together the most frequently asked of these questions with related sections of the book of discipline of the united methodist church, 2012. The book of discipline clearly indicates that all local church property, not just real estate, is held in trust for the united methodist church. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016 share united methodists share with other christians the conviction that scripture is the primary source and criterion for christian doctrine.
Trustees resources the northwest plains district of the. An agency of the united methodist church, discipleship ministries helps local church, district. From the book of discipline of the united methodist church2008. From the book of discipline of the united methodist church, 2012. Kim cannot seek refuge from civil liability under the umc polity. No pastor is a voting member unless elected as a member. Its responsibilities are varied and subject to the direction of the charge conference.
Local church property is discussed at length in 25242551 of the book of discipline of the united methodist church. There shall be a committee on finance, elected annually by the charge conference upon recommendation by the committee on nominations and leadership development or from the floor, composed of the chairperson. We frequently receive from pastors, church members, committee members, and employed church staff questions about the employment of nonappointed lay staff in the local church. Trustees are accountable to the charge conference and the church council. The united methodist book of discipline, 2008, 2532. For instance, the book of discipline requires the trustees to have a. Discipleship ministries chair of church leadership team. United methodist local church committee and officer. Being a trustee of your local church is an important role and one in which you can take great pleasure. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016 paragraph 2534 2534. The united methodist book of discipline requires certain committees to exist, but it allows the leadership team to function as those committees if the membership of the required committees is satisfied within the leadership team. An online version of the book of discipline and the book of resolutions, 2016 are offered on the cokesbury web site for free. Responsibilities of the chairperson this leader meets and works with the pastor, lay leader, and others to fulfill the mission of the church. To supervise and maintain all property belonging to main street united methodist church so that the ministries of the congregation can be effective.
The book of discipline of the united methodist church 202016. The discipline as the instrument for setting forth the laws, plan, polity, and process by which united methodists govern themselves remains constant. Part v organization and administration chapter six church property section i. Ministries trustees longview united methodist church.
Principal responsibilities include fostering an awareness of the role of the laity, meeting regularly with the pastor, assessing the opportunities for ministries within the church and serving on the church council and various. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016. This includes the responsibilities and duties of the board of trustees see 1992 book of discipline par. The purposes for establishing such a committee include the responsibilities to. The book of discipline of the united methodist church, part i. Sale of a parsonage the book of discipline of the united. Local church purchase of real property checklist, 2000. According to the umc s book of discipline, four committees are charged with performing administrative functions. Much of the work of the trustees is governed by specific requirements of the. There shall be a committee on finance, elected annually by the charge conference upon recommendation by the committee on lay leadership or from the floor, composed. Local church property sale, transfer, lease and mortgage checklist 2000 book of discipline requirements1 september 2000 the following checklist has been developed to assist the local church in following the disciplinary provisions when selling, transferring, leasing and mortgaging real property.
The responsibilities of the trustees shall include, but not. Trustees job description first united methodist preschool. The united methodist church do hereby certify that at the charge conference of said organization held in accordance with the law, the canons, and the book of discipline of the united methodist church on the day of, 20, the following were elected as members of the board of trustees of said church to. The term trustees as used in the book of discipline of the united methodist church may be construed to be synonymous with director of corporations when required to comply with law. The book of discipline of the united methodist church, 2016 the church must present to the district superintendent a compelling missional reason for selling the parsonage a compelling missional reason include building a new building, renovating an existing building.