Charge Conference

2009 Charge Conference is November 22

According to the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, the Charge Conference “shall be the connecting link between the local church and the general Church and shall have general oversight of the church [in our case, Administrative] council.” The voting membership in a Charge Conference includes all attending people who are Administrative Council members, and any retired ordained ministers and diaconal ministers who hold their membership with us. The Discipline encourages us to have the make-up of the council as inclusive as possible, to represent all segments of our congregation, including youth. A Charge Conference is required to be held annually. The district superintendent presides or may designate an elder to preside. At the annual meeting, the Charge Conference reviews and evaluates the total missions and ministry of the church, receives reports, modifies organizational plans if necessary, and adopts objectives and goals recommended by the Ad Council. Additionally, Charge Conferences recommend and review candidates for ordained ministry, lay speakers, and Church related vocations. Charge Conferences set and approve compensation for pastors and any bishop-appointed staff working at our church. We also elect lay leaders (i.e., chairpersons of work areas, Ad Council officers, and lay members to annual conference) at Charge Conferences. Special sessions of Charge Conferences may be called by the district superintendent and pastor. The discussion at that time is limited to the purpose stated in the call. Charge Conferences may be expanded to become a Church Conference. A Church Conference extends the vote to all local church members who are present at the meeting. Church Conferences are authorized by the district superintendent, and may be initiated by a written request from the pastor, the Ad Council, or 10% of the local church membership. The regulations governing a Church Conference are the same as for a Charge Conference. Our church holds a Charge Conference each September (in tandem with the September Ad Council meeting) to elect work area and committee chairs and other church lay leaders. We invite you to come to our annual Church Conference to meet our district superintendent, and to learn and participate in how our church connects to the larger United Methodist Church!