How is the United Methodist Church organized?

The United Methodist Church is organized through a connectional system that links congregations, clergy, and agencies across the globe. Unlike purely congregational churches where each local church is independent, or strictly hierarchical churches where authority flows from the top down, United Methodism blends local autonomy with shared governance and mutual accountability.

Local Church

The local church is the foundational unit of the United Methodist Church. Each congregation is led by a pastor (appointed by the bishop) and a church council or administrative board made up of lay members. Local churches carry out the mission of the church through worship, discipleship, outreach, and service in their communities.

Districts

Local churches are grouped into districts, each overseen by a district superintendent. The superintendent serves as an extension of the bishop's office, providing pastoral care to clergy, supporting local churches, and helping to coordinate ministry across the district.

Annual Conferences

Districts are organized into annual conferences, which are the basic organizational unit of the church. Each annual conference is led by a bishop and meets annually to conduct the business of the church—ordaining clergy, adopting budgets, setting ministry priorities, and addressing issues of concern. Both clergy and lay delegates participate in annual conference sessions.

Jurisdictions and Central Conferences

In the United States, annual conferences are grouped into five jurisdictional conferences, each of which elects bishops. Outside the U.S., the church is organized into central conferences, which function similarly and also have the authority to adapt certain aspects of church law to their cultural contexts.

General Conference

The General Conference is the only body that speaks officially for the entire United Methodist Church. It meets every four years and is composed of equal numbers of clergy and lay delegates elected by their annual conferences. The General Conference sets church policy, revises the Book of Discipline, approves the church's budget, and addresses matters of doctrine and social concern.

General Agencies

The church also operates through general agencies—boards, commissions, and other bodies that carry out specific aspects of the church's mission, including higher education, global health, communications, relief work, and more.