Board of trustees reedsville united methodist church. The treasurer of the church should serve as the treasurer for the board of trustees and is not a member of the. The local church board of trustees is an important part of the local church. Foundational documents, including the doctrinal statements and the social principles, are found in the what we believe section. Each church or charge within the united methodist church is held in trust to the united methodist church and run by a local, duly elected board of trustees. United methodist local church committee and officer structures and guidelines i. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016 paragraph 2534 2534. The responsibilities of trustees in congregations often involves legal understanding and compliance with local, state and even federal law regarding property, bequests and foundations.
The audit shall be conducted for the purpose of reasonably verifying the reliability of financial reporting, determining whether assets are being safeguarded, and determining compliance with local law, local church policies and procedures, and the book of discipline. The discipline as the instrument for setting forth the laws, plan, polity, and process by which united methodists govern themselves remains constant. This is one of the twentysix guidelines for leading your congregation 20172020 that cover. Local church property is discussed at length in 25242551 of the book of discipline of the united methodist church. Trustees are asked to fill a 3year term with being elected as new each year. The book of discipline of the united methodist church, part i. Local united methodist church ministry handbook kentucky. At least onethird of the trustees shall be from each gender, and twothirds must be members of the united methodist church. Positions may be combined except for the financial functions. Local church property sale, transfer, lease and mortgage.
Constitutional practice and discipline of the methodist church. Legal requirements for trustees of property are outlined in the unitedmethodist book of discipline 2008, 2524 through 2550. No pastor is a voting member of the board of trustees unless elected as a member. No pastor is a voting member unless elected as a member. Your role as trustee is governed by the book of discipline. 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. Ministries trustees longview united methodist church. Presented below are the basics how the board is organized. 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. The term trustees as used in the united methodist book of discipline, may be construed to be synonymous director of corporations when required to comply with law. 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 trustees together have several legal and administrative functions.
Jan 23, 2020 a local church interested in disaffiliating must complete and submit an application for consideration to the conference board of trustees by feb. The board of trustees may also want to have one or more members give special attention to the nursery to give. The board of trustees supervises and maintains all property belonging to your. This guideline is intended to be a guide as you begin fulfilling your responsibilities, and a reference throughout your tenure as trustee. Petition for declaratory decision from the council of. 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.
According to church policies, the finance secretary serves as a member of the finance committee although he does not have a vote if he is a paid staff member. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 202016. The united methodist church s book of discipline sets out the committee structure of each local church. The book of discipline of the united methodist church describes the specific responsibilities of board, committees, and work areas. It was originally published in 1784, in the methodist episcopal church, and has been published every four years thereafter following the meeting of the general conference, which passes legislation that is included in the book of discipline. At no cost, you may view an online version of the 2016 book of discipline andor book of resolutions 2016.
If the church has an employed business manager, that person is a member of the board of trustees with voice but no vote. Its responsibilities are varied and subject to the direction of the charge conference. Policy for use of church property travelers rest united. To supervise and maintain all property belonging to main street united methodist church so that the ministries of the congregation can be effective. Every congregation must make provision for including these functions according to the book of discipline of the united methodist church, 244. A provision in the book of discipline allows for up to onethird of the trustees to. The board of trustees has the major responsibility of helping a local congregation fulfills its. The book of discipline of the united methodist church, 1972 united methodist church united states on. The united methodist church s current statements about homosexuality, samesex marriage and the ordination of lgbtq persons in the 2016 book of discipline are here. 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.
Permanent endowment and planned giving ministry committee a charge conference may establish a local church permanent endowment and planned giving ministry committee. According to 2501 in the book of discipline of the united methodist church, title to all local church property real and personal, tangible and intangible is held in trust for the united methodist church and is subject to the provisions of the book of discipline. Local united kentucky annual conference theme methodist church. The united methodist book of discipline, 2008, 2532. United methodist local church committee and officer.
How to disaffiliate from the united methodist church based on. There may be a person who is involved in your congregation, not yet a member, who would make a good trustee. Trustees shall be of legal age as defined by law, and 23 shall be professing members 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. Much of the work of the trustees is governed by specific requirements of the book of discipline of the united methodist church. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016. You should obtain a current copy from your pastor or from cokesbury phone 18006721789. The book of discipline of the united methodist church. The trustee members are nominated and elected at the annual charge. Others may serve as a parsonage committee, while others could see to other needs church van, other buildings, etc. The discipline of the united methodist church is the product of over 200 years of the general conferences of the denominations that now form the united methodist church.
Generally, annual conferences require bonding of trustees. The book of discipline constitutes the law and doctrine of the united methodist church. A provision in the book of discipline allows for up to onethird of the trustees to be nonmembers of your church. Episcopalians, methodists ponder fullcommunion proposal. At least onethird of the trustees shall be laywomen, one third laymen, and two thirds must be members of the united methodist church. It follows similar works for its predecessor denominations. The board of trustees is composed of not more than nine nor fewer than three members.
Cokesbury, the retail arm of the united methodist publishing. Mar 28, 2014 in current church law, the basic principles are set forth in paragraph 2501 of the book of discipline. The board of trustees shall have supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the. Part v organization and administration chapter six church property section i. Nov 02, 2010 trustees job description approved by the trustees on november 2, 2010 the duties and responsibilities of the fumc board of trustees the following is taken from the 2006 manual for trustees prepared by north central district office of the florida conference and from the book of discipline, 259. An online version of the book of discipline and the book of resolutions, 2016 are offered on the cokesbury web site for free. Trustees job description first united methodist church. The purposes for establishing such a committee include the responsibilities to. United methodist church open itinerancy, preparation. Adapted from guidelines for leading your congregation. Book of discipline of the united methodist church par. The book of discipline of the united methodist church, 1972. The board is run by rule of the book of discipline of the united methodist church.
Guide the work of the board of trustees throughout the year, planning. 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. Generally, annual conferences require bonding of trustees and provide a means for such action. All properties of united methodist local churches and other united methodist agencies and institutions are held, in trust, for the benefit of the entire denomination, and ownership and usage of church property is subject to the discipline. This includes the responsibilities and duties of the board of trustees see 1992 book of discipline par. The appointed pastor of the charge is always a member of the board of trustees.
Finance secretary responsibilities in the united methodist church. Methodist church describes, among other things, the ministry of all united. The book of discipline 2016 free edition the northwest. The book of discipline of the united methodist church 2016 imitation leather edition 2016, hardcover. Designated gifts and bequests are managed by the trustees in accordance with the book of discipline. Conference trustees eastern pa conference of the umc. Being a trustee of your local church is an important role and one in which you can take great pleasure. Trustees are accountable to the charge conference and the church council. Longview united methodist church ministries trustees. 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.