How Does the UB Church Function?

by C. Ray Miller and Paul R. Fetters

Now let's look at how our church operates organizationally.

A Connectional Church

In its government, the United Brethren church is connectional rather than autonomous.

In an autonomous structure, the local congregation is the highest authority. Such congregations may belong to an association of churches with similar doctrines and practices, but that association does not impose binding requirements. The nation's largest denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, is an association of autonomous churches.

We are a connectional denomination. Our churches are under the rule of denominational governing councils, both regionally and nationally. Local churches cooperate to support missions work, Huntington University, church planting projects, camping, publications, and other ministries.

In a connectional church, ordained ministers are expected to be available for a fulltime assignment, and congregations are expected to accept the minister assigned to them by the denomination. Therefore, all congregations have a personal interest in the quality of ordained ministers, since theoretically, any of them could be assigned to their church in the future. This also means that all ordained ministers are concerned about the quality of the local churches, since any of these churches could, someday, become their own pastorate.

A Modified Episcopal Church

Basically, there are three types of church government: Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Congregational.

• The Episcopal system places authority in ministers, the chief ministers being bishops.
• The Presbyterian system places authority not only in ministers, but in laypersons as well.
• The Congregational system places authority in the church.

Probably none of these systems appear in pure form without some elements of the other forms. That was true of the New Testament church, and it is true of the United Brethren church. We are mostly Episcopal at the denominational level, somewhat Presbyterian at the national conference level, and more Congregational at the local level. Authority is held by ministers and laypersons together. We could call it a "modified Episcopal" system.

The United States bishop is elected by the US National Conference, our highest governing body, and serves a four-year term, providing general oversight and setting the vision for all US churches.

The Itinerant System

Most denominations use one of two methods for assigning ministers to churches.

• Under the call system, churches find their own pastor. Southern Baptists use this method. When the church needs a new pastor, a "search committee" is appointed to find one. Often, a prospective pastor preaches a "trial sermon" and goes through an interview process, after which the congregation or church leaders vote on whether or not to hire that person as pastor.
• Under the itinerant system, ministers are assigned by higher church leadership, such as a conference committee or official.

The United Brethren church uses the itinerant system. Ministers are assigned by the bishop and the stationing committee, rather than chosen by the congregation. However, stationing committees work closely with church representatives and ministers before making appointments. Generally, assignments are made from the list of ministers who are ordained or very near ordination.

Next: What distinguishes our standards?