How We are Organized

Churches

The real work of the denomination occurs at the local church level. This is where people are reached for Christ and where they receive the teaching and nurture needed to develop into mature Christians. The other denominational structures exist to help churches be more effective.

The Discipline states, "Each local church is free to establish the structure that will best suit the needs and ministries of the congregation and community." These are the only requirements:

1. Each church must have a board of administration at the top.
2. The senior pastor must be a member of the board.
3. The board must have a chairperson and secretary.
4. All board members must be members of the church.
5. A church must select from its membership lay delegates to represent the church in the national conference, which meets every two years.

We recognize that flexibility is very important to effectiveness, and that no single structure can fit every situation. However, while we give churches great organizational freedom, most use a system with commissions functioning under the authority of a board of administration. These commissions usually focus on a specific area--Property, Finance, Christian Education, Missions, etc.

In most churches, the board meets monthly or bi-monthly to care for the concerns of the church. Most board members are elected by the congregation. Typically, the board includes these persons: the pastoral staff, treasurer, secretary, one lay delegate, commission chairpersons, and 3-5 members-at-large.

A church's highest governing body is the local conference, which normally meets just once a year. Its members are: the bishop (who would rarely attend), all board members, and all other members who hold a local conference minister's license.

Clusters

Beginning in 1810, we used an organizational structure which consisted of multiple "annual conferences," which were regional entities consisting of at least five churches (and up to 60 churches). As of 2005, we had ten such conferences across the United States. Each year representatives from the churches in the conference--the minister and at least one elected layperson (lay delegate), depending on the church's size--would hold a business meeting.

This structure was discontiued in 2005. In its place has arisen a structure based on "clusters," which are small groupings of, on average, seven churches. This is now our primarily unit for local church and ministerial accountability. Each cluster is headed by a "cluster coach," who is appointed by the bishop. You can read more about clustes here.

National Conference

The highest governing body for the US churches is the United States National Conference, which meets every two years (most recently in 2005). It alone has authority to change the Discipline, elect the bishop, and ratify changes in the international documents.

Beginning in 2007, each local church will be able to send at least one lay delegate as a voting member of the US National Conference (more delegates for larger churches). All active UB ministers will also be eligible to come as voting members.

The Executive Leadership Team, which consists of 13 people chosen by the US National Conference, handles business between sessions of the National Conference. The Bishop chairs this body.

General Conference

The General Conference is an international gathering. It meets every four years, with delegates from each of the nine constituent national conferences--the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Hong Kong. The total group consists of about 44 people. During the time between General Conferences, an international executive committee meets. It consists of the highest official from each national conference.