Annual Conference

Part of a series on Methodism

John Wesley

George Whitefield

Background Christianity Protestantism Pietism Anglicanism Arminianism Calvinism

Doctrinal distinctives Articles of Religion Prevenient Grace Governmental Atonement Imparted righteousness Christian perfection

People Richard Allen Francis Asbury Thomas Coke Albert C. Outler James Varick Charles Wesley Bishops · Theologians

Largest groups World Methodist Council United Methodist Church AME Church AME Zion Church Church of the Nazarene British Methodist Church CME Church Uniting church, Australia

Related movements Holiness movement Salvation Army Personalism Pentecostalism

An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge (a charge is one or more churches served by a minister under appointment by the bishop). Each conference is a geographical division. In general, the smaller states in the United States hold one conference each, while larger states often include two or more conferences. Several annual conferences are held in other nations as well.

The Annual Conference is the primary unit of denominational government. Regional groups of conferences make up the Jurisdictional Conferences, and the entire group of all annual conferences makes up the General Conference which meets every four years. Only the General Conference can speak officially for the church.

The Annual Conference is composed of an equal number of clergy and laity. Each charge conference elects as many lay members to the Annual Conference as they have ministers appointed to that charge. In most cases that is one. The Lay Member must be a Professing Member of the United Methodist Church. The Annual Conference also consists of a number of "at-large" members, the number of at-large members being the number necessary (after the members elected by charge conferences are seated) so that the laity and the clergy are equal in number. First seated among at-large members are lay persons holding certain lay positions or offices designated by the Discipline or by the Annual Conference itself. When there are multiple congregations in a charge conference, members from each congregation in that charge are encouraged to become at-large members.

See also

• Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church

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