The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church

872 Pages·2.735 MB·English

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THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE
OF
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
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“The Book Editor, the Secretary of the General Conference, the Pub-
lisher of The United Methodist Church, and the Committee on Corre-
lation and Editorial Revision shall be charged with editing the Book of
Discipline.. . . The editors, in the exercise of their judgment, shall have
the authority to make changes in wording as may be necessary to
harmonize legislation without changing its substance. The editors, in
consultation with the Judicial Council, shall also have authority to
delete provisions of the Book of Disciplinethat have been ruled uncon-
stitutional by the Judicial Council.”
—Plan of Organization and Rules of Order of the General Confer-
ence, 2008
See Judicial Council Decision 96, which declares the Discipline to be a
book of law.
Errata can be found at Cokesbury.com, word search for Errata.
L. Fitzgerald Reist
Secretary of the General Conference
Neil M. Alexander
Publisher and Book Editor of The United Methodist Church
Judith E. Smith
Executive Editor
Marvin W. Cropsey
Managing Editor
The Committee on Correlation and Editorial Revision
Eradio Valverde, Chairperson
Richard L. Evans, Vice Chairperson
Annie Cato Haigler, Secretary
Naomi G. Bartle
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THE
BOOK OF DISCIPLINE
OF THE
UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
2008
The United Methodist Publishing House
Nashville, Tennessee
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Copyright © 2008 The United Methodist Publishing House.
All rights reserved.
United Methodist churches and other official United Methodist bodies may reproduce up
to 1,000 words from this publication, provided the following notice appears with the
excerpted material: “From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church—2008.
Copyright © 2008 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.”
Requests for quotations that exceed 1,000 words should be addressed to the Permissions
Office, The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN
37202.
This book is printed on elemental, chlorine-free, acid-free paper.
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version
of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Coun-
cil of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.
ISBN 978-0-687-64785-9
Leather Edition ISBN 978-0-687-64775-0
CD-Rom Edition (with Book of Resolutions) ISBN 978-0-687-64749-1
2-PACK Disciplineand ResolutionsISBN 978-0-687-64795-8
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08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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EPISCOPAL GREETINGS
To all people and pastors of United Methodism:
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.”
—1 Corinthians 1:3
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.
The Discipline as the instrument for setting forth the laws, plan,
polity, and process by which United Methodists govern themselves
remains constant. Each General Conference amends, perfects, clari-
fies, and adds its own contribution to the Discipline. We do not see the
Disciplineas sacrosanct or infallible, but we do consider it a document
suitable to our heritage. It is the most current statement of how
United Methodists agree to live their lives together. It reflects our
understanding of the Church and articulates the mission of The
United Methodist Church: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world. The Discipline defines what is expected
of its laity and clergy as they seek to be effective witnesses in the
world as a part of the whole body of Christ.
This book of covenant sets forth the theological grounding of The
United Methodist Church in biblical faith, and affirms that we go for-
ward as “loyal heirs to all that [is] best in the Christian past.” It
makes clear that The United Methodist Church is an inclusive society
without regard to ethnic origin, economic condition, gender, age, or
the disabilities of its constituents. It asserts that all who are baptized
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EPISCOPAL GREETINGS
and confirmed are ministers of Jesus Christ. It affirms the conciliar
principle and connectionalism as distinctive marks of United
Methodist ecclesiology, makes clear the global character of the
Church’s mission, and declares interdependence with other Christian
bodies both in spirit and cooperation. It affirms with John Wesley
that solitary religion is invalid and that Christ lays claim upon the
whole life of those who accept him as Lord and Savior.
We therefore commend this Discipline to all in our constituency
and to friends beyond our bounds who would seek to understand
what it means to be a United Methodist. Communication is essential
for understanding what the Church is and does. We expect the Disci-
pline to be found in libraries of local churches, colleges, universities,
and seminaries, as well as in the homes of ordained, diaconal, and
licensed ministers and lay members of The United Methodist Church.
We pray that it will enable all persons to celebrate God’s grace, exalt
the meaning of faithful discipleship, align with the mission, and
inspire on the part of many a deeper desire to be more effective wit-
nesses for the Head of the Church, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Council of Bishops
Gregory V. Palmer, President
Larry Goodpaster, President
Designate
Robert E. Hayes, Jr., Secretary
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CONTENTS
Note:The basic unit in The Book of Disciplineis the paragraph ( ¶)
rather than page, chapter, or section. The paragraphs are numbered
consecutively within each chapter or section, but many numbers are
skipped between parts, chapters, and sections in order to allow for
future enactments and to fit with the following plan:
1– 99 The Constitution
101– 199 Doctrine, Doctrinal Statements, General Rules, The
Ministry of All Christians, and Social Principles
201– 299 The Local Church
301– 399 The Ministry of the Ordained
401– 499 The Superintendency
501– 699 The Conferences
701–2499 Administrative Order
2501–2599 Church Property
2601–2799 Judicial Administration
Episcopal Greetings...................................................................... page v
United Methodist Bishops........................................................... page 1
Historical Statement...................................................................... page 9
PART I
THE CONSTITUTION
¶¶1–61
Preamble......................................................................................... page 21
Division One—General (¶¶1–7)................................................. page21
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CONTENTS
Division Two—Organization (¶¶8–44)..................................... page 23
I. Conferences (¶¶8–12)
II. General Conference (¶¶13–16)
III. Restrictive Rules (¶¶17–22)
IV. Jurisdictional Conferences (¶¶23–27)
V. Central Conferences (¶¶28–31)
VI. Annual Conferences (¶¶32–36)
VII. Boundaries (¶¶37–41)
VIII. District Conferences (¶42)
IX. Charge Conferences (¶¶43–44)
Division Three—Episcopal Supervision (¶¶ 45–54)................. page 35
Division Four—The Judiciary (¶¶55–58).................................. page 38
Division Five—Amendments (¶¶59–61)................................... page 38
PART II
DOCTRINAL STANDARDS AND OUR THEOLOGICAL TASK
¶¶101–104
I. Our Doctrinal Heritage (¶101) ......................................... page 41
II. Our Doctrinal History (¶102) ........................................... page 50
III. Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules: The Articles of
Religion of The Methodist Church, the Confession of Faith of
the Evangelical United Brethren Church, and The General Rules
of the Methodist Church (¶103)........................................ page 59
IV. Our Theological Task (¶ 104)............................................. page 74
PART III
THE MINISTRY OF ALL CHRISTIANS
¶¶120–142
I. The Churches (¶¶120–124)................................................ page 87
II. The Ministry of All Christians (¶¶125–131).................... page 89
III. Servant Ministry and Servant Leadership (¶¶ 132–133) page 91
IV. Servant Ministry (¶¶134–136)........................................... page 91
V. Servant Leadership (¶¶137–138)...................................... page 92
VI. Called to Inclusiveness (¶139)........................................... page 93
VII. The Fulfillment of Ministry
Through The United Methodist Church (¶¶140–142)... page 94
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CONTENTS
PART IV
SOCIAL PRINCIPLES
¶¶160–166
Preface.................................................................................... page 97
Preamble................................................................................ page 97
I. The Natural World (¶160).................................................. page 98
II. The Nurturing Community (¶161)................................... page 101
III. The Social Community (¶162)........................................... page 108
IV. The Economic Community (¶163).................................... page 118
V. The Political Community (¶164)....................................... page 123
VI. The World Community (¶165).......................................... page 127
VII. Our Social Creed (¶166)..................................................... page 129
PART V
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
¶¶201–2719
Chapter One
THE LOCAL CHURCH
I. The Church and Pastoral Charge (¶¶201–205).......... page 133
II. Cooperative Parish (¶206)............................................. page 135
III. Ecumenical Shared Ministries (¶¶207–211)................ page 137
IV. Churches in Transitional Communities (¶¶212–213) page 139
V. Church Membership (¶¶214–242)............................... page 140
The Meaning of Membership (¶¶216–221)
Admission into the Church (¶¶222–226)
Affiliate and Associate Membership (¶227)
Care of Members (¶¶228–229)
Membership Records and Reports (¶¶230–234)
Changes in Church Membership or Local Church
Membership (¶¶235–242)
VI. Organization and Administration (¶¶243–258)......... page 157
The Charge Conference (¶¶246–251)
The Church Council (¶252)
Specialized Ministries (¶¶253–257)
Administrative Committees (¶258)
VII. Method of Organizing a New Local Church (¶259).. page 187
VIII. Transfer of a Local Church (¶260)............................... page 189
IX. Protection of Rights of Congregations (¶261)............ page 190
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VIIIX. Special Sundays (¶¶262–265)..................................... page 190
Churchwide Special Sundays with Offerings (¶263)
Special Sundays Without Churchwide Offerings
(¶¶264–265)
VIIXI. Lay Speaking Ministries (¶¶266–271)....................... page 197
Chapter Two
THE MINISTRY OF THE ORDAINED
XVIII. The Meaning of Ordination and Conference
Membership (¶¶301–304)........................................... page 203
XVIII. Clergy Orders in The United Methodist Church
(¶¶305–309)................................................................... page 206
XVIII. Candidacy for Licensed and Ordained Ministry
(¶¶310–314)................................................................... page 209
XIIIV. License for Pastoral Ministry (¶¶315–320)............... page 213
XIIIV. Associate Membership (¶¶321–323).......................... page 220
XIIVI. Provisional Membership (¶¶324–327)...................... page 223
XIVII. The Ordained Deacon in Full Connection
(¶¶328–331)................................................................... page 230
XVIII. The Ordained Elder in Full Connection (¶¶332–336) . page 240
Admission and Continuance of Full Membership
in the Annual Conference (¶¶336)
VIIIX. Appointments to Various Ministries (¶¶337–342).. page 247
VIIIX. Appointments to Extension Ministries (¶¶343–345).. page 254
Provisions for Appointments to Ecumenical Shared
Ministries (¶345)
VIIXI. Clergy from Other Annual Conferences, Other
Methodist and Christian Denominations
(¶¶346–348)................................................................... page 261
VIXII. Mentoring and Mentors (¶349).................................. page 265
VXIII. Evaluation for Continuing Formation for Full
Members and Local Pastors (¶¶ 350–352)................. page 266
IIXIV. Changes of Conference Relationship (¶¶353–360).. page 269
IIIXV. Complaints (¶361)........................................................ page 283
IIXVI. Administrative Complaints, Fair Process, Referral, and
Disposition (¶¶362–363)................................................. page 285
IXVII. Readmission to Conference Relationship (¶¶364–368) . page 291
XVIII. General Provisions (¶369)........................................... page 293
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