THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE - CTCUMC

1 THE book OF DISCIPLINEOFTHE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The book Editor, the Secretary of the General Conference, the Publisher of The United Methodist Church and the Committee on Correlation and Editorial Revision shall be charged with edit-ing 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 Coun-cil, shall also have authority to delete provisions of the book of DISCIPLINE that have been ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council. Plan of Organization and Rules of Order of the General Confer-ence, 2016 See Judicial Council Decision 96, which declares the DISCIPLINE to be a book of can be found at , word search for Fitzgerald ReistSecretary of the General ConferenceBrian K.

2 MilfordPresident and PublisherBook Editor of The United Methodist ChurchBrian O. SigmonManaging EditorThe Committee on Correlation and Editorial RevisionNaomi G. Bartle, Co-chairRobert Burkhart, Co-chairMaidstone Mulenga, SecretaryMelissa DrakePaul FleckKaren RistineDianne WilkinsonBrian WilliamsAlternates: Susan HunnBeth Rambikur2016 THE book OF DISCIPLINEOFTHE UNITED METHODIST CHURCHThe United Methodist Publishing House Nashville, TennesseeCopyright 2016 The United Methodist Publishing House. All rights Methodist churches and other official United Methodist bodies may re-produce 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 2016.

3 Copyright 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission. Requests for quotations that exceed 1,000 words should be addressed to Permis-sions, The United Methodist Publishing House, Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-7890, or 2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37228, or e-mailed to book is printed on elemental, chlorine-free, acid-free quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by per-mission. ( )ISBN 978-1-501-83321-2 USB Flash Drive (with book of Resolutions) ISBN 978-1-501-83328-12-PACK DISCIPLINE and Resolutions ISBN 978-1-501-83327-4 DISCIPLINE eBook ISBN 978-1-501-83322-9 Korean Edition ISBN 978-1-501-83331-1 Spanish Edition ISBN 978-1-501-83329-816 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAvTo all people and pastors of United Methodism: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 1 Corinthians 1:3 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 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, clarifies, and adds its own contribution to the DISCIPLINE . We do not see the DISCIPLINE as sacrosanct or infallible, but we do consider it a document suitable to our heritage and an expres-sion of a future with hope. It is the most current statement of how United Methodists agree to live their lives together and maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

5 It reflects our under-standing of the church and articulates the mission of The United Methodist Church: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the trans-formation 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 book of covenant sets forth the theological grounding of The United Methodist Church in biblical faith and affirms that we go forward as loyal heirs to all that [is] best in the Chris-tian past. It makes clear that The United Methodist Church is an inclusive society without regard to ethnic origin, economic condi-tion, gender, age, or the disabilities of its constituents. It asserts that all who are baptized and confirmed are ministers of Jesus EPISCOPAL GREETINGSviEPISCOPAL GREETINGSC hrist.

6 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 interde-pendence with other Christian bodies both in spirit and coopera-tion. 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 therefore commend this DISCIPLINE to all in our constitu-ency and to friends beyond our bounds who would seek to under-stand what it means to be a United Methodist. Communication is essential for understanding what the Church is and does. We expect the DISCIPLINE 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.

7 We pray that it will enable all per-sons to celebrate God s grace, exalt the meaning of faithful dis-cipleship, align with the mission, and inspire on the part of many a deeper desire to be more effective witnesses for the head of the church, even Jesus Christ our Council of Bishops Bruce R. Ough, President Kenneth H. Carter, President-Designate Cynthia Fierro Harvey, SecretaryviiNote: The basic unit in The book of DISCIPLINE is the paragraph ( ) rather than page, chapter, or section. The paragraphs are num-bered 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 Constitution101 199 Doctrine, Doctrinal Statements, General Rules, The Ministry of All Christians, and Social Principles201 299 The Local Church301 399 The Ministry of the Ordained401 499 The Superintendency501 699 The Conferences701 2499 Administrative Order2501 2599 Church Property2601 2799 Judicial AdministrationEpiscopal Greetings.

8 Page vUnited Methodist 1A Brief History of The United Methodist Church ..page 11 PART ITHE CONSTITUTION 1 25 Division One General ( 1 7)..page 25 CONTENTS viiiCONTENTSD ivision Two Organization ( 8 44)..page 27 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 39 Division Four The Judiciary ( 55-58) ..page 42 Division Five Amendments ( 59-61)..page 43 PART IIGENERAL book OF DISCIPLINE 101 General book of DISCIPLINE ( 101)..page 45 PART IIIDOCTRINAL STANDARDSAND OUR THEOLOGICAL TASK 102 105 I.

9 Our Doctrinal Heritage ( 102) ..page 47 II. Our Doctrinal History ( 103) ..page 56 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 ( 104)..page 65 IV. Our Theological Task ( 105) ..page 80 PART IVTHE MINISTRY OF ALL CHRISTIANS 120 143 I. The Churches ( 120 125) ..page 93 II. The Ministry of All Christians ( 126 132) ..page 97ixCONTENTS III. Servant Ministry and Servant Leadership ( 133 134) ..page 98 IV. Servant Ministry ( 135 137)..page 99 V. Servant Leadership ( 138-139)..page 100 VI. Called to Inclusiveness ( 140)..page 101 VII. The Fulfillment of Ministry Through The United Methodist Church ( 141 143).

10 Page 102 PART VSOCIAL PRINCIPLES 160 166 105 Preamble ..page 106 I. The Natural World ( 160) ..page 106 II. The Nurturing Community ( 161)..page 110 III. The Social Community ( 162)..page 119 IV. The Economic Community ( 163) ..page 131 V. The Political Community ( 164)..page 138 VI. The World Community ( 165) ..page 142 VII. Our Social Creed ( 166)..page 144 PART VIORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION 201 2719 Chapter OneTHE LOCAL CHURCH I. The Church and Pastoral Charge ( 201 205)..page 147 II. Cooperative Parish ( 206)..page 149 III. Ecumenical Shared Ministries ( 207 211) ..page 152 IV. Churches in Transitional Communities ( 212 213) ..page 153 V. Church Membership ( 214 242) ..page 155 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)xCONTENTS Changes in Church Membership or Local Church Membership ( 235 242) VI.