248. Powers and Duties--1. The charge conference shall be the connecting link between the local Church and the general Church and shall have general oversight of the administrative council(s) or administrative board(s).
2. The charge conference, the district superintendent, and the pastor shall organize and administer the pastoral charge and churches according to the policies and plans herein set forth. When the membership size, program scope, mission resources, or other circumstances so require, the charge conference may, in consultation with and upon the approval of the district superintendent, modify the organizational plans; provided that the provisions of 244 are observed.
3. The primary responsibilities of the charge conference in the annual meeting shall be to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church (201-204), receive reports, and adopt objectives and goals recommended by the administrative council or administrative board which are in keeping with the objectives of The United Methodist Church.
4. The charge conference recording secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings and shall be the custodian of all records and reports, and with the presiding officer shall sign the minutes. A copy of the minutes shall be provided for the district superintendent. When there is only one local Church on a charge, the secretary of the administrative council or administrative board shall be the secretary of the charge conference. When there is more than one Church on a charge, one of the secretaries of the administrative councils or administrative boards shall be elected by the charge conference to serve as its secretary.
5a) The charge conference should elect a Church historian, who shall keep the historical records up to date, shall serve as chairperson of the committee on records and history; shall cooperate with the annual conference commission on archives and history; shall provide an annual report on the care of Church records and historical materials to the charge conference; and shall provide, with the pastor and the committee on records and history, for the preservation of all local Church records and historical materials no longer in current use. Records and historical materials include all documents, minutes, journals, diaries, reports, letters, pamphlets, papers, manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, audiovisuals, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, or any other documentary material, regardless of form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to any provisions of the Discipline in connection with the transaction of church business by any local Church of The United Methodist Church or any of its constituent predecessors. The Church historian shall be a member of the administrative council or administrative board. This person may also hold another elected position on the council or board.
b) There may be a local Church committee on records and history, chaired by the Church historian, to assist in fulfilling these responsibilities.
6. The charge conference shall determine the number of members at large to serve on the administrative council or administrative board in keeping with the following provisions. Churches of five hundred members or less may include at least four but not more than thirty-five members at large, exclusive of ex officio members. In Churches of more than five hundred members, there may be elected additional members at large not to exceed the ratio of one for each thirty additional members. The members at large, if elected, shall include at least two young adults between the ages of nineteen and thirty, at least two older adults over sixty-five years of age, and at least two youth nominated by the youth coordinator or youth council.
7. The charge conference may establish a limit to the consecutive terms of office for any or all of the elected or appointed officers of the local Church except where otherwise mandated. It is recommended that no officer serve more than three consecutive years in the same office.
8. The charge conference shall examine and recommend to the district committee on ordained ministry, faithfully adhering to the provisions of 404.3(b), candidates for the ordained ministry who have been members in good standing of the local Church for at least one year; whose gifts, evidence of God's grace, and call to the ministry clearly establish them as candidates; and who have met the educational requirements.
9. It shall examine and recommend, faithfully adhering to the provisions of 405, renewal of candidacy of candidates for the ordained ministry.
10. The charge conference shall examine and recommend to the responsible Church agency any candidates for church-related vocations.
11. The charge conference shall affirm the good standing in the congregation of the persons seeking the diaconal minister relationship in the annual conference and shall transmit this information to the conference board of diaconal ministry.
12. It shall inquire annually into the gifts, labors, and usefulness of the lay speakers related to the charge, and recommend to the district and/or conference committee on lay speaking those persons who have met the standards set forth for a local church lay speaker and/or for certified lay speaker (278-281).
13. The charge conference shall in consultation with the district superintendent set the compensation of the pastor and other staff appointed by the bishop.5
14. As soon as practicable after the session of annual conference, each district superintendent or designated agent shall notify each local church in the district what amounts have been apportioned to it for World Service and Conference Benevolences. In preparation for and at the charge conference, it shall be the responsibility of the district superintendent, pastor, and the lay member(s) of the aAnnual conference and/or the Church lay leader(s) to interpret to each charge conference the importance of World Service and Conference Benevolences, explaining the causes supported by each of these funds and their place in the total program of the Church. The World Service Fund is basic in the financial program of The United Methodist Church. World Service on apportionment represents the minimum needs for the mission and ministry of the Church. Payment in full of these apportionments by local churches is the first benevolent responsibility of the Church ( 912). The district superintendent or designated agent shall also notify each charge conference of all other amounts properly apportioned to it. (See 719.)
15. The charge conference shall receive and act on the annual report from the pastor concerning all membership rolls. (See 233.)
16. In those instances where there are two or more Churches on a pastoral charge, the charge conference may provide for a chargewide or parish administrative council or administrative board and council on ministries, a chargewide or parish treasurer, and such other officers, commissions, committees, and task groups as necessary to carry on the work of the charge.
17. In those instances where there are two or more churches on a pastoral charge, the charge conference may elect a chargewide or parish committee on nominations and personnel, a chargewide or parish committee on pastor-parish relations, a chargewide or parish committee on finance, and a chargewide or parish board of trustees in such instances where property is held in common by two or more Churches of the charge. All Churches of the charge shall be represented on such chargewide or parish committees or boards. Chargewide or parish organization shall be consistent with disciplinary provisions for the local Church.
18. In instances of multiple Church charges, the charge conference shall provide for an equitable distribution of parsonage maintenance and upkeep expense or adequate housing allowance (if annual conference policy permits) among the several Churches.
19. The charge conference shall promote awareness of and concurrence with Policies Relative to Socially Responsible Investments ( 816), the Social Principles ( 70-76), and The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church.
20. If any charge conference initiates, joins, monitors, or terminates a boycott, the guidelines in the Book of Resolutions 1992 should be followed. The General Conference is the only body that can initiate, empower, or join a boycott in the name of The United Methodist Church.
21. Such other duties and responsibilities as the General, jurisdictional, or annual conference may duly commit to it.
5See Judicial Council Decisions 213, 252, 461.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 248
1996 United Methodist General Conference