1996 Book of Discipline: Paragraph 263| General Conference 2000

Section VII. The Method of Organizing a New Local Church

¶ 263. 1. A new local church or mission shall be established only with the consent of the bishop in charge and the cabinet and with due consideration of the conference board of global ministries' programs of home missions and church extension (if any; see ¶ 631). The bishop shall designate the district within whose bounds the church shall be organized. The district superintendent of that district shall be the agent in charge of the project and shall recommend to the district board of church location and building (¶ 2518) the site for the proposed new congregation, or shall recommend to the board of trustees of a selected local church that they share their facility with the proposed congregation. If there is a city or district missionary organization, that body shall also be asked to approve this site.

2. The district superintendent shall call the persons interested in the proposed church to meet at an appointed time and place, or may by written authorization designate any pastor in the district to call such a meeting.

3. The district superintendent or the pastor to whom authority is designated shall preside and shall appoint a secretary to keep a record of the meeting. Following a period of worship, opportunity shall be given those in attendance to present themselves for membership by proper certificates of transfer. Pastors issuing such certificates to a church not yet organized shall describe therein the proposed new church to which it is issued, as, for instance, "the proposed new church on Boston Avenue."

4. Persons desiring to become members on profession of their faith in Christ shall also be given opportunity to present themselves for membership. When the presiding pastor is satisfied as to the genuineness of their faith and purpose, they shall be received into the membership of the Church.

5. Each annual or central conference may determine the minimum number of full members required for the organization of a local United Methodist church.

6. A list shall be made of all the persons received into the membership of the proposed church by transfer and on profession. Those persons shall be members of the constituting church conference, and each shall be entitled to vote.

7. The constituting church conference shall then be called to order by the district superintendent or by an elder whom the superintendent designates (see ¶ 248.5). A committee on nominations, appointed by the presiding pastor or elected on nominations from the floor as the conference may determine, shall nominate members of the proposed church council. The presiding pastor shall be the chairperson of the committee on nominations. When the members have been chosen, the presiding elder shall declare the church properly constituted.

8. The district superintendent or an elder whom the superintendent designates shall then adjourn the constituting church conference and call to order the charge conference of the pastoral charge. The membership of the charge conference shall be those newly elected and any others entitled to membership. The charge conference shall then elect such officers of the church as the Discipline requires, including trustees of church property, and shall set up commissions and committees as provided in the Discipline. When such officers have been duly elected and the proper commissions and committees constituted, the church is duly organized, and from this point its work shall proceed as described in the Discipline; provided that when a newly organized church is attached to a circuit, the charge conference shall not be held until such time as representatives from all the churches of the charge can be properly assembled for that purpose.

9. The charge conference may take action at its discretion, authorizing and directing the newly elected trustees to incorporate the newly organized church in accordance with local laws and the provisions of the Discipline.



	1996 Discipline ¶ 263
	`Section VII. The Method of Organizing a New Local Church` ¶ 263. 1. A new local church or mission shall be established only with the consent of the bishop in charge and the cabinet and with due consideration of the conference board of global ministries' programs of home missions and church extension (if any; see ¶ 631). The bishop shall designate the district within whose bounds the church shall be organized. The district superintendent of that district shall be the agent in charge of the project and shall recommend to the district board of church location and building (¶ 2518) the site for the proposed new congregation, or shall recommend to the board of trustees of a selected local church that they share their facility with the proposed congregation. If there is a city or district missionary organization, that body shall also be asked to approve this site. `2. The district superintendent shall call the persons interested in the proposed church to meet at an appointed time and place, or may by written authorization designate any pastor in the district to call such a meeting.` `3. The district superintendent or the pastor to whom authority is designated shall preside and shall appoint a secretary to keep a record of the meeting. Following a period of worship, opportunity shall be given those in attendance to present themselves for membership by proper certificates of transfer. Pastors issuing such certificates to a church not yet organized shall describe therein the proposed new church to which it is issued, as, for instance, "the proposed new church on Boston Avenue."` `4. Persons desiring to become members on profession of their faith in Christ shall also be given opportunity to present themselves for membership. When the presiding pastor is satisfied as to the genuineness of their faith and purpose, they shall be received into the membership of the Church.` `5. Each annual or central conference may determine the minimum number of full members required for the organization of a local United Methodist church.` `6. A list shall be made of all the persons received into the membership of the proposed church by transfer and on profession. Those persons shall be members of the constituting church conference, and each shall be entitled to vote.` 7. The constituting church conference shall then be called to order by the district superintendent or by an elder whom the superintendent designates (see ¶ 248.5). A committee on nominations, appointed by the presiding pastor or elected on nominations from the floor as the conference may determine, shall nominate members of the proposed church council. The presiding pastor shall be the chairperson of the committee on nominations. When the members have been chosen, the presiding elder shall declare the church properly constituted. 8. The district superintendent or an elder whom the superintendent designates shall then adjourn the constituting church conference and call to order the charge conference of the pastoral charge. The membership of the charge conference shall be those newly elected and any others entitled to membership. The charge conference shall then elect such officers of the church as the Discipline requires, including trustees of church property, and shall set up commissions and committees as provided in the Discipline. When such officers have been duly elected and the proper commissions and committees constituted, the church is duly organized, and from this point its work shall proceed as described in the Discipline; provided that when a newly organized church is attached to a circuit, the charge conference shall not be held until such time as representatives from all the churches of the charge can be properly assembled for that purpose. `9. The charge conference may take action at its discretion, authorizing and directing the newly elected trustees to incorporate the newly organized church in accordance with local laws and the provisions of the Discipline.`
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1996 Discipline ¶ 263