The Manual

This section provides a description of the various committees that will be found in a typical local church.  It also describes a number of alternative organizational models.  The specific organizational structure in your church may be different.  For example, the committees and positions in your church may have different names […]

To allow them to provide official donation receipts for income tax purposes, local churches must keep accurate, ongoing records of the amounts given by individual donors.  These records are normally kept by the treasurer, or a financial secretary/recording secretary (if one is appointed). The information on the specific amounts contributed

¶372.2.4.1  Signing Officers: The society or board should name the signing officers who may sign cheques and other financial instruments on behalf of the church.  The treasurer should normally be one of the signing officers.  The society or board may wish to name more than one signing officer, and define

The minimum essential officers in any deliberative assembly are the presiding officer or chair, and the secretary.  In addition, the board of a local church needs to have a treasurer, due to its role as the “Board of Directors” of a charitable organization. It is important that all of the

Plan the development of the vision and mission statements, goals or objectives of the local church, and the steps to reach those goals. This also includes development of an organizational plan, outlining the various committees and positions needed to implement the ministry plan. Co-ordinate and facilitate the activities of the

The official board is responsible for the general supervision of the ongoing operation of the local church and, as such, establishes the policies that govern the day-to-day operation of the church and its ministries.  It may serve as trustees of the society. (See ¶320.5.2.1)

The primary unit of organization of a local church is the society. The society consists of all the adult members of the local church.  Under the by-laws outlined in Chapter 3, the society must meet at least once a year.  This meeting is typically known as the “annual meeting.”   Other

Before a Free Methodist Affiliation Certificate is signed, the bishop (or a designee) shall ask those who are to become charter members, the following questions: Do you today reaffirm your commitment to Jesus Christ to work under His leadership to build His church? Do you today reaffirm your loyalty to

The form a new congregation takes, and its relationship to its sponsor, can have infinite variety. However, some key criteria must be met for a core group to be recognized as a new congregation. A congregation, loosely defined, is a group of people with a unique vision for their area,

In Mark 4: 26-29, Jesus gives a key principle of how God’s Kingdom grows. In this little story (see also I Corinthians 3:5-8) Jesus shows how the Kingdom of God grows organically, all by itself.  However, “…growth is not unlimited in God’s creation.  A healthy organism doesn’t keep growing indefinitely,