Governing Structure

GENERAL CONFERENCE

The General Conference shall be composed of delegates elected by the Annual Conference, one-half of whom shall be ministers and one-half lay persons. Each region may elect clerical and lay alternate delegates to the General Conference. All resolutions, memorials, and other materials contemplated for presentation to the General Conference shall be sent to the appropriate Episcopal District Resolution Committee members on or before January 31 of the year of the General Conference. The General Conference shall meet in quadrennial session for nine days between June 15 and July 15 commencing on a Saturday.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Annual Conference is a basic unit with such powers as those not granted to the General Conference. The Annual Conference is a yearly meeting of its ministerial members as defined by the General Conference, together with lay representatives elected by the several pastoral charges that constitute the particular Annual Conference.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE

There may be held annually, in each Presiding Elder’s district, a District Conference. The time shall be fixed by the Presiding Elder and the place by the Conference.

DISTRICT YOUTH CONFERENCE

There shall be held annually in each Presiding Elder’s District, Sunday Church School and Christian Youth Fellowship Conventions or a Youth Conference. The time shall be fixed by the Presiding Elder and the place by the convention.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE

There shall be in each local charge a council of leaders of the local congregation, to be known as the Quarterly Conference, which shall have authority to supervise the official church operations and oversee the ministry and membership of the local church as well as monitor the interests and claims of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in the local church. The presiding officer of the Quarterly Conference, without the privilege of vote, shall be the Presiding Elder. In the absence of the Presiding Elder, the Pastor shall preside, provided that, in the event there is no pastor, the Presiding Elder shall designate someone else to preside. The Quarterly Conference shall be composed of the Pastor-in-Charge, Local Preachers, Exhorters, Stewards, Stewardesses, Treasurer, Trustees of church property, and heads of all other organizations authorized by the Church Conference. Sessions of the Quarterly Conference shall be held at least twice per year, at such time as set by the Presiding Elder. Special or call sessions of the Quarterly Conference may be called by the Presiding Elder as occasion requires, provided that due notice of such sessions shall be given, that is, not less than ten (10) days, consisting of announcements from the pulpit on two (2) consecutive Sundays during worship services.

CHURCH CONFERENCE

All the members of the church shall come together once a month to hold a Church Conference. The Preacher in Charge shall preside. It may be held at any time most convenient for assembling the greatest number of members; but if on Sunday, it should not interfere with the morning public worship. Persons must be 18 years of age or emancipated by marriage in order to vote.

OFFICIAL BOARD

There shall be in each charge an official body known as the Official Board. The Official Board may serve as a planning committee and a monitoring committee for ministries and mission. The Official Board shall meet as necessary based on the demand of its duties and responsibilities. The Pastor or his/her appointee shall preside. The membership of the Official Board shall be the Preacher-in-Charge, all Trustees, Stewards, Stewardesses, Church Treasurer, Secretary of the Church Conference, Class Leaders’ the Presidents of the following: Women’s Missionary Society, the Lay Council, the Choir(s), Usher Boards, Board of Christian Education, Young Adult Fellowship, Christian Youth Fellowship, and Presidents of other auxiliaries approved by the Quarterly Conference, Chairpersons of the Commission on Membership Evangelism, Director of Christian Education, Superintendents of the Sunday School, Exhorters and Local Preachers of that Charge.

MINISTERIAL STAFF

The ministerial staff will consist of the Pastor, Exhorters, Local Preachers, Traveling Deacons, and Traveling Elders. The ministerial staff will meet at the discretion of the Pastor and at a time designated by the Pastor.