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How We Organize Ourselves as United Methodists
The General Conference, comprised of elected clergy and laity delegates,
governs the worldwide United Methodist Church. Our Jurisdictional Conferences
bring together United States churches across large geographical areas. Bishops
are elected by the delegates of Jurisdictional Conferences and are then
assigned to Annual Conferences. Paradise Valley United Methodist Church is in
the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, which is part of the Western
Jurisdiction. Bishops, together with their cabinets, appoint clergy to local
churches or parishes. Individual congregations do not call pastors to their
charge, nor do clergy apply for a certain position within the church.
United Methodists have compiled their ideas of how we agree to live together,
our understanding of the Church, what is expected of clergy and laity, our
theological grounding, and our mission in The Book of Discipline. While we
recognize it as our book of law, we do not see it as infallible. The Discipline
is amended or clarified at each General
Conference.
How We Organize Ourselves at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church
All members and clergy of Paradise Valley United Methodist Church comprise the
Church Conference, which meets once a year. The Church Conference elects
officers, leaders and ministry team members. The primary governing body elected
by Church Conference is the Church Council,
which is the administrative and policy-making body of Paradise Valley United
Methodist Church. All of the major ministry areas of the church are represented
on Church Council.
Reporting to Church Council are Administrative Ministry Teams and Program
Ministry Teams. If you are interested in serving on a Ministry Team,
please contact the Nominating Committee.
Administrative Ministry Teams include Board of Trustees, Finance, Lay
Ministry, Pastor/Staff Parish Relations, and the Paradise Valley United
Methodist Church Foundation. Trustees have responsibility for church property
and assets. Finance oversees financial operations of the church. Lay Ministry
mobilizes and trains laity for service and ministry, and oversees the
nominations task force. Pastor/Staff Parish Relations functions as a personnel
body for the non-clergy staff and an advisory team between clergy, staff,
congregation, and the Annual Conference. The Paradise Valley United Methodist
Church Foundation develops the endowment of the church and to make grants from
that endowment.
Program Ministry Teams include Adult Education; Caring; Children; Church and
Society; Communications and Marketing; Fellowship; Missions; New Members;
Preschool Board; Singles; Stewardship Education; Welcoming;
Worship; Music and Fine Arts; Youth; and “20s and 30s”.
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