Charge Conference
    The primary governing body of the local congregation is the Charge Conference (or Church Conference). This is the annual meeting of the congregation’s leaders and members, called in advance and chaired by the district superintendent (or a representative). A Charge Conference (or a Church Conference) may also be called with the superintendent’s advice and consent to consider special and particular issues.

District
    Our church is part of the Columbus North District, a division of the West Ohio Annual Conference. The district is led by the district superintendent, an ordained minister appointed by the bishop. The district superintendent helps Church of the Saviour relate to the larger church, and the district provides various programs and services to enrich our ministry.

Annual Conference
    The West Ohio Annual Conference is made up of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates and is chaired by the resident bishop of the West Ohio Area. The Annual Conference meets annual at Lakeside, Ohio, to receive reports of past work, set goals and budgets, receive men and women into the ordained and diaconal ministries, and (every four years) elect delegates to the Jurisdictional and General Conferences.

Jurisdictional Conference
    In the U.S.A. the church is divided into five geographical jurisdictions: Northeastern, Southeastern, North Central, South Central, and Western. Church of the Saviour, as part of the West Ohio Annual Conference, belongs to the North Central Jurisdiction. Every four years the Jurisdictional Conferences meet to elect new bishops and select members of general boards and agencies.

Central Conferences
    Outside the U.S.A., The United Methodist Church is organized according to Central Conferences, not jurisdictions.

General Conference
    Composed of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates, the General Conference meets every four years to make our governing laws, establish program emphases, and set a four-year budget for the church’s general work.

Home Page