2025 Charge Conference Forms
Resources for local churches in preparation for charge conference
The 2024 Book of Doctrine and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church says that the “charge conference shall be the connecting link between the local church, the annual conference, and the general church.” It further states that “the ministry of the Global Methodist Church happens primarily through the local church, overseen and governed by the charge conference. The purpose of all Global Methodist Church organization is to strengthen and support the work of the local church.” (❡206. Article V)
In preparation for the 2025 Charge Conferences for local churches in the North Carolina Annual Conference, the forms on this page are available for tracking the local church’s necessary information for meaningful and strategic conversations about ministry fruitfulness. The data collected on these forms are primarily for the local congregation’s use, however, sharing this information with the annual conference leadership – the Church Leadership Team, the Cabinet and the Board of Ordained Ministry – allows them to better serve and equip the local church.
These forms are in Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf) and can be downloaded to a local device for input and storage. They can also be printed and completed by hand, if that is the easier method for the secretary of the charge conference. Detailed instructions for the forms are below. Questions regarding these forms may be directed to Kerry Wood, Cabinet Secretary, at kerry.wood@ncglobalmethodist.org.
Charge Conference Questions Form
This form uses a simple question and response format for documenting basic information of the church. This form can be used as a guide for the church leadership to compile information ahead of the charge conference.
Charge Conference Church Data Report
This form gathers more detailed information about the church’s membership, leadership teams, financial outlook, and recommendations for ministry. Completing this report and submitting it to the conference will be especially helpful in communicating effectively with churches, districts and the annual conference.
These forms document the commitment between the charge conference and the pastor regarding compensation, accountable reimbursement and housing allowance/exclusion. The Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations team should work with the pastor in establishing these prior to the charge conference taking place.
Charge Conference Order of Worship
Each church should approach the charge conference as a time of worship and celebration rather than simply a business meeting without spiritual significance. The Order of Worship helps the church to complete its work in a holy manner. This order is suggestive, not proscriptive, and may be adapted for the local church’s context.
Charge Conference Signatures Page
This page provides a simple one-page sheet for collecting the appropriate signatures from church officers and the elder presiding over the charge conference.
Instructions for Downloading and Submitting Forms
Step 1: Download Forms
Click on each form’s “download” button to receive a local copy of the form. Depending on which browser you are using, the downloaded file will be saved to a designated folder on your computer or tablet device. Moving this file to an easily accessible/retrievable location on your device is highly recommended.
Step 2: Save Forms
Save the form with a new name based on your local church name. For example, the ‘Charge Conference Questions’ form should be named for First Methodist Church in Anywhere, NC as “FMC-Anywhere Charge Conference Questions.”
Step 3: Collect Information
Choose any of the following means of collecting necessary information:
- Print the form through your local printer if that is your preferred means of disseminating and collecting information from the ministry leaders in your church.
- Share the electronic version of the form to your ministry leaders and request they complete the information.
Step 4: Submit Forms To The Conference
Once all information is gathered, submit the completed forms to the conference.
- If using a paper version of a form, scan the document and save the file according to the naming convention described in step 2 above. If you do not have a scanner capable of converting the paper to an electronic format, then take a picture of each page. Name each page according to its page number on the form. For example, “FMC-Anywhere Approval of Candidates p11” for the Church Information Report on ministerial candidates page 11.
- If using an electronic version of the form, complete all the relevant data fields for the form and then save the final version in an easily accessible/retrievable location on your device.
- Create an email addressed to chargeconferencedata@ncglobalmethodist.org and put the name of your church in the subject line. Attach all forms that you have completed to this email and then send.
- When your information has been received successfully, you will receive a confirmation email. Hold onto both this confirmation and your documentation for local church archives and future strategic conversations by your leadership.
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