Our Organization

 

The name of our church is known and designated as The Southern Methodist Church. It is doctrinally the same as the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was when it was originally organized in 1940. The organizational structure may be best described as congregational/connectional in form.

 

MS Organization Chart 2.0

 

THE MINISTRY OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE PRESIDENT

The General Conference of The Southern Methodist Church elects a President at each meeting of the General Conference to serve the denomination for a four-year term. The President does not pastor a church but seeks to serve the needs of the denomination as a whole and to provide spiritual encouragement and support for individual churches and pastors. His ministry includes the following:

  • serving as chief executive officer of the denomination
  • chairing the General Conference Board of Administration which is empowered to carry out the will of the General Conference and to serve as its governing body in the interim of General Conference sessions
  • traveling throughout the bounds of the denomination to visit pastors and churches to promote the general interests of the denomination
  • coordinating the work of general and annual conference departments, boards, and committees
  • developing special attention to the organization of new churches
  • providing a summary and progress report each year on the operational plans and goals of the denomination
  • providing supply preachers for churches who need pulpit supply in absence of a pastor

THE MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENT AND HIS BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION

In addition, the President chairs the General Conference Board of Administration and oversees additional ministry, which includes:

  • holding and overseeing General Conference property
  • providing spiritual and financial support for denominational ministries, such as: Foreign Missions, Home Missions, Southern Methodist College, Foundry Press, Church Extension, and Youth Work
  • providing proper organizational and financial administration of the overall denominational work
  • promoting lay activity, discipleship, development of lay leadership, ministerial training, and Christian life and action

HOW MUCH DOES GENERAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY COST?

The Board of Administration has approved a budget of $277,300 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
The breakdown for the budget, a detailed copy of which is available upon request, is as follows:

  • General Conference Staff (22.7%)
  • President’s Salary (17.6%)
  • GC Ministries’ Utilities, Maintenance, Insurance, etc. (17%)
  • Southern Methodist College (13.6%)
  • Annual Conference Ministry (13%)
  • Retirement Program (7.7%)
  • Foundry Press Christian Book Store & Resource Center (3.5%)
  • President’s Housing / Travel (3.5%)
  • Christian Education (1.4%)

HOW IS THE GENERAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY FUNDED?

The Askings Program

“Each local church is expected to assume its fair share of support for the various departments and institutions of the Annual and General Conference” (Southern Methodist Discipline, Para. 342). Each church is asked to give a recommended 10% of general local church income on a monthly basis.

 

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU

The General Conference President is available to come to your church for a special service, revival, Bible conference, or local church event. There is no charge for the President to come. However, a love offering for General Conference Ministries would be appreciated.

Please give us a call if we can be of assistance to you:

 

(803) 536-1378

Or send us an e-mail:

smchq@bellsouth.net