What is a Charge Conference?

A Charge Conference in the United Methodist Church is the basic governing body of each local church, responsible for making key decisions related to church leadership, membership, pastoral support, and ministry goals.

All members of the church’s Church Council (or equivalent governing body) are voting members of the Charge Conference and are officially invited to attend. Additionally, the Charge Conference is open to all members of the congregation, who may attend as observers but do not have voting rights unless they are part of the Church Council.