Our United Methodist Structure
The United Methodist Church was founded as a global, connectional church with shared beliefs and mission. The Book of Discipline describes these and our organizational structure. It also communicates the UMC’s official position on ethical, political and cultural issues. The UMC convenes a General Conference every 4 years, where they often modify or create these “rules” under which UMC’s operate. Mt Zion UMC is represented in these decisions in a way similar to the US House of Representatives. The voting delegates represent congregations from the United States, Africa, the Philippines and Russia. Mt Zion in the Washington East District (think 5th Congressional district) which is in the Baltimore-Washington Conference (think Maryland). Based on the size of its membership, the Baltimore-Washington Conference sends 6 clergy and lay delegates to General Conference, joining delegates from United Methodist Conferences worldwide.
