Every Member Counts And We Count Every Member

Every Member Counts And We Count Every Member The United Methodist Church

What is the Mission of the Church? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28: 19 -20). “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs” (From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church— 2008, p. 87. )

The United Methodist Heritage • Salvation is a process • Caring through small groups • Watching over one another • Role of the class leader • Concern for souls John Wesley

History of Membership Records • 1773 – First Statistics • 1976 – Publication of new baptismal ritual • 1988 – Official interpretive statement • 1996 – “By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism” • 2000 – Constitution amended • 2004 – Adopted new understandings and terminology for membership

United Methodist Church Membership • Baptized member – Baptism is an act of God. • Professing member – The human response to what God has given.

Lines of Responsibility • The Pastor • The Membership Secretary • The Church Secretary • Evangelism Chairperson (or equivalent)

Membership Records and Rolls • Record of Faith Journey • Permanent Church Register • Professing Members Removed by CC Action • Constituency Roll • Affiliate/Associate Member Roll

Supplemental Records • Record of Baptisms • Family/Household Roll or Card • Record of Marriages • Record of Deaths • Historical Record • Pastor History

Let’s Put Some Flesh with These Designations

Baptized Member • Sophia Grace – Born Oct. 30, 2006 – Baptized Jan. 28, 2007

Professing Member • Beanie Rankin – Baptized, age 2 – Profession of Faith, age 12, into the Methodist Church • Bill Rankin – Baptized, age 1 – Transfer, Other Denomination, July 1987

Annual Conference Member • Eric Doolittle – Baptized, Feb. 1974 – Profession of Faith, 1986 into UM Church – Transfer from Home Church to Annual Conference Membership, 2003

Constituency Roll • Kathryn Mitchell – Baptized, age 2 – Profession of Faith into Methodist Episcopal Church, 1926 – Moved to a new state to live with professing members

Affiliate/Associate • Wende Doolittle – Baptized, 1976 – Profession of Faith, 1988, into UM Church – Moved, retaining membership at home church – Active participant in local UM church

Notify Another Church • Roden Family • Baptized Members • Professing Member - Moved to another community

Checklist Inventory of Present Records Complete Record of Faith Journey Record of Baptisms Permanent Church Register Constituency Rolls Family Household Roll Affiliate/Associate Member Roll Professing Members Removed by CC Action Historical Record Pastoral Record of Marriages Record of Deaths Incomplete

Additional Tool • Membership Changes – Continuous Report

Your Main Resource (and Mine!) • 2009 -2012 United Methodist Membership Records Manual – Book with CD-ROM – $12, available from Cokesbury – Includes information, required forms and supplemental forms

Every Member Counts An annual review is an act of worship as well as an act of bookkeeping.