Church Council
Resources and Training
Watch the Virtual Training
Resources
From the Denomination
- Committee Overview (ResourceUMC) – A free article outlining the church council’s purpose, responsibilities, and best practices.
- Guidelines: Church Council – A deeper dive into best practices, available for purchase from Cokesbury in print or PDF.
- Book of Discipline ¶252 – The official roles and responsibilities of church council.
From the Conference
- Alternate Leadership Structure – If your church is considering a one board model, contact your district superintendent for guidance.
- Center for Leadership Excellence – Offers leadership development resources, trainings, and programs for clergy and laity.
Committee Resourcing
Additional resources for church council committees:
Well-run meetings respect people’s time and move the work forward.
For practical guidance and tools you can implement now, check out this recorded webinar covering:
- Agendas and time management
- Preparing the space for the work at hand
- Healthy group dynamics
- Maintaining forward momentum and mission focus