First United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination in the United States

The First United Methodist Church (often called The United Methodist Church or UMC) formed in 1968 when the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Today it has roughly 7 million members across the United States and operates in over 140 countries. If you walk into a Methodist church in America, it is most likely a UMC congregation unless the building or bulletin specifically names a different Methodist body.

The UMC is organized differently from independent Methodist churches or smaller Methodist denominations. It operates through a connectional system — meaning local congregations connect upward through district and annual conferences to a general church structure. This affects how churches are governed, how pastors are assigned, and what doctrines and practices are taught. Understanding this structure matters if you are choosing a Methodist church to join or want to know why your local Methodist congregation makes certain decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • The United Methodist Church is a single denomination with a formal hierarchy, not a loose network of independent churches, so decisions made at the general conference level can affect your local congregation.
  • UMC pastors are assigned by bishops through a process called itinerancy, meaning you do not choose your pastor and pastors do not choose their congregation — they are stationed by the church.
  • The UMC ordains both men and women as clergy and has taken formal positions on social issues like poverty and racial justice that individual congregations are expected to support.
  • Smaller Methodist denominations like the Free Methodist Church and Wesleyan Church broke away over disagreements about church governance, clergy authority, and how strictly to follow Methodist founder John Wesley's teachings on holiness.

How the United Methodist Church is structured and governed

The UMC operates through four levels: the local congregation, the district, the annual conference, and the general conference. Your local church is part of a district overseen by a district superintendent. That district is part of an annual conference (usually organized by state or region), which is led by a bishop. Every four years, representatives from all annual conferences meet at the general conference to set church-wide policy, approve the budget, and elect bishops.

This structure means that decisions made at the general conference affect every UMC congregation. For example, the general conference sets the official position on marriage, ordination, and social issues. Individual churches cannot straightforward ignore these positions, though congregations do have some freedom in how they implement them. If you are considering joining a UMC church, it is worth asking the pastor or a church leader what the congregation's stance is on any issue that matters to you, because the official church position and the local congregation's practice may not always align.

Bishops hold significant power in the UMC. They ordain clergy, oversee the annual conferences in their region, and assign pastors to congregations. This is different from many other Protestant churches where the congregation votes on hiring a pastor. In the UMC, your pastor is stationed by the bishop, and pastors are expected to move to a new assignment every few years. This practice is called itinerancy and comes directly from John Wesley's Methodist movement.

Who can be ordained as a pastor in the UMC

The United Methodist Church ordains both men and women as elders (the main pastoral rank) and as deacons (a second pastoral track focused on service and outreach). This has been official policy since 1956 for deacons and 1980 for elders. To become an ordained elder, a person must complete a four-year process that includes seminary education, mentorship, and approval by the annual conference.

The UMC also ordains people of all sexual orientations and gender identities as deacons. However, the church's official stance on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ clergy has been contested for decades. As of 2024, the UMC is in the process of restructuring, and some congregations and annual conferences have taken different positions on these issues. If LGBTQ+ inclusion is important to you, ask directly about the specific congregation's practice, because it may differ from the official general conference position.

What the UMC teaches compared to other Methodist branches

All Methodist churches trace their roots to John Wesley, an 18th-century English clergyman who emphasized personal conversion, Bible study, and living a holy life. The UMC shares these core beliefs with other Methodist denominations. However, smaller Methodist bodies broke away over specific disagreements about how strictly to follow Wesley's teachings and how much authority bishops should have.

The Free Methodist Church split from the Methodist Church in 1860 over the issue of slavery and church governance. Free Methodists believed the Methodist Church had become too wealthy and worldly and that bishops had too much power. Today, Free Methodist churches tend to be smaller, more conservative on social issues, and more congregational in their governance — meaning individual churches have more say in their decisions.

The Wesleyan Church (originally called the Wesleyan Methodist Church) also separated in the 1800s, primarily over slavery and the role of bishops. Wesleyan churches emphasize holiness — the idea that Christians should pursue spiritual perfection — more explicitly than the UMC does. They also tend to be more conservative on cultural issues and have a more congregational structure.

The Nazarene Church is another holiness-tradition denomination with Methodist roots. Nazarenes emphasize sanctification (becoming holy) as a distinct experience after conversion, which is a stronger emphasis than you will typically find in a UMC congregation.

If you are comparing Methodist churches, the main practical differences come down to: how much authority the local congregation has versus the denomination, how conservative or progressive the church is on social and cultural issues, and how much emphasis is placed on personal holiness and spiritual experience. The UMC, as the largest Methodist body, tends to be more moderate on these points than the smaller denominations.

What happens at a UMC worship service

A typical UMC Sunday service includes hymn singing, prayer, Scripture reading, a sermon, and communion (though communion frequency varies by congregation). The UMC uses a liturgical order of worship, meaning the service follows a structured format rather than being spontaneous or led entirely by the pastor's choice. Many UMC churches use a printed bulletin so you know what to expect.

UMC churches welcome visitors and do not require membership to attend worship. If you are new, introduce yourself to an usher or pastor after the service. Most congregations have a coffee hour or fellowship time where you can meet people and ask questions about the church's beliefs and practices.

How to find a local UMC congregation

The official UMC website (umc.org) has a church locator tool where you can search by zip code or city. You can also search for "United Methodist Church near me" in a search engine. When you find a congregation, visit their website or call the church office to ask about service times, whether they welcome visitors, and what the congregation's specific focus or mission is.

If you are interested in joining, most UMC churches have a membership class or conversation with the pastor where you learn about Methodist beliefs and what membership means. Membership is not required to attend worship, but it does give you a voice in church decisions and connects you formally to the broader Methodist movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attend a UMC church if I am not Methodist?

Yes. UMC churches welcome visitors of any faith background or no faith background. You can attend worship, participate in most activities, and ask questions without any commitment. Membership is optional and usually involves a conversation with the pastor about Methodist beliefs.

Why do UMC pastors move to different churches?

The practice of moving pastors (itinerancy) comes from John Wesley's original Methodist movement and is meant to prevent pastors from becoming too attached to one congregation or too comfortable in one place. Bishops assign pastors based on the needs of the church and the pastor's gifts. Moves typically happen every few years, though the exact timing varies.

What is the difference between a UMC elder and a deacon?

Both are ordained clergy in the UMC. Elders are the primary pastoral track and typically serve as lead pastors of congregations. Deacons focus on service, outreach, and compassion ministries and may serve in churches, hospitals, nonprofits, or other settings. Both can preach and perform some sacraments, though elders have broader authority.

Does the UMC have a specific political stance?

The UMC takes official positions on social issues like poverty, racial justice, and environmental care, but these are framed as moral and spiritual concerns, not partisan politics. Individual members and congregations may interpret and act on these positions differently. The church does not tell members how to vote or which political party to support.

What happens if I disagree with something the UMC teaches?

The UMC has a long tradition of theological debate and allows members to hold different views on many topics. However, the general conference does set official positions on core issues. If you have significant disagreements, talk with your pastor or a church leader about how your congregation approaches that issue. You can also remain a member while disagreeing — the UMC does not require uniformity of belief on every topic.