Governance

Congregations and Preaching Places

Close to 3 million members and adherents worshipping in 3,362 congregations or preaching places across the country. Pastoral care is provided to some 443,000 known households.

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Pastoral Charge

Pastoral charges may include one or more congregations under the spiritual leadership of a minister. There are approximately 2,250 pastoral charges, governed by a session, church board, or church council.

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Presbytery

An administrative grouping of pastoral charges in a local area. Lay and ministerial delegates from the charges meet regularly to oversee the work of the charges. There are 90 presbyteries within the church.

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Conference

An administrative grouping of presbyteries in a regional area. Lay and ministerial delegates from the presbyteries meet annually. Full-time staff in Conference offices work with presbyteries and local pastoral charges. There are 13 Conferences within the church.

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General Council

The church's highest legislative court. Ordained, commissioned, and lay commissioners are elected by the Conferences and meet every three years to set church policy. An Executive and Sub-Executive govern between meetings of the council.

Policy is implemented through four permanent committees of the General Council and a staff group organized into 10 working units. There are also about 100 committees and task groups, composed of voting members from across the country and General Council staff as corresponding members.

Two organization charts outlining the governance structure and the General Council Staff Model of the United Church are available for download. [PDF: 2 pp/35 KB]