Q: Where does the Book of Discipline talk about United Methodist Men?
A: The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church refers to several paragraphs concerning United Methodist Men at the local, district, conference, jurisdictional and general church level. Paragraphs pertaining to the local church organization of United Methodist Men in the 2004 Book of Discipline include paragraphs 226, 253, 256, and 257. Jurisdictional United Methodist Men are covered under paragraph 535. Annual Conference UMM is covered under paragraph 630. District organizations are covered under paragraph 668.
The GCUMM is covered under paragraphs; 705, 2301, 2302, and 2303.
Q: What is the purpose of United Methodist Men?
A: The purpose of United Methodist Men is to declare the centrality of Christ in every man’s life, to promote the spiritual growth of men through effective discipleship, and to model the servant leadership of Christ in our daily lives.
Q: What is the General Commission on United Methodist Men
(GCUMM)?
A: The GCUMM is one of 8 program agencies of the United Methodist Church. There are twenty-three elected commission members who represent the Council of Bishops, Jurisdictional Presidents of United Methodist Men, The National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men, the United Methodist Men Foundation, the National Association of United Methodist Scouters, and the Central Conferences. The General Commission is responsible for the resourcing of men’s ministry throughout the denomination for the men of the United Methodist Church.
Q: Is a United Methodist Men’s organization required in every local United Methodist Church?
A: Yes. Paragraph 257 of the 2004 Book of Discipline states that “Each church or charge shall have an organized unit of United Methodist Men…”
Q: Is chartering and re-certification a requirement of every United Methodist Men’s group?
A: Yes. Paragraph 257 of the 2004 Book of Discipline states that each unit of United Methodist Men must be chartered and annually recertified through the GCUMM.
Q: Can a local United Methodist Church have a ministry to men if it is not chartered?
A: Some United Methodist churches have a variety of ministries in which men participate. Men are involved in the Walk to Emmaus, Promise Keepers, Disciple Bible Study, Prison Ministries, Covenant Discipleship and a host of other ministries that group same gender persons. These ministry efforts should be affirmed and supported. They should, however, be seen as important components of the overall ministry of the men of the particular United Methodist Church in which the ministry is being carried out. Therefore, the need to be a chartered unit becomes even more vital so that these and other ministries will be seen as part of the church’s overall ministry to all men. In addition, chartered units are resourced from the national office with materials, training, information, and support in carrying out effective ministry to all men in the local church.
Unlike United Methodist Women, there is no “one” specific ministry for local units. Each local church designs its own programs to meet the needs of their specific group.
Q: Why should local churches charter?
A: In addition to the disciplinary requirement, chartering enables the national organization of United Methodist Men to resource the local church, provide training for United Methodist Men leaders, coordinate men’s materials and events, support United Methodist Men mission projects, as well as provide leadership in scouting ministries (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Camp Fire USA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America). Chartering connects each local 4 UMM unit with units across the country and around the world. Chartering provides the national office with income to reach men in every setting (urban, rural, international) of the church. Charter income helps to provide a national staff of specialists in men’s and scouting ministries.
More information can be found here.
Q: What does the local church get when it charters?
A: The local church president and treasurer receive periodic materials from the General Commission on United Methodist Men. These materials include the UMMen quarterly magazine, membership cards, brochures and information about the various ministries and mission projects of United Methodist Men, training event information and materials, program booklets, website information, and other materials helpful in the ministry to all the men of your local church.
It also places men of the local church, through the president and treasurer, in the worldwide network of UMMen.
Q: Are there additional FAQ’s available?
A: Yes, they can be obtained here in PDF format from the www.gcumm.org website.