The River Conference of the Free Methodist Church

Affiliation Process

We (The River Conference – TRC) have developed a process to help the UMC churches interested in affiliating with TRC.

  • The typical process (adjusts based on context)
  • Church contacts FMC or TRC about affiliating
  • Assistant Superintendent sends a standard email with a link to TRC affiliation page
  • The church schedules a ZOOM meeting that includes the pastor/s and key lay leadership.
  • The church continues to discern if the TRC / FMC is where they affiliate.
  • The church schedules a site visit weekend with the Superintendency.
  • The weekend schedule:

Friday – Travel Day

Saturday – Meet with the Pastors and lay leadership for dinner and a question and answer (Q&A).

Sunday – Superintendency preaches

Sunday – All Church Gathering for Q&A

  • The church informs the TRC / FMC of their decision regarding affiliating.
  • If the church desires to affiliate, the superintendency develops a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  • The church begins the establish time of affiliation (from the MOU)
  • After a time of affiliation the church becomes a Society, based on the details outlined in the MOU