Charter / Re-Certification
Each United Methodist Mens Fellowship is to re-Certifiy thier Charter each year. Typically, this process is completed in the beginning of the calendar year.
For New United Methodist Mens Fellowships please Charter your fellowship as soon as possible.
To complete either process, open the form below, print and send to the address printed on the form along with the chartering/re-certification fee.
Why Charter or Re-Certify
When John Wesley began the Methodist Church, it was with the firm belief that we, as Christians, needed and benefited from being “connected”. And over the years, that belief has withstood the test of time. That’s why United Methodists are referred to as “connectional”.
Historically, the charter is the tie that connects United Methodist Men Fellowships across the North Georgia Conference and the nation.
Each year, UMM Fellowships are asked to charter for the first time or re-certify their existing charter so that we may keep up to date with changes in your fellowship (officers, addresses, and other information) and so that we may keep you up to date on current events and opportunities to help your local fellowship grow.
If you are not chartered, or if you need to re-certify for this year, please contact us. These certification should be sent to the offices of the United Methodist Men in the North Georgia Conference.
Charter Application
Click on Image to open application.
Print, write in requested information, and send to address on application.
Benefits
The Charter has been the tie that binds United Methodist Men units for over fifty years. The concept of United Methodist Men to be united through local units, districts, conferences and the larger church was a grass-roots idea in the early beginning of men’s work.
Men gladly join and support many diverse, civic and service clubs. They support these organizations with dues, as well as with hours and hours of volunteer service directed toward doing good for their communities. They do this willingly year after year deriving the spiritual reward of knowing they are contributing to the welfare of humankind. They simultaneously enjoy the association with others, as well as the advance of their own welfare in the business world. Civic service and para-church religious organizations are chartered through a national or international organization.
All such organizations are supported through dues of members. The membership never questions the fact that each local unit must be chartered. Yet, when it comes to supporting a service organization which is a part of the church, some ask, "why charter? Why should a local United Methodist Men unit charter and make annual contributions to the United Methodist Men of the North Georgia Conference or the General Commission on United Methodist Men?"
United Methodist Men’s units are chartered for all the same reasons that a local church is chartered as a United Methodist church, (making its annual contributions to the general church through World Service and Conference Benevolences). Our church is a connectional community of true believers under the Lordship of Christ providing a covenant relationship between persons. It offers a unique and favorable mission and ministry in the world.
Three Important Functions Of The Annual Charter Recertification:
- The annual charter certification updates and corrects the mailing address of current officers. To insure that current mailings reach the proper hands, the new officer information must be received annually.
- The charter and annual certification as stated in The Book of Discipline (¶2302) is the key that links men’s units around the world. Witness and strength are measured by annual growth of current chartered units.
- Financial contributions provide support for the United Methodist Men of the North Georgia Conference and General Commission on United Methodist Men’s. These annual contributions are vital to strengthen and enhance the unique connection of one men’s unit with other men’s units around the world.
The charter benefits from the United Methodist Men of the North Georgia Conference Office to a local unit include:
- MensNews print edition and UMMens eNews, electronic edition
- Fellowship Handbook for each unit is distributed to the President
- Program Helps with local resources identified
- Contacts from across North Georgia for service opportunities
- Sample Job Descriptions
- Sample Constitution & Bylaw to govern your unit
- Charter and fellowship rosters provide the information necessary to maintain our DB of men across the conference providing notification of upcoming events such as the Annual Men’s Spiritual Retreat at Rock Eagle, BBQ Dinner at Annual Conference, Couples Retreat, Super Saturday, and Mission opportunities
- Training events twice a year for Officers of local fellowship and districts
- Helps to support two part time staff, Executive Director & Administrative Assistant/Charter Administrator
The charter benefits from the General Commission on United Methodist Men office to a local unit include:
- UMM Magazine (which includes the MenNews newsletter) 4 times a year for the president and secretary of the local men’s unit;
- Free membership cards, program book and other helps in the President’s Packet
- A service office, available staff to answer phone calls and letters;
- Staff-led training events in every part of the nation for conference, district and local leaders;
- Local church helps to assist in program planning and enabling officers to carry out duties and responsibilities; and
- Representation through national staff in a wide variety of interests in which other United Methodist Church agencies and ecumenical organizations are involved.
Each of these important UMMen structures, the North Georgia Conference and General Commission, exists to support the growth and provide opportunities for men to be in mission and ministry. The goal is to increase the local unit’s effectiveness in mission and ministry through opportunities not available through any other source.
Contact
Judy Koch | |
(H) 770-489-3344 (W) 678-533-1458 | |
(E-mail) jkoch(at)ngumc.org |