Western North Carolina Annual Conference
Encyclopedia
The Western North Carolina Conference is an Annual Conference
(regional episcopal
area, similar to a diocese
) of the United Methodist Church
. This conference serves the western half of the state of North Carolina
, with its administrative offices and the office of the bishop
being located in Charlotte, North Carolina
. It is part of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
The current presiding Bishop is Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster
The Western North Carolina Conference provides funding to five institutions of higher learning:
The WNC Annual Conference is further subdivided into 15 smaller regions, called "districts," which provide further administrative functions for the operation of local churches in cooperation with each other. This structure is vital to Methodism
, and is referred to as connectionalism
. The districts that comprise the Western North Carolina Conference are:
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
(regional episcopal
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
area, similar to a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
) of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. This conference serves the western half of the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, with its administrative offices and the office of the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
being located in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It is part of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
The current presiding Bishop is Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster
The Western North Carolina Conference provides funding to five institutions of higher learning:
- Bennett CollegeBennett CollegeBennett College is a four-year liberal arts women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1873, this historically black institution began as a normal school to provide education to newly emancipated slaves. It became a women's college in 1926 and currently serves roughly 780...
-- Greensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S... - Brevard CollegeBrevard CollegeBrevard College is a small, private, United Methodist, liberal arts college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college currently grants the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree...
-- Brevard, North CarolinaBrevard, North CarolinaBrevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County.... - Greensboro CollegeGreensboro CollegeGreensboro College is a four-year, independent, coeducational liberal-arts college, also offering four master's degrees, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1838...
-- Greensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S... - High Point UniversityHigh Point UniversityHigh Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.- Beginnings :...
-- High Point, North CarolinaHigh Point, North CarolinaHigh Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina.... - Pfeiffer UniversityPfeiffer UniversityPfeiffer University is a private university located in the village of Misenheimer near Richfield, North Carolina.- History :Pfeiffer originated from a home school operated by Miss Emily Prudden in the late 19th century...
- Main Campus -- Misenheimer, North CarolinaMisenheimer, North CarolinaMisenheimer, is an incorporated village in Stanly County, North Carolina. It is in the southern Piedmont region of North Carolina, near the city of Richfield....
- Extension Campus -- Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
- Main Campus -- Misenheimer, North Carolina
The WNC Annual Conference is further subdivided into 15 smaller regions, called "districts," which provide further administrative functions for the operation of local churches in cooperation with each other. This structure is vital to Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, and is referred to as connectionalism
Connectionalism
The term Connexionalism is today most commonly used to describe the theological understanding and foundation of Methodist polity, as practised in the British Methodist Church and the American United Methodist Church...
. The districts that comprise the Western North Carolina Conference are:
- Albemarle http://www.albemarleumc.org
- Asheville
- Charlotte http://www.chardist.org
- Gastonia http://www.gbgm-umc.org/gastonia-district
- Greensboro http://www.greensborodistrictumc.org
- High Point http://www.highpointdistrict.org
- Lake Norman
- Lexington http://www.gbgm-umc.org/lexncdistrict
- Marion http://www.gbgm-umc.org/mariondistrict
- Northeast http://www.gbgm-umc.org/nedistrict
- North Wilkesboro http://www.northwilkesborodistrict.org
- Salisbury
- Statesville
- Waynesville
- Winston-Salem http://www.winstonsalemdistrictumc.org