District Superintendent (United Methodist Church)
Encyclopedia
A District Superintendent, often abbreviated D.S., in the United Methodist Church
is a clergy
person (specifically Elder) who serves in a supervisor
y position over a geographic District of churches (varying in size) providing spiritual and administrative leadership
to those churches and their pastors. According to the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church
,
District Superintendents were once called Presiding Elders in United Methodist Church
es, and still are in other Methodist denominations
.
The term of office for a district superintendent usually is up to six years but he may serve eight consective years. She or he may serve no more than eight years in any consective eleven years and no more than fourteen years in his lifetime.
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...
is a clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
person (specifically Elder) who serves in a supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
y position over a geographic District of churches (varying in size) providing spiritual and administrative leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
to those churches and their pastors. According to the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church
Book of Discipline (United Methodist)
The Book of Discipline constitutes the law and doctrine of the United Methodist Church. It follows similar works for its predecessor denominations....
,
District Superintendents were once called Presiding Elders in 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...
es, and still are in other Methodist denominations
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
.
The term of office for a district superintendent usually is up to six years but he may serve eight consective years. She or he may serve no more than eight years in any consective eleven years and no more than fourteen years in his lifetime.