About UMChurchLaw.com
UMChurchLaw.com exists to equip clergy, laity, bishops, district superintendents, chancellors, and church leaders with clear, practical, and theologically grounded resources on the law and polity of The United Methodist Church (UMC).
Currently serving over 1,400 active users from 38 countries worldwide, the site is built on the conviction that church law is not merely a set of rules but an expression of covenantal grace. Rooted in Scripture, Wesleyan tradition, and constitutional Methodism, UMChurchLaw.com helps leaders navigate complex questions about property, trusteeship, finance, complaints, clergy status, and the evolving global structure of the UMC.
Here you’ll find:
- Guides and Articles explaining the Book of Discipline 2020/2024 with careful references to Judicial Council decisions.
- Practical Tools for pastors, trustees, and committees dealing with property, finance, and governance.
- Downloadable Toolkits (print-ready handouts) for Church Council, Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, SPRC, dCOM, BOM, and Conference Board of Trustees—ready to use in meetings, trainings, and membership classes.
- Downloadable Sample Lease Agreements and Facility Sharing Covenants for United Methodist churches sharing space with non-UMC congregations or with other UMC congregations.
- Downloadable PowerPoint presentations on judicial processes for District Superintendents, Assistants to Bishops, and Chancellors.
- Central/Regional-Conferences-related resources and downloadable toolkits in English, French, and German.
- Scholarly Insights on constitutional law and theology of the UMC, drawing from the author’s research, experience, and expertise.
- Commentary and News Analysis that connect denominational developments—such as disaffiliation, regionalization, and episcopal authority—to the broader life of the church.
- Glossary of Acronyms and Terms used in the UMC.
- Topical Index of Statutory and Case Law for legal research.
- Case Law Concordance to be used with Topical Index
- NEW: “Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the Church
- AKTUELL: „Geschlecht“ und „Fähigkeit“ – Inklusivität der Kirche
- ACTUEL:
L’inclusivité du «genre» et de la «capacité» dans l’Église
The purpose of UMChurchLaw.com is simple: to make the dense world of church law accessible, reliable, and practical—while never losing sight of the church’s ultimate mission: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” (¶120).
The goal is not just to interpret rules but to equip the church to live into its covenantal life with wisdom, grace, and faithfulness.
Disclaimer: The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. For specific legal concerns, consult a qualified attorney.
Click on tabs below for more information:
For Pastors and Lay Members:
For Local Churches:
Facility Sharing Covenant Sample (Two UMC Congregations)
Facility Sharing Covenant Sample (Multi-Ethnic UMC Congregations)
Guideline for Approval of Building Projects
Guideline for Approval of Property Leases
Guideline for Approval of Property Sales
Lease Agreement Sample (UMC-Non-UMC Congregations)
For Bishops:
A Bishop’s Guide to Decisions of Law (with PowerPoint presentation)
For Assistants to Bishops and Chancellors:
Administrative Complaint Process
Comprehensive Guide to Legal Research
Judicial Complaint Process (with PowerPoint presentations)
Judicial Council Case Law 101 (with PowerPoint presentation)
For District Superintendents:
Closing a Local Church Under ¶2549 (with toolkit)
Consultation and Appointment Process (with PowerPoint presentation)
Role of District Superintendents
Rulings of Law by District Superintendents (with PowerPoint presentation)
For Districts:
District Board on Church Location and Building
For Annual Conferences:
Readmission of Disaffiliated Churches
Reinstatement of Clergypersons Terminated for Reasons of Human Sexuality
For Central Conferences/Conférences centrales/Zentralkonferenzen
Adaptations by Central Conferences
Adaptation du Livre de Discipline par les conférences centrales
Adhésion ecclésiale (avec toolkit)
L’inclusivité du «genre» et de la «capacité» dans l’Église
Vue d’ensemble du Plan de régionalisation
Anpassung der Allgemeinen Kirchenordnung durch Zentralkonferenzen
„Geschlecht“ und „Fähigkeit“ – Inklusivität der Kirche
Kirchenmitgliedschaft (mit Toolkit)
For Students and Candidates for Ministry:
About the author
Rev. Dr. Lui Tran
Rev. Dr. Lui Tran is Assistant Chancellor for Church Law and Assistant South District Director in the California-Pacific Annual Conference and also Senior Pastor of Garden Grove United Methodist Church. A former member of the UMC Judicial Council (2016–2025), he is the author of Trust Clause Stands as Connectional Cornerstone and Human Rights and Federalism: A Comparative Study on Freedom, Democracy, and Cultural Diversity.
Born in Vietnam and raised in Switzerland, Dr. Tran worked as a lawyer for the Swiss Federal Justice Department and missionary in Africa with Wycliffe Bible Translators prior to entering the ordained ministry. An elder in full connection with over two decades of cross-cultural ministry experience in southern California, he combines legal and theological scholarship, judicial expertise, and pastoral leadership to serve the church. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Bern, Harvard Law School, Claremont School of Theology, and earned his Ph.D. in constitutional law from McGill University.
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