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 a worldwide community of over 5,400 active users from 83 countries, the site is built on the conviction that church law is not merely a set of rules but an expression of constitutional grace. The goal is not just to interpret ecclesiastical laws but to equip the church to live into its covenantal life with wisdom, grace, and faithfulness in fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20).
Rooted in Scripture and Wesleyan tradition and featured exclusively by UM-Insight, UMChurchLaw.com helps leaders navigate complex questions about governance, property, trusteeship, finance, complaints, clergy status, and the evolving global regionalized structure of the UMC.
Explore FREE articles, guides, and commentaries that integrate the latest General Conference legislation and Judicial Council jurisprudence, organized by legal topic, leadership role, conference, and connectional body.
Search topics by typing questions or keywords in the “Ask a question about this site” bar at the top and receive customized information linked to articles and guides on UMChurchLaw.com.
In an effort to better serve the increasingly diverse and global United Methodist connection, these resources are offered in English, French, German, and Vietnamese.
With a monthly or annual subscription download Premium Content such as PowerPoint slides, toolkits, checklists, quick summaries, and sample documents. Visit the UMChurchLaw Bookstore to check out the latest books.
UMChurchLaw.com offers Specialized Advisory Services for churches, clergy, conferences, and denominational leaders seeking informed guidance on United Methodist polity, property, governance, administrative process, and church law. These services provide practical, educational, and strategic support grounded in the Book of Discipline, Judicial Council decisions, and the connectional life of The United Methodist Church.
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” (Book of Discipline, ¶ 120).
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. The views, summaries, analyses, and interpretations presented on this website are those of the author unless otherwise expressly stated. They do not represent, and should not be understood as expressing, the official position of any agency, conference, board, council, court, commission, episcopal office, or other body of The United Methodist Church.
Conflict Resolution
Best Practices for Mediation and Reconciliation
Conflict Between the Pastor and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee
Handling Congregational Polarization
How Churches Should Handle Internal Conflicts
How to Conduct Difficult Church Meetings
Role of the District Superintendent in Conflicts
Disaffiliation
Readmission of Disaffiliated Churches
Reinstatement of Clergypersons Terminated for Reasons of Human Sexuality
Property Law
Board of Trustees (annual conference)
Board of Trustees (local church)
Closing a Local Church Under ¶2549
Council on Finance and Administration (annual conference)
District Board of Church Location and Building
Guideline for Approval of Building Projects
Guideline for Approval of Property Leases
Merger of Local United Methodist Churches
Permanent Endowment and Planned Giving Ministry Committee
Ten Best Practices for a Lawful and Trustworthy Merger Resolution
General Church
General Council on Finance and Administration
General Commission on Religion and Race
Regionalization
Adaptations by Central Conferences
Connectional Stewardship and the Future of the Regionalized United Methodist Church
Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (5-part series)
Future of the Episcopacy After Regionalization
Impact of Regionalization on The United Methodist Church Outside the United States of America
Organization and Structure of The United Methodist Church After Regionalization
Governance
Board of Trustees (annual conference)
Board of Trustees (local church)
Church Council (local church)
Closing a Local Church Under ¶2549
Conference Council on Finance and Administration
District Board on Church Location and Building
Finance Committee (local church)
General Council on Finance and Administration
The Legal and Spiritual Duties of Church Trustees
Stewardship
Conference Council on Finance and Administration
Connectional Stewardship and the Future of the Regionalized United Methodist Church
General Council on Finance and Administration
Financial Transparency and Accountability in The United Methodist Church
For Bishops:
A Bishop’s Guide to Decisions of Law
Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy (IJCOE)
Principle of Unified Superintendency and Episcopacy
For Local Churches:
Appointment Season in the UMC: A Practical Guide for Pastors and SPRCs
Closing a Local Church Under ¶2549
Discipleship in the Wesleyan Tradition
Guideline for Approval of Building Projects
Guideline for Approval of Property Leases
Guideline for Approval of Property Sales
Local Church Potential Assessment Process (¶ 213)
Merger of Local United Methodist Churches
Permanent Endowment and Planned Giving Ministry Committee
Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Committee
Ten Best Practices for a Lawful and Trustworthy Merger Resolution
For Candidates for Ministry:
Administrative Review and Appeals Process
Candidacy Process for Ordained Ministry
Discontinuance from Provisional Membership
For Pastors and Lay Members:
Appointment Season in the UMC: A Practical Guide for Pastors and SPRCs
Conflict Between the Pastor and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee
Local Church Potential Assessment Process (¶ 213)
How to Read and Apply the Book of Discipline
For Regional Conferences:
Adaptations by Central Conferences
Impact of Regionalization on The United Methodist Church Outside the United States of America
Adaptation du Livre de Discipline par les conférences centrales
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
English
Adaptations by Central Conferences
Administrative Complaint Process
Administrative Review and Appeals Process
Appointment Season in the UMC: A Practical Guide for Pastors and SPRCs
Approval Process for Building Projects
Approval Process for Property Leases
Approval Process for Property Sales
Best Practices for Mediation and Reconciliation
Board of Trustees of the Annual Conference
Board of Trustees of Local Church (with toolkit)
Candidacy Process for Ordained Ministry
Church Membership (with toolkit)
Conference Council on Finance and Administration
Discontinuance from Provisional Membership
District Board on Church Location and Building
District Committee on Ordained Ministry
General Council on Finance and Administration
“Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the UMC
Glossary of Acronyms and Terms
Handling Congregational Polarization
How Churches Should Handle Internal Conflicts
How to Conduct Difficult Church Meetings
Impact of Regionalization on The United Methodist Church Outside the United States of America
Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy (IJCOE)
Local Church Potential Assessment Process (¶ 213)
Merger of Local United Methodist Churches
Organization and Structure of the UMC After Regionalization
Permanent Endowment and Planned Giving Ministry Committee
Principle of Unified Superintendency and Episcopacy
Readmission of Disaffiliated Churches
Reinstatement of Terminated Clergypersons
Rulings of Law by District Superintendents
Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Committee
NEWEST RELEASE
Who Gets Access to Bishops? A Plain-English Commentary on Judicial Council Decision 1523
Archive
Regionalization Does Not Yet Authorize Regions to Create or Abolish Jurisdictions
Best Practices for Pastors During Appointment Season
Justice for Sale? The Crisis of Accountability
Ist Gerechtigkeit käuflich? Die Krise der Rechenschaft
Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 1)
Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 2)
Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 3)
Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 4)
Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part5)
“Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the Church
The New Shape of The United Methodist Church
After the Fire Alarm: How The United Methodist Church Can Fund Its Future
One Church, Many Regions: What Changes For Our Bishops?
After Regionalization, Church Must Prioritize Unity
The Future of the Episcopacy After Regionalization
Pastor-Jurist Seeks to Make Church Law Accessible with New Website
Trust Clause Stands As Connectional Cornerstone
Liberia’s Landmark Church Ruling: A Win for Connectional Integrity
NEWEST EPISODES
Podcast Episode: Who Gets Access to Bishops?
Podcast Episode: Best Practices for Pastors During Appointment Season
Podcast Episode: Justice for Sale? The Crisis of Accountability
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 United Methodist Church Property Handbook, UMChurchLaw Dictionary, Trust Clause Stands as Connectional Cornerstone, and Human Rights and Federalism.
Born in Vietnam and raised in Switzerland, Dr. Tran worked as a lawyer for the Swiss 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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