Meets once a year to represent United Methodists in a particular geographical area.
All clergy are members.
Each local church or charge elects at least one lay member of Annual Conference so that lay members equal clergy members. The Annual Conference is responsible for accepting goals and approving the budget for the work of the United Methodist Church in its area. It is also responsible for approving persons for ordinations as clergy and consecration as diaconal ministers. The pastoral charge or other position in the church to which an ordained ministerial member is assigned by a bishop, or between sessions of the Annual Conference, by a district superintendent. The fair share assigned to a local church or other United Methodist body by proper church authority, to be raised by that body as its portion of the church fund.