Our Governance and Structures
The General Assembly is the highest policy making body of the Church. It is composed by the delegates from the Conferences, church-related organizations, church-related institutions and organization, the Jurisdictional Bishop, Bishop emeriti and the General Secretary. General Assembly meets quadrennially.
Meanwhile, the National Council as an interim body exercises the powers of the General Assembly as specified in the Constitution and By Laws when the General Assembly is not in session. It meets annually and is composed by representatives from the Conferences, the presidents of the CRO’s and representatives from the CRIs. This council is indeed an affirmation of the principle of direct representation.
As the National Council is too large to be convened often, there is a National Executive Council that can attend to the more immediate concerns and can meet upon the call of the General Secretary.
The Constitutional Commissions
The Faith and Order is one of the commissions. It serves to keep alive and live out the faith of the community of the household. This commission worked on the UCCP Statement of Faith, which was approved and finally adopted by the GA in 1986.
The Commission for Church Unity and Union is a commission which serves to enlighten the spirit of unity in Christ, and in Christ’s mission as a primary form of witness. CCUU promotes within the heart of our being the element of ecumenism.
Stewardship and Resource Development
The CSRD is the nationwide resource development arm of the Church tasked in the formulation of strategies, policies, plans, programs and projects for stewardship and fundraising projects, programming of external funds, monitoring and evaluating research development, and resource-generating projects in order to support the total life and ministry of the Church.
National Commission on Discipline and Conflict Resolution
The National Commission on Conflict and Resolution is the judicial body that interprets the laws and statutes of the Church and settles conflicts and disputes between and among members. This body is mandated to establish a system of conflict resolution that will lead away from settling intra-church conflicts judicially, in favor of a conciliatory and mediatory modality.
The Council of Bishops is composed by the incumbent Bishops and Bishops Emeritus. They attend to the pastoral concerns, and development and welfare of the church workers.
The General Secretary and the National Secretariat
The National Secretariat is headed by the General Secretary. Beneath the office of the General Secretary are the program personnel, program coordinators for various church ministries, support implementation units known as jurisdictional areas. The General Secretary represents the Church as a whole, and is the chief executive officer of the Church.
In general, the Church focuses its ministry on community ministry, evangelism and church development, Christian education and nurture, stewardship and property development, health, environment and socio-economic development, and partnership and ecumenical relation.
Finally, the National Secretariat headed by the General Secretary, serves as the administrative, coordinating and monitoring arm of the Church in the overall implementation of its program.
Formerly, the Jurisdictional Areas had their respective policy making bodies called jurisdictional conventions. However, the 1998 Constitution made the Jurisdictional Offices as part of the National Structure. Each Jurisdictional Area is headed by a Bishop elected during the General Assembly. Currently, there are six jurisdictional areas, namely, North Luzon,. The Jurisdictional Area Offices are satellite offices of the UCCP National Offices in North Luzon, South Luzon, East Visayas, West Visayas, Southeast Mindanao and Northwest Mindanao areas.
Conferences and Local Churches
The UCCP has 45 recognized Conferences. The Conference congregates once a year through its Annual Session wherein every local church sends delegate to attend, whilst all pastors and other church workers are members too. Further, the Conference oversees all local churches according to its ministry and program thrusts and stresses.
The Local Church is the locus of the mission of the Church. Based on the 8th General Assembly, there are 2,564 established local churches, excluding worshipping congregations, outreaches and mission stations (GA, 2002).
Local Church—the basic unit of the Church is the primary locus of the mission of the Church. This principle appreciates the positive contribution of the belief of the church traditions that puts central value on the congregations. It has autonomy to plan its program, execute local policy and order, and develop a comprehensive development plan for their future. This would guarantee that every local church can generate their resources according to the contextual needs of the local membership, response to the Gospel and their participation in God’s mission and ministry would be directly and effectively articulated. The Local Church is the most meaningful expression of the life-work of the whole Church.
