Social Creed: A set of affirmations concerning United Methodist beliefs about the relationship of the church to the social issues and the world. The Social Creed is approved by the General Conference as part of a larger document, the Social Principles, and the action of the General Conference recommends that the Social Creed be used frequently in Sunday worship services. The first Social Creed was adopted by the 1908 General Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church. The Social Creed has been reviewed and revised through the years by the General Conference, and is printed in The Book of Discipline.

Social Principals: A document setting forth the basic position of The United Methodist Church on important social issues. The Social Principles represent the effort of the General Conference to speak to human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. The Social Principles document is reviewed by each General Conference and is printed in full in The Book of Discipline.https://www.cokesbury.com/book-of-discipline-book-of-resolutions-free-versions

South Carolina Annual Conference (SCUMC): 955 churches belong to the SCUMC. There are 12 districts, each district has a District Superintendent. The central office is located at 4908 Colonial Drive | Columbia, SC 29203. There is a professional staff of 47 that coordinate and conduct ministry and the business of the conference. In addition, there is a convention also called the SC Annual Conference. Lay people and Clergy attend this convention. These sessions include reports of past and ongoing
work; adoption of future goals, programs and budgets; ordination of clergy members as deacons and elders; and election of delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every 4 years). The bishop presides over these meetings. https://www.umcsc.org/

South Carolina UMC Next: SC United Methodists who commit to resist evil, injustice and oppression in all forms and toward all people and build a church which affirms the full participation of all ages, nations, races, classes, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. Founded 2019. https://twitter.com/umcnextsc

Superintendency: Residing in the office of the bishop and extending to the district superintendent, the task of overseeing the work of The United Methodist Church. Those who superintend carry primary responsibility for ordering the life of the church. The superintendency is to enable the church to be effective in worship and outreach and in its program and organizational life as a whole. A method for carrying this out is in the careful deployment of ministers to local churches through the appointment
process. The Book of Discipline states: "The formal leadership in The United Methodist Church, located in these superintending offices, is an integral part of the system of an itinerant ministry."

Transfer, Annual Conference Membership: The movement of the membership of ordained ministers from one Annual Conference to another. Although an ordained United Methodist minister is authorized to perform ministerial duties anywhere in the denomination, he or she is a member of only one Annual Conference. A minister may transfer from one Annual Conference to another with the approval of both of the bishops involved. Whenever possible, consultation with the chairperson or executive
committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the receiving Annual Conference should be held prior to the transfer.

Trust Clause: The clause that must be included in the deeds of all United Methodist properties. All properties held by the General, Jurisdictional, Annual, and District Conferences or by a local church or by any agency or institution of the denomination are to be held in trust for the denomination. The titles are not held by "The United Methodist Church" since it is a connectional structure and not a legal entity in and of itself. The titles to the properties are held by boards of trustees established for the purpose of holding and administering property. In the case of local churches, the deeds to all local churches, parsonages, and other properties must include a trust clause. This clause indicated that the property is to be maintained for the benefit of the local church as this ultimately relates to the ministry and work of the Annual Conference. When a local congregation disbands and services are discontinued, the property becomes the responsibility of the Annual Conference Board of Trustees. The property can be sold only after it is declared abandoned by a vote of the Annual Conference.
United Methodist Chancellor: In the United Methodist Church, each Annual Conference has a Conference Chancellor, who is either an active or retired lawyer or judge who serves as the Annual Conference's legal adviser and representative. SC Annual Conference Chancellor is Kay Crowe. United Methodist Church Conference Chancellor Association (UMC3): An association of all the UM Annual Conference Chancellors.

UMC Next: United Methodists who commit to resist evil, injustice and oppression in all forms and toward all people and build a church which affirms the full participation of all ages, nations, races, classes, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. Founded 2019. https://umcnext.com/#commitments