more than 400 churches in Arkansas united in making disciples of Jesus Christ
Mission Statement for the Arkansas Conference of the UMC:
Working together to build vital faith communities by
following Jesus, loving people, and sharing grace.
#FollowingLovingSharing
Vital faith communities are marked by:
- Welcoming, Spirit-filled worship
- Lay leadership identified and equipped for ministry in the church and the world
- Disciples engaged in relationship and service with diverse neighbors
- Small group and intergenerational ministries
- Relevant ministries with children, youth, and young adults
- Connectional work in partnership with others
- Intentional work for healing and reconciliation
#Following
Matthew 4:18-20 – As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Luke 9:23-24 – Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
#Loving
Psalm 36:7-9 – How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Luke 10:26-28 – He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
John 13:34-35 – I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
#Sharing
Isaiah 58:6-8 – Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
2 Cor. 9:8 – And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
Romans 1:11-12 – For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Philemon 4-7 – I thank my God always when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we share in Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Our History
The Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church is the organization responsible for coordinating nearly 600 United Methodist churches and ministries and 590 clergy throughout Arkansas “to make disciples of Jesus Christ, who make disciples equipped and sent to transform lives, communities and the world.”
The Conference is led by Bishop Laura Merrill, who was appointed to serve in Arkansas in 2022, and is made up of four districts (Central, Northwest, Northeast, and South) with a Chief Mission Strategist appointed to each district. Our Bishop ensures that the Conference focuses on developing principled Christian leaders; creating new places for new people by starting congregations and renewing existing ones; engaging in ministry with the poor; and stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally. Our Chief Mission Strategists (also known as District Superintendents) focus on their mission fields and how they can be developed and resourced from church members and attendees to the clergy serving them.
Over the past 200+ years of United Methodist ministry in Arkansas, six different Annual Conferences have existed to serve the state: the Arkansas, Little Rock, North Arkansas, Southwest, Ouachita, and White River Conferences. The first “Arkansas Conference” of the Methodist Episcopal Church (a predecessor to the United Methodist Church) was organized in 1836 in Batesville. The Conference also included the upper two-thirds of Louisiana and the Indian Territory. Starting in 1854, Arkansas United Methodists were divided into two conferences; with the Ouachita or “Wichita” (later known as the Little Rock) Conference in the southern portion of Arkansas. The conference for the northern half of the state remained the Arkansas Conference. A third conference, the White River Conference, was organized in 1870 in the northeast part of the state. This third conference continued until 1914 when it merged with the Arkansas Conference to form the North Arkansas Conference.
In 1879, many African-American congregations chose to join the conference of the Methodist Episcopal (North) Church within Arkansas, which became the Southwest Conference in 1929. In 1972, the Southwest Conference merged with both the North Arkansas and Little Rock Conferences.
Most recently, the Little Rock and North Arkansas Conferences merged in 2003 to form the Arkansas Conference.
Who We Are
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection — we are the person next door, the church on the other side of the country and the worshiping community across the globe. We are more than 12 million members in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Together, we share a legacy of living as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love both in what we say and how we serve our neighbors.
We are present in more than 100 countries, speaking many languages and representing diverse cultures, but our 43,000 local congregations all share:
- A 238-year history that has been hope, healing, and salvation for millions,
- A commitment to show up when there is a disaster and pray for one another in our daily challenges,
- And a passion for following Jesus through worship, prayer, service and the study of scripture.
More Information about The United Methodist Church
- #BeUMC honors the core values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church (The UMC). This grassroots campaign, built upon powerful stories of congregations and people living their faith, celebrates what draws us to The UMC and what we aspire to be.
- Ask the UMC Learn more about our Christian beliefs, Wesleyan heritage, and the mission of the United Methodist Church.
- Video: A Statement on Unity and Differences with Revs. Blake Lasater and Michael Bolin.