The area served by the local church. Parish also tends to be used often as a synonym for the local church and the people it serves. United Methodism does not use the term, as some denominations do, to mean a clearly designated geographical area from which persons are expected to attend a specific local church. The word parish is used in one specific sense by United Methodism in describing and identifying procedures related to cooperative parish ministries and the Annual Conference Committee on Parish and Community Development. In this context parish means the area of service ministered to by one or more churches.
Source: A Dictionary for United Methodists, Alan K. Waltz, Copyright 1991, Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
