local United Methodist churches. All UM churches must have a board of trustees with at least three members and no more than nine members and it is recommended that no gender should hold more than a 2/3 majority. All churches must also have a nominations committee, a finance committee and a church council or administrative council. Other committees are suggested but not required such as a missions committee, or evangelism or worship committee. Term limits are set for some committees but not for all. The church conference is an annual meeting of all the officers of the church and any interested members. This committee has the exclusive power to set pastors' salaries (compensation packages for tax purposes) and to elect officers to the committees. Administrative offices There is no official headquarters of the UMC although many of its biggest administrative offices are in Nashville, Tennessee, and are physically located near Vanderbilt University (which has historic Methodist ties but is no longer associated with the church). While the General Conference is the only organization that can officially speak for the United Methodist Church as a whole, there are 13 agencies, boards and commissions of the general church. These organizations address specific topic areas of denomination-wide concern with administrative offices throughout the United States. Discipleship Ministries (Nashville, Tennessee) Wespath Benefits and Investments (Glenview, Illinois) General Board of Church and Society (Washington, D.C.) General Board of Global Ministries (Atlanta, Georgia) (GBGM) United Methodist Committee on Relief (Atlanta, GA) General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) (Nashville, TN) (GBHEM) General Commission on Archives and History (Madison, New Jersey) (GCAH) General Commission on Religion and Race (Washington, DC) (GCORR) General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (Chicago) (GCSRW) General Commission on United Methodist Men (Nashville, Tennessee) (GCUMM) General Council on Finance and Administration (Nashville, Tennessee) (GCFA) United Methodist Communications (Nashville, Tennessee) (UMCom) United Methodist Publishing House (Nashville, Tennessee) United Methodist Women (New York City, New York) (UMW) United Methodist Volunteers in Mission United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) is the short-term mission arm of the United Methodist Church. UMVIM coordinates mission projects for over 100,000 United Methodist volunteers every year. UMVIM coordinates over 400 international development projects. Education Throughout its history, the United Methodist Church has placed great emphasis on the importance of education. As such, the United Methodist Church established and is affiliated with around one hundred colleges and universities in