Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Approved by the 2020/2024 General Conference
To be canvassed for ratification by the Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church
[The following proposed amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church were approved by the 2020/2024 General Conference and must now be voted upon by the members of the annual conferences. It is required that each one must pass with an aggregate 2/3 approval from all voting members as canvassed by the Council of Bishops. The proposed changes are indicated by strike- through for deletions and underscore for additions.
This document is a DRAFT to be utilized as an initial informational and educational resource. The final document is subject to editing and verification.]
Ratification Ballot #1
Calendar Item 22 Approved 586-164 April 25, 2024
Committee Item ST29 Approved 29-0 April 22, 2024
Petition 21039
[Editorial Note: Numbering of paragraphs will be subject to the final editing of The Book of Discipline 2020/2024. The proposed changes in this calendar item are included for internal reference. Due to the length and complexity of this calendar item, the text and formatting from the Daily Christian Advocate is being used for context.]
AMEND ¶¶ 9, (which shall be renumbered ¶ 10), 10 (which shall be renumbered ¶ 9), 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 46, 49, 50, 52, 56, 61 and
add new 13 as follows:
¶ 10 9. Article III Article II. – There shall be central regional conferences for the work
of the worldwide Church outside the United States of America and, if necessary, provisional
central regional conferences, all with such powers, duties, and privileges as are hereinafter set
forth, provided that in The United Methodist Church there shall be no regional or jurisdictional
conference based on any ground other than geographical division.
¶ 9 10. Article II Article III. – There shall may be jurisdictional conferences for the work
of the Church in the United States of America, with such powers, duties, and privileges as are
hereinafter set forth, provided that in The United Methodist Church there shall be no
jurisdictional or central conference based on any ground other than geographical and regional
division.
(NEW – Renumber subsequent paragraphs) ¶ 13. Article VI.– The General Conference,
regional conferences, jurisdictional conferences, and annual conferences shall have autonomy of
action within the limits fixed by the Constitution, provided that any legislation enacted within the
respective powers of a conference but overlapping with the powers of another shall not be
rendered invalid, unless its purpose and substance are beyond the authority of the enacting body.
¶ 15. Article III. – The General Conference shall fix the ratio of representation in the
General, jurisdictional, and central regional conferences from the annual conferences, missionary
conferences, and the provisional annual conferences, computed on a two-factor basis: (1) the number of clergy members of the annual conference and the missionary conference, and (2) the number of professing members in the annual conference and the missionary conference,
provided that each annual conference, missionary conference, or provisional annual conference shall be entitled to at least one clergy and one lay delegate in the General Conference and also in the jurisdictional or central regional conference.
In a regional conference with jurisdictions, the regional conference shall fix the ratio of
representation in its jurisdictional conferences from the annual conferences, missionary
conferences, and the provisional annual conferences, computed on a two-factor basis: (1) the
number of clergy members of the annual conference and the missionary conference, and (2) the
number of professing members in the annual conference and the missionary conference,
provided that each annual conference, missionary conference, or provisional annual conference
shall be entitled to at least one clergy and one lay delegate in the jurisdictional conference and
further provided that all general and regional conference delegates will be members of their
respective jurisdictional conferences.
¶ 16. Article IV.– The General Conference shall have full legislative power over all matters distinctively connectional, subject to the limits fixed by the Constitution, and in the
exercise thereof shall have authority as follows:
. . .
-
-
To define and fix the powers and duties of regional conferences, jurisdictional
conferences, annual conferences, provisional annual conferences, missionary conferences and
missions,
and of central conferences,district conferences, charge conferences, andcongregational meetings.
-
To provide for the organization, promotion, and administration of the work of the worldwide Church
outside the United States of America.
-
. . .
16.10. To fix a uniform basis upon which bishops shall be elected by the jurisdictional conferences and to determine the number of bishops that may be elected by central regional
conferences without jurisdictions.
. . .
16.12. To change the number and the boundaries of regional conferences and to change
the number and the boundaries of jurisdictional conferences upon the consent of a majority of the annual conferences in each jurisdictional conference involved.
. . .
16.17. To legislate what is non-adaptable for regional conferences by a 60% majority
vote, while respecting the powers given to regional conferences according to ¶31.5.
¶ 23. Article I.–The jurisdictional conferences shall be composed of as many
representatives from the annual conferences and missionary conferences as shall be determined by a uniform basis established by the General Conference regional conference where
jurisdictions exist, provided that no jurisdictional conference shall have fewer than 100
delegates. The missionary conferences shall be considered as annual conferences for the purpose of this article.
¶ 24. Article II. – All jurisdictional conferences shall have the same status and the same privileges of action within the limits fixed by the Constitution. The ratio of representation of the annual conferences and missionary conferences in the General Conference and the regional
conference where jurisdictions exist shall be the same for all jurisdictional conferences.
¶ 25. Article III. – The General Conferences regional conference where jurisdictions exist
shall fix the basis of representation in the jurisdictional conferences, provided that the
jurisdictional conferences shall be composed of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates to be elected by the annual conferences, the missionary conferences and the provisional annual conferences.
¶ 26. Article IV. – Each jurisdictional conference shall meet at the time determined by the Council College of Bishops of the regional conference where jurisdictions exist or its delegated
committee, each jurisdictional conference convening on the same date as the others and at a place selected by the jurisdictional committee on entertainment, appointed by its respective
College of Bishops unless such a committee has been appointed by the preceding jurisdictional conference.
¶ 27. Article V. – The jurisdictional conferences shall have the following powers and duties and such others as may be conferred by the General Conferences:
. . .
-
To determine the boundaries of their annual conferences, provided that there shall be no annual conference with a membership of fewer than fifty clergy in full connection, except by the consent of the
General Conferenceregional conference where jurisdictions exist. -
To make rules and regulations for the administration of the work of the Church within
the jurisdiction, subject to such powers as have been or shall be vested in the General Conference and in the regional conferences.
-
To appoint a committee on appeals to hear and determine the appeal of a
traveling
preacher clergy or lay member of that jurisdiction from the decision of a trial committee.
Section V. Central Regional Conferences
¶ 28. Article I.– There shall be central regional conferences for the work of the
worldwide Church outside the United States of America with such powers, duties, powers, and
privileges as are hereinafter set forth, to be exercised equitably across the regional conferences,
subject to limits fixed by the Constitution.
The number and boundaries of the central conferences shall be determined by the Uniting
Conference. Subsequently the General Conference shall have authority to change the number and
boundaries of central conferences. The central conferences shall have the duties, powers, and
privileges hereinafter set forth.
-
Initially, the number and boundaries of the regional conferences shall be as follows:
-
There shall be a regional conference for the work of the Church in the United States of
America that includes all of the areas that comprise the jurisdictional conferences
identified in Division Two, Section VII, ¶ 37.
-
The central conferences or provisional central conferences which existed prior to the
postponed 2020 General Conference shall become regional or provisional regional
conferences.
-
-
The General Conference shall have the authority to change the number and boundaries
of regional conferences and provisional regional conferences.
¶ 29. Article II.– The central regional conferences shall be composed of as many
delegates as shall be determined by a basis established by the General Conference. The delegates shall be clergy and lay in equal numbers.
¶ 30. Article III.– The central regional conferences shall meet within the year succeeding
the meeting of the General Conference at such times and places as shall have been determined by the preceding respective central regional conferences or by commissions appointed by them or
by the General Conference. The date and place of the first meeting succeeding the Uniting
Conference shall be fixed by the bishops of the respective central conferences, or in such manner
as shall be determined by the General Conference.
¶ 31. Article IV.– The central regional conferences shall have the following powers and
duties as the special conditions and the mission of the Church in the area require, subject to the
limits fixed by the Constitution, and such others as may be conferred by the General Conference:
-
To promote the evangelistic, educational, missionary, social-concern, and benevolent interests and institutions of the Church within their own boundaries.
-
In regional conferences without jurisdictions,
Tto elect the bishops for the respectivecentralregional conferences in number as may be determined from time to time, upon a basisfixed by the General Conference; to fix the tenure of their bishops, the episcopal areas and
residences, and to assign the bishops who are to reside in the respective regional conference to
their areas; and to cooperate in carrying out such plans for the support of their bishops as may be
determined by the General Conference.
-
To establish and constitute such
centralregional conference boards as may be requiredand to elect their administrative officers.
-
To determine the number, names, and boundaries of the annual conferences in
accordance with ¶ 40
within their respective areas. -
To
make suchlegislate and make rules and regulations for the administration of thework within their boundaries including
suchchanges and adaptations of theGgeneral Disciplineas follows,
as the conditions in the respective areas may require, subject to the powers that havebeen or shall be vested in the General Conference while upholding the Constitution and the
decisions of General Conference in accordance with ¶ 16.17:
-
To establish and publish a regional Discipline with legislation and provisions
pertaining to the regional, annual, district, and charge conferences within its boundaries,
including qualifications and educational requirements of clergy and specialized lay
ministries, and forms of organization according to the laws of the country or countries.
-
To set standards of character and other qualifications for admission of lay members.
-
To acknowledge annual conferences as the basic bodies of the church (¶ 33) voting on
all matters relating to the character and conference relations of its clergy members, and
therefore considering the requirements set forth in a regional Discipline regarding
specialized lay ministry and license, ordination, or conference membership, as minimum
requirements.
-
To establish and publish a regional hymnal and ritual of the Church, including
ecclesial acts of marriage and burial, subject to the limitations of the first and second
Restrictive Rules, but authorizing to interpret Article XXIII of the Articles of Religion so
as to recognize the governments of the country or countries.
-
To allow the annual conferences to adopt structures adequate to their mission while
upholding mandated structures.
When adapting the investigative and trial process, each Regional Book of Discipline shall
guarantee confidentiality, protections of the accused, protection of the accusers along
with the ability to adapt the process based on the legal system of each country.
-
-
To appoint a judicial court to determine legal questions arising from the rules, regulations, and such revised, adapted, or new sections of the
centralregionalconferenceDiscipline enacted by the
centralregional conference. -
To adopt rules of procedure governing the investigation and trial of its clergy,
including bishops, and lay members of the Church and to provide the necessary means and
methods of implementing the said rules; provided, however, that the ordained ministers shall not
be deprived of the right of trial by a clergy committee, and lay members of the Church of the
right of trial by a duly constituted committee of lay members; and to make changes in the
chargeable offenses and their penalties.
To A regional conference or a jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, shall
appoint a committee on appeals to hear and determine the appeal of a traveling preacher clergy
or lay member of that central the respective conference from the decision of a committee on trial.
¶ 32. Article I.– The annual conference shall be composed of clergy and lay members.
The clergy membership shall consist of deacons and elders in full connection, provisional
members, associate members, and local pastors under appointment. The lay membership shall
consist of professing lay members elected by each charge, the diaconal ministers, the active
deaconesses, and home missioners under episcopal appointment within the bounds of the annual conference, the conference president of United Methodist Women, the conference president of United Methodist Men, the conference lay leader, district lay leaders, the conference director of Lay Servant Ministries, conference secretary of Global Ministries (if lay), the president or
equivalent officer of the conference young adult organization, the president of the conference youth organization, the chair of the annual conference college student organization, and one young person between the ages of twelve (12) and seventeen (17) and one young person between the ages of eighteen (18) and thirty (30) from each district to be selected in such a manner as may be determined by the annual conference. In the annual conferences of the central regional
conferences outside the USA, the four-year participation and the two-year membership
requirements may be waived by the annual conference for young persons under thirty (30) years of age. Such persons must be professing members of The United Methodist Church and active
participants at the time of election. Each charge served by more than one clergy shall be entitled to as many lay members as there are clergy members. The lay members shall have been for the two years next preceding their election members of The United Methodist Church and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years next preceding their election.
If the lay membership should number less than the clergy members of the annual conference, the annual conference shall, by its own formula, provide for the election of additional lay members to equalize lay and clergy membership of the annual conference.
¶ 33. Article II.-The annual conference is the basic body in the Church and as such shall have reserved to it the right to vote on all constitutional amendments, on the election of clergy
and lay delegates to the General Conference and their respective regional jurisdictional or central
conferences, as well as jurisdictional conference if its regional conference has jurisdictions, on
all matters relating to the character and conference relations of its clergy members, and on the
ordination of clergy and such other rights as have not been delegated to the General Conference under the Constitution, with the exception that the lay members may not vote on matters of
ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy except that the lay members of the
conference board of ordained ministry and the committee on investigation may vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy, with the further exception that lay members of the district committee on ordained ministry be full participating members of the
district committee on ordained ministry with vote. It shall discharge such duties and exercise such powers as the General Conference under the Constitution may determine.
¶ 34. Article III.-The annual conference shall elect clergy and lay delegates to the
General Conference and to its jurisdictional or central respective regional conference as well as
jurisdictional conference, if its regional conference has jurisdictions, in the manner provided in
this section, Articles IV and V. Such elections shall include open nominations from the floor by the annual conference, and delegates shall be elected by a minimum of a simple majority of the
ballots cast. The persons first elected up to the number determined by the ratio for representation in the General Conference shall be representatives in that body. Additional delegates shall be
elected to complete the number determined by the ratio for representation in the jurisdictional or
central regional conference, who, together with those first elected as above, shall be delegates in
the jurisdictional or central regional conference. The additional delegates to the jurisdictional or
central regional conference shall in the order of their election be the reserve delegates to the
General Conference. The annual conference shall also elect reserve clergy and lay delegates to
the jurisdictional or central regional conference as it may deem desirable. These reserve clergy
and lay delegates to the jurisdictional or central regional conferences may act as reserve
delegates to the General Conference when it is evident that not enough reserve delegates are in attendance at the General Conference.
In regional conferences with jurisdictions, all general and regional conference delegates
shall be delegates to the jurisdictional conference. Whenever possible, reserve delegates to the
regional conference shall also serve in order of election as delegates to the jurisdictional
conference, with any reserve delegates who cannot be seated as jurisdictional delegates
becoming reserve delegates to the jurisdictional conference. As needed, additional delegates shall
be elected to complete the number determined by the ratio for representation in the jurisdictional
conference. The annual conference may also elect additional reserve clergy and lay delegates to
the jurisdictional conference as it may deem desirable.
¶ 35. Article IV.-The clergy delegates to the General Conference and to their respective
regional and jurisdictional or central conference as well as jurisdictional conference, if its
regional conference has jurisdictions, shall be elected from the clergy members in full connection
and shall be elected by the clergy members of the annual conference or provisional annual conference who are deacons and elders in full connection, associate members, and those
provisional members who have completed all of their educational requirements and local pastors who have completed course of study or an M. Div. degree or its equivalent in regional
conferences outside of the USA and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under
appointment immediately preceding the election.
¶ 36. Article V.-The lay delegates to the General Conference and to their respective regional
conference, and jurisdictional or central conferences as well as jurisdictional conference if its
regional conference has jurisdictions, shall be elected by the lay members of the annual
conference or provisional annual conference without regard to age, provided such delegates shall have been professing members of The United Methodist Church for at least two years next
preceding their election, and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years next preceding their election, and are members thereof within the annual conference electing them at the time of holding the General Conference and jurisdictional or
central regional conferences as well as the jurisdictional conferences, if its regional conference
has jurisdictions.
[DELETE ¶ 38 and ¶ 39 and renumber all of the articles within its section and renumber all subsequent paragraphs of the Constitution.]
¶ 38. Article II.- The work of the Church outside the United States of America may be
formed into central regional conferences, the number and boundaries of which shall be
determined by the Uniting Conference, the General Conference having authority subsequently to
make changes in the number and boundaries.
¶ 39. Article III.– Changes in the number, names, and boundaries of the jurisdictional
conferences may be effected by the General Conference upon the consent of a majority of the
annual conferences of each of the jurisdictional conferences involved.
¶ 40 Article IVII.– The number, names, and boundaries of the annual conferences and
episcopal areas shall be determined by the respective regional conferencesor by the jurisdiction,
if a regional conference has jurisdictions. jurisdictional conferences in the United States of
America and by the central conferences outside the United States of America according to the
provisions under the respective powers and pursuant to the respective structures of the
jurisdictional and the central conferences. The authority of regional and jurisdictional and central
conferences provided herein is not circumscribed or limited by the authority provided to the College of Bishops to arrange a plan of episcopal supervision.
¶ 46. Article II.-The bishops shall be elected by the respective regional conferences or by
the jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, jurisdictional and central conferences
and consecrated in the historic manner at such time and place as may be fixed by the General
Conference for those elected by the jurisdictions and by each central regional conference for
those elected by such central conference, provided that episcopal elections in central regional
conferences without jurisdictions shall be held at a regular, not an extra, session of the central
such regional conference, except in the case where an unexpected vacancy must be filled.
¶ 48. Article IV.-The bishops of each jurisdictional and central conference regional
conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, shall constitute a College of
Bishops, and such College of Bishops shall arrange the plan of episcopal supervision of the annual conferences, missionary conferences, and missions within their respective territories.
¶ 49. Article V.-The bishops shall have residential and presidential supervision in the
jurisdictional or central conferences their respective regional conference or jurisdiction, if a
regional conference has jurisdictions, in which they are elected or to which they are transferred.
Bishops may be transferred from one jurisdiction to another jurisdiction for presidential and residential supervision under the following conditions: (1) The transfer of bishops may be on
either of two bases: (a) a jurisdiction that receives a bishop by transfer from another jurisdiction may transfer to that jurisdiction or to a third jurisdiction one of its own bishops eligible for
transfer, so that the number transferred in by each jurisdiction shall be balanced by the number transferred out; or (b) a jurisdiction may receive a bishop from another jurisdiction and not
transfer out a member of its own College of Bishops. (2) No bishop shall be transferred unless
that bishop shall have specifically consented. (3) No bishop shall be eligible for transfer unless the bishop shall have served one quadrennium in the jurisdiction that elected the bishop to the episcopacy. (4) All such transfers shall require the approval by a majority vote of the members present and voting of the jurisdictional committees on episcopacy of the jurisdictions that are
involved. After the above procedures have been followed, the transferring bishop shall become a member of the receiving College of Bishops and shall be subject to residential assignment by
that jurisdictional conference.
A bishop may be assigned by the Council of Bishops for presidential service or other temporary service in another jurisdiction than that which elected the bishop, provided that the request is made by a majority of the bishops in the jurisdiction of the proposed service.
In the case of an emergency in any jurisdiction or central regional conference or
jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, through the death or disability of a bishop
or other cause, the Council of Bishops may assign a bishop from another jurisdiction or central
regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, to the work of the
said jurisdiction or central regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has
jurisdictions, with the consent of a majority of the bishops of that jurisdiction or central regional
conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions.
¶ 50. Article VI. – The bishops, both active and retired, of The Evangelical United
Brethren Church and of The Methodist Church at the time union is consummated shall be
bishops of The United Methodist Church.
The bishops of The Methodist Church elected by the jurisdictions, the active bishops of The
Evangelical United Brethren Church at the time of union, and bBishops elected by the
jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church shall have life tenure. Each bBishops elected by a
central regional conference without jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church shall have
such tenure as the central regional conference electing him them shall have determined.
The regional conference or the jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions,
jurisdictional conference shall elect a standing committee on episcopacy to consist of one clergy
and one lay delegate from each annual conference, on nomination of the annual conference delegation. The committee shall review the work of the bishops, pass on their character and official administration, and report to the its respective regional conference or jurisdiction,al
conference if a region has jurisdictions, its findings for such action as the conference may deem
appropriate within its constitutional warrant of power. The committee shall recommend the assignments of the bishops to their respective residences for final action by the jurisdictional
respective regional conference or the jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions.
These provisions shall not preclude the adoption by the General Conference of provisions for the Council of Bishops to hold its individual members accountable for their work, both as
general superintendents and as presidents and residents in episcopal areas.
¶ 52. Article VIII. – The bishops of the several regional jurisdictional and central
conferences shall preside in the sessions of their respective conferences. If a regional conference
has jurisdictions, the bishops shall also preside in the session of their respective jurisdictional
conference.
¶ 56. Article II. – The Judicial Council shall have authority:
-
To determine the constitutionality of any act of the General Conference upon an appeal of a majority of the Council of Bishops or one-fifth of the members of the General Conference and to determine the constitutionality of any act of a regional or jurisdictional
or central
conference upon an appeal of a majority of the bishops of that regional or jurisdictional or central
conference or upon the appeal of one-fifth of the members of that regional or jurisdictional or
central conference.
. . .
4. To hear and determine the legality of any action taken therein by any General
Conference board, or regional, or jurisdictional or central conference board or body, upon appeal
by one-third of the members thereof, or upon request of the Council of Bishops or a majority of the bishops of a regional or jurisdictional or a central conference.
. . .
¶ 61. Article III. – A regional or jurisdictional or central conference may by a majority
vote propose changes in the Constitution of the Church, and such proposed changes shall be
submitted to the next General Conference. If the General Conference adopts the measure by a two-thirds vote, it shall be submitted to the annual conferences according to the provision for amendments.
The ratification process by the annual conferences for the constitutional amendments in this
petition shall begin no later than 30 days after the adjournment of the postponed 2020 General
Conference.
[If ratified, the paragraphs would read as follows:]
¶ 9. Article II. – There shall be regional conferences for the work of the worldwide Church and, if necessary, provisional regional conferences, all with such powers, duties, and
privileges as are hereinafter set forth, provided that in The United Methodist Church there shall
be no regional or jurisdictional conference based on any ground other than geographical division.
¶ 10. Article III. – There may be jurisdictional conferences for the work of the Church, with such powers, duties, and privileges as are hereinafter set forth, provided that in The United Methodist Church there shall be no jurisdictional conference based on any ground other than
geographical and regional division.
¶ 13. Article VI.– The General Conference, regional conferences, jurisdictional
conferences, and annual conferences shall have autonomy of action within the limits fixed by the Constitution, provided that any legislation enacted within the respective powers of a conference but overlapping with the powers of another shall not be rendered invalid, unless its purpose and substance are beyond the authority of the enacting body.
¶ 15. Article III. – The General Conference shall fix the ratio of representation in the
General and regional conferences from the annual conferences, missionary conferences, and the provisional annual conferences, computed on a two-factor basis: (1) the number of clergy
members of the annual conference and the missionary conference, and (2) the number of
professing members in the annual conference and the missionary conference, provided that each annual conference, missionary conference, or provisional annual conference shall be entitled to at least one clergy and one lay delegate in the General Conference and also in the regional
conference.
In a regional conference with jurisdictions, the regional conference shall fix the ratio of representation in its jurisdictional conferences from the annual conferences, missionary
conferences, and the provisional annual conferences, computed on a two-factor basis: (1) the number of clergy members of the annual conference and the missionary conference, and (2) the number of professing members in the annual conference and the missionary conference,
provided that each annual conference, missionary conference, or provisional annual conference
shall be entitled to at least one clergy and one lay delegate in the jurisdictional conference and further provided that all general and regional conference delegates will be members of their
respective jurisdictional conferences.
¶ 16. Article IV.– The General Conference shall have full legislative power over all matters distinctively connectional, subject to the limits fixed by the Constitution, and in the exercise thereof shall have authority as follows:
. . .
-
-
To define and fix the powers and duties of regional conferences, jurisdictional conferences,annual conferences, provisional annual conferences, missionary conferences and
missions, district conferences, charge conferences, and congregational meetings.
-
To provide for the organization, promotion, and administration of the work of the worldwide Church.
-
. . .
16.10. To fix a uniform basis upon which bishops shall be elected by the jurisdictional
conferences and to determine the number of bishops that may be elected by regional conferences without jurisdictions.
. . .
16.12. To change the number and the boundaries of regional conferences, and to change
the number and the boundaries of jurisdictional conferences upon the consent of a majority of the annual conferences in each jurisdictional conference involved.
. . .
16.17. To legislate what is non-adaptable for regional conferences by a 60% majority vote, while respecting the powers given to regional conferences according to ¶31.5.
¶ 23. Article I.–The jurisdictional conferences shall be composed of as many
representatives from the annual conferences and missionary conferences as shall be determined by a uniform basis established by the regional conference where jurisdictions exist, provided that no jurisdictional conference shall have fewer than 100 delegates. The missionary conferences
shall be considered as annual conferences for the purpose of this article.
¶ 24. Article II. – All jurisdictional conferences shall have the same status and the same privileges of action within the limits fixed by the Constitution. The ratio of representation of the annual conferences and missionary conferences in the General Conference and the regional
conference where jurisdictions exist shall be the same for all jurisdictional conferences.
¶ 25. Article III. – The regional conference where jurisdictions exist shall fix the basis of representation in the jurisdictional conferences, provided that the jurisdictional conferences shall be composed of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates to be elected by the annual
conferences, the missionary conferences and the provisional annual conferences.
¶ 26. Article IV. – Each jurisdictional conference shall meet at the time determined by the College of Bishops of the regional conference where jurisdictions exist or its delegated
committee, each jurisdictional conference convening on the same date as the others and at a place selected by the jurisdictional committee on entertainment, appointed by its respective
College of Bishops unless such a committee has been appointed by the preceding jurisdictional conference.
¶ 27. Article V. – The jurisdictional conferences shall have the following powers and duties and such others as may be conferred by the General Conferences:
. . .
-
To determine the boundaries of their annual conferences, provided that there shall be no annual conference with a membership of fewer than fifty clergy in full connection, except by the consent of the regional conference where jurisdictions exist.
-
To make rules and regulations for the administration of the work of the Church within
the jurisdiction, subject to such powers as have been or shall be vested in the General Conference and in the regional conferences.
-
To appoint a committee on appeals to hear and determine the appeal of a clergy or lay memberof that jurisdiction from the decision of a trial committee.
Section V. Regional Conferences
¶ 28. Article I.– There shall be regionalconferences for the work of the worldwide
Church with such powers, duties, and privileges as are hereinafter set forth, to be exercised equitably across the regional conferences, subject to limits fixed by the Constitution.
-
Initially, the number and boundaries of the regional conferences shall be as follows:
-
There shall be a regional conference for the work of the Church in the United States of America that includes all of the areas that comprise the jurisdictional conferences
identified in Division Two, Section VII, ¶ 37.
-
The central conferences or provisional central conferences which existed prior to the postponed 2020 General Conference shall become regional or provisional regional
conferences.
-
-
The General Conference shall have the authority to change the number and boundaries of regional conferences and provisional regional conferences.
¶ 29. Article II.– The regional conferences shall be composed of as many delegates as shall be determined by a basis established by the General Conference. The delegates shall be clergy and lay in equal numbers.
¶ 30. Article III.– The regional conferences shall meet within the year succeeding the
meeting of the General Conference at such times and places as shall have been determined by the preceding respective regional conferences or by commissions appointed by them or by the
General Conference.
¶ 31. Article IV.– The regional conferences shall have the following powers and duties as the special conditions and the mission of the Church in the area require, subject to the limits
fixed by the Constitution, and such others as may be conferred by the General Conference:
-
To promote the evangelistic, educational, missionary, social-concern, and benevolent interests and institutions of the Church within their own boundaries.
-
In regional conferences without jurisdictions, to elect the bishops for the respective regional conferences in number as may be determined from time to time, upon a basis fixed by
the General Conference; to fix the tenure of their bishops, the episcopal areas and residences, and to assign the bishops who are to reside in the respective regional conference to their areas; and to cooperate in carrying out such plans for the support of their bishops as may be determined by the General Conference.
-
To establish and constitute such regional conference boards as may be required and to elect their administrative officers.
-
To determine the number, names, and boundaries of the annual conferences in accordance with ¶ 40 .
-
To legislate rules and regulations for the administration of the work within their boundaries including changes and adaptations of the general Discipline as follows, while
upholding the Constitution and the decisions of General Conference in accordance with ¶ 16.17:
-
To establish and publish a regional Discipline with legislation and provisions
pertaining to the regional, annual, district, and charge conferences within its boundaries, including qualifications and educational requirements of clergy and specialized lay
ministries, and forms of organization according to the laws of the country or countries.
-
To set standards of character and other qualifications for admission of lay members.
-
To acknowledge annual conferences as the basic bodies of the church (¶ 33) voting on all matters relating to the character and conference relations of its clergy members, and therefore considering the requirements set forth in a regional Discipline regarding
specialized lay ministry and license, ordination, or conference membership, as minimum requirements.
-
To establish and publish a regional hymnal and ritual of the Church, including ecclesial acts of marriage and burial, subject to the limitations of the first and second
Restrictive Rules, but authorizing to interpret Article XXIII of the Articles of Religion so as to recognize the governments of the country or countries.
-
To allow the annual conferences to adopt structures adequate to their mission while upholding mandated structures.
When adapting the investigative and trial process, each Regional Book of Discipline shall guarantee confidentiality, protections of the accused, protection of the accusers along with the ability to adapt the process based on the legal system of each country.
-
-
To appoint a judicial court to determine legal questions arising from the rules,
regulations, and such revised, adapted, or new sections of the regional Discipline enacted by the regional conference.
-
To adopt rules of procedure governing the investigation and trial of its clergy, including bishops, and lay members of the Church and to provide the necessary means and methods of implementing the said rules; provided, however, that the ordained ministers shall not be deprived of the right of trial by a clergy committee, and lay members of the Church of the
right of trial by a duly constituted committee of lay members; and to make changes in the chargeable offenses and their penalties.
A regional conference or a jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, shall appoint a committee on appeals to hear and determine the appeal of a clergy or lay member of the respective conference from the decision of a committee on trial.
¶ 32. Article I.– The annual conference shall be composed of clergy and lay members.
The clergy membership shall consist of deacons and elders in full connection, provisional
members, associate members, and local pastors under appointment. The lay membership shall consist of professing lay members elected by each charge, the diaconal ministers, the active
deaconesses, and home missioners under episcopal appointment within the bounds of the annual conference, the conference president of United Methodist Women, the conference president of United Methodist Men, the conference lay leader, district lay leaders, the conference director of Lay Servant Ministries, conference secretary of Global Ministries (if lay), the president or
equivalent officer of the conference young adult organization, the president of the conference youth organization, the chair of the annual conference college student organization, and one
young person between the ages of twelve (12) and seventeen (17) and one young person between the ages of eighteen (18) and thirty (30) from each district to be selected in such a manner as may be determined by the annual conference. In the annual conferences of the regional
conferences outside the USA, the four-year participation and the two-year membership
requirements may be waived by the annual conference for young persons under thirty (30) years of age. Such persons must be professing members of The United Methodist Church and active
participants at the time of election. Each charge served by more than one clergy shall be entitled to as many lay members as there are clergy members. The lay members shall have been for the two years next preceding their election members of The United Methodist Church and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years next preceding their election.
If the lay membership should number less than the clergy members of the annual conference, the annual conference shall, by its own formula, provide for the election of additional lay members to equalize lay and clergy membership of the annual conference.
¶ 33. Article II.-The annual conference is the basic body in the Church and as such shall have reserved to it the right to vote on all constitutional amendments, on the election of clergy and lay delegates to the General Conference and their respective regional conferences, as well as jurisdictional conference if its regional conference has jurisdictions, on all matters relating to the character and conference relations of its clergy members, and on the ordination of clergy and
such other rights as have not been delegated to the General Conference under the Constitution, with the exception that the lay members may not vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy except that the lay members of the conference board of ordained ministry and the committee on investigation may vote on matters of ordination, character, and
conference relations of clergy, with the further exception that lay members of the district committee on ordained ministry be full participating members of the district committee on ordained ministry with vote. It shall discharge such duties and exercise such powers as the General Conference under the Constitution may determine.
¶ 34. Article III.-The annual conference shall elect clergy and lay delegates to the
General Conference and to its respective regionalconference as well as jurisdictional conference,
if its regional conference has jurisdictions, in the manner provided in this section, Articles IV and
V. Such elections shall include open nominations from the floor by the annual conference, and delegates shall be elected by a minimum of a simple majority of the ballots cast. The persons first elected up to the number determined by the ratio for representation in the General
Conference shall be representatives in that body. Additional delegates shall be elected to
complete the number determined by the ratio for representation in the regional conference, who, together with those first elected as above, shall be delegates in the regional conference. The
additional delegates to the regional conference shall in the order of their election be the reserve delegates to the General Conference. The annual conference shall also elect reserve clergy and lay delegates to the regional conference as it may deem desirable. These reserve clergy and lay delegates to the regional conferences may act as reserve delegates to the General Conference
when it is evident that not enough reserve delegates are in attendance at the General Conference.
In regional conferences with jurisdictions, all general and regional conference delegates shall be delegates to the jurisdictional conference. Whenever possible, reserve delegates to the
regional conference shall also serve in order of election as delegates to the jurisdictional conference, with any reserve delegates who cannot be seated as jurisdictional delegates
becoming reserve delegates to the jurisdictional conference. As needed, additional delegates shall
be elected to complete the number determined by the ratio for representation in the jurisdictional conference. The annual conference may also elect additional reserve clergy and lay delegates to the jurisdictional conference as it may deem desirable.
¶ 35. Article IV.-The clergy delegates to the General Conference and to their respective regional conference as well as jurisdictional conference, if its regional conference has
jurisdictions, shall be elected from the clergy members in full connection and shall be elected by the clergy members of the annual conference or provisional annual conference who are deacons and elders in full connection, associate members, and those provisional members who have
completed all of their educational requirements and local pastors who have completed course of study or an M. Div. degree or its equivalent in regional conferences outside of the USA and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding the
election.
¶ 36. Article V.-The lay delegates to the General Conference and to their respective regional
conference, as well as jurisdictional conference if its regional conference has jurisdictions, shall be elected by the lay members of the annual conference or provisional annual conference without regard to age, provided such delegates shall have been professing members of The United
Methodist Church for at least two years next preceding their election, and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years next preceding their election, and are members thereof within the annual conference electing them at the time of holding the General Conference and regional conferences as well as the jurisdictional conferences, if its
regional conference has jurisdictions.
¶ 40 Article II.– The number, names, and boundaries of the annual conferences and
episcopal areas shall be determined by the respective regional conferences or by the jurisdiction,
if a regional conference has jurisdictions. The authority of regional and jurisdictional conferences provided herein is not circumscribed or limited by the authority provided to the College of Bishops to arrange a plan of episcopal supervision.
¶ 46. Article II.-The bishops shall be elected by the respective regional conferences or by the jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, and consecrated in the historic manner at such time and place as may be fixed by each regional conference, provided that episcopal
elections in regionalconferences without jurisdictions shall be held at a regular, not an extra,
session of such regional conference, except in the case where an unexpected vacancy must be filled.
¶ 48. Article IV.-The bishops of each regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, shall constitute a College of Bishops, and such College of Bishops shall arrange the plan of episcopal supervision of the annual conferences, missionary
conferences, and missions within their respective territories.
¶ 49. Article V.-The bishops shall have residential and presidential supervision in their
respective regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, in which they are elected or to which they are transferred. Bishops may be transferred from one
jurisdiction to another jurisdiction for presidential and residential supervision under the following conditions: (1) The transfer of bishops may be on either of two bases: (a) a jurisdiction that receives a bishop by transfer from another jurisdiction may transfer to that jurisdiction or to a third jurisdiction one of its own bishops eligible for transfer, so that the number transferred in by each jurisdiction shall be balanced by the number transferred out; or (b) a jurisdiction may
receive a bishop from another jurisdiction and not transfer out a member of its own College of Bishops. (2) No bishop shall be transferred unless that bishop shall have specifically consented.
(3) No bishop shall be eligible for transfer unless the bishop shall have served one quadrennium in the jurisdiction that elected the bishop to the episcopacy. (4) All such transfers shall require
the approval by a majority vote of the members present and voting of the jurisdictional
committees on episcopacy of the jurisdictions that are involved. After the above procedures have been followed, the transferring bishop shall become a member of the receiving College of Bishops and shall be subject to residential assignment by that jurisdictional conference.
A bishop may be assigned by the Council of Bishops for presidential service or other temporary service in another jurisdiction than that which elected the bishop, provided that the request is made by a majority of the bishops in the jurisdiction of the proposed service.
In the case of an emergency in any regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, through the death or disability of a bishop or other cause, the Council of Bishops may assign a bishop from another regional conference or jurisdiction, if a
regional conference has jurisdictions, to the work of the said regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions, with the consent of a majority of the bishops of that
regional conference or jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions.
¶ 50. Article VI. – Bishops elected by the jurisdictions shall have life tenure. Bishops
elected by a regional conference without jurisdictions shall have such tenure as the regional conference electing them shall have determined.
The regional conference or the jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions,
shall elect a standing committee on episcopacy to consist of one clergy and one lay delegate from each annual conference, on nomination of the annual conference delegation. The committee shall review the work of the bishops, pass on their character and official administration, and report to
its respective regional conference or jurisdiction, if a region has jurisdictions, its findings for
such action as the conference may deem appropriate within its constitutional warrant of power.
The committee shall recommend the assignments of the bishops to their respective residences for final action by the respective regional conference or the jurisdiction, if a regional conference has jurisdictions.
These provisions shall not preclude the adoption by the General Conference of provisions for the Council of Bishops to hold its individual members accountable for their work, both as
general superintendents and as presidents and residents in episcopal areas.
¶ 52. Article VIII. – The bishops of the several regional conferences shall preside in the sessions of their respective conferences. If a regional conference has jurisdictions, the bishops shall also preside in the session of their respective jurisdictional conference.
¶ 56. Article II. – The Judicial Council shall have authority:
1. To determine the constitutionality of any act of the General Conference upon an appeal of a majority of the Council of Bishops or one-fifth of the members of the General Conference and to determine the constitutionality of any act of a regional or jurisdictional conference upon an appeal of a majority of the bishops of that regional or jurisdictional conference or upon the
appeal of one-fifth of the members of thatregional or jurisdictional conference.
. . .
4. To hear and determine the legality of any action taken therein by any General
Conference board, regional, or jurisdictional conference board or body, upon appeal by one-third
of the members thereof, or upon request of the Council of Bishops or a majority of the bishops of a regional or jurisdictional conference.
. . .
¶ 61. Article III. – A regional orjurisdictional conference may by a majority vote propose
changes in the Constitution of the Church, and such proposed changes shall be submitted to the next General Conference. If the General Conference adopts the measure by a two-thirds vote, it shall be submitted to the annual conferences according to the provision for amendments.
The ratification process by the annual conferences for the constitutional amendments in this
petition shall begin no later than 30 days after the adjournment of the postponed 2020 General Conference.
Ratification Ballot #2
Calendar Item 240 Approved 607-67 May 3, 2024
Committee Item GA11 Approved 48-2 April 26, 2024
Petition 20240
¶ 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church-The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, gender, ability, color, national origin, status,4 or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection.5 In The United Methodist Church no conference or other organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, status or economic condition.6
-
Amended 1992.
-
Amended 2000.
-
See Judicial Council Decisions 242, 246, 340, 351, 362, 377, 398, 594, 601, and Decisions 4 and 5, Interim Judicial Council.
[If ratified, the paragraph would read as follows:]
¶ 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church-The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, gender, ability, color, national origin, status,4 or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection.5 In The United Methodist Church no conference or other organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, status or economic condition.6
-
Amended 1992.
-
Amended 2000.
-
See Judicial Council Decisions 242, 246, 340, 351, 362, 377, 398, 594, 601, and Decisions 4 and 5, Interim Judicial Council.
Ratification Ballot #3
Calendar Item 550 Approved 621-59 May 3, 2024
Committee Item IC50 Approved 25-1 April 27, 2024
Petition 20332
¶ 5. Article V. Racial Justice-The United Methodist Church proclaims the value of each person that from God’s goodness and love, God created all persons as a God’s unique and beloved children. child of God and commits itself to the healing and wholeness of all persons. The United Methodist Church recognizes that the sin of racism has been destructive to its unity throughout its history. Racism continues to cause painful division and marginalization. The United Methodist Church shall confront and seek to eliminate racism, whether in organizations or in individuals, in every facet of its life and in society at large. The United Methodist Church shall work collaboratively with others to address concerns that threaten the cause of racial justice at all times and in all places. Racism opposes God’s law, goodness, and love and diminishes the image of God in each person. Fueled by white privilege, white supremacy, and colonialism, the sin of racism has been a destructive scourge on global society and throughout the history of The United Methodist Church. It continues to destroy our communities, harm persons,
obstruct unity, and undermine God’s work in this world. Racism must be eradicated. Therefore, The United Methodist Church commits to confronting and eliminating all forms of racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy, in every facet of its life and in society at large.
7. Amended 2000
[If ratified, the paragraph would read as follows:]
¶ 5. Article V. Racial Justice-The United Methodist Church proclaims that from God’s goodness and love, God created all persons as God’s unique and beloved children. Racism opposes God’s law, goodness, and love and diminishes the image of God in each person. Fueled by white privilege, white supremacy, and colonialism, the sin of racism has been a destructive scourge on global society and throughout the history of The United Methodist Church. It continues to destroy our communities, harm persons,
obstruct unity, and undermine God’s work in this world. Racism must be eradicated. Therefore, The United Methodist Church commits to confronting and eliminating all forms of racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy, in every facet of its life and in society at large.7
7. Amended 2000
Ratification Ballot #4
Calendar Item 555 Approved 547-99 May 2, 2024
Committee Item OM153 Approved 39-4 April 27, 2024
Petition 20070
¶ 35. Article IV. The clergy delegates to the General Conference and to the jurisdictional or central conference shall be elected from 74 the clergy members in full connection and shall be elected by the clergy members of the annual conference or provisional annual conference who are deacons and elders in full connection, associate members, and those provisional members who have completed all of their
educational requirements and local pastors who have completed course of study or an M. Div. Master of Divinity degree from a University Senate-approved theological school or its equivalent as recognized in a central conference and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding the election. 75
74. Amended 1996
75. See Judicial Council Decision 1181. Amended 2008.
[If ratified, the paragraph would read as follows:]
¶ 35. Article IV. The clergy delegates to the General Conference and to the jurisdictional or central conference shall be elected from 74 the clergy members in full connection and shall be elected by the clergy members of the annual conference or provisional annual conference who are deacons and elders in full connection, associate members, and those provisional members who have completed all of their educational requirements and local pastors who have completed course of study or a Master of Divinity degree from a University Senate-approved theological school or its equivalent as recognized in a central conference and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding the election. 75
74. Amended 1996
75. See Judicial Council Decision 1181. Amended 2008.
[Editorial note: The proposed change of language in this paragraph related to central conferences would be changed to reflect the necessary updates should the Proposed Constitutional Amendment related to Regionalization be ratified.]