Ratification process for constitutional amendments announced

The United Methodist Book of Discipline serves as a guide for members and churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, United Methodist Communications.
The United Methodist Book of Discipline serves as a guide for members and churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, United Methodist Communications.

Commission on the General Conference
The United Methodist Church

For Immediate Release
August 22, 2024

Ratification process for constitutional amendments announced

Nashville, TN—In consultation between the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, the Commission on the General Conference leadership and the Secretary of the General Conference, a projected timeline has been developed from the proposed constitutional amendments from the recent 2020/2024 General Conference. The process informs the timeline of editing and publication of the newest version of The Book of Discipline to ensure the most accurate version of the material.

Ratification of proposed constitutional amendments is a multilayered process, beginning with the editing of the proposed language from the actions of General Conference and developing the documents to be distributed.

With changes in leadership across the connection, the following steps are currently underway:

  • Verifying the current list of annual conferences, annual conference secretaries and their correct contact information
  • Establishing the process for reporting the results of the votes to be taken in all annual conferences

The next step of the ratification process is to release a draft of the language of the proposed constitutional amendments. This document will be made available the first week of September and is intended to be used for educational purposes as annual conferences prepare for voting in 2025.

Ballots will be distributed by January 31, 2025.

The Council of Bishops will ultimately ratify the votes received from the annual conferences.

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About General Conference

The General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, and meets once every four years to determine the denomination's future direction, consider revisions to church law, and approve plans and budgets for church-wide programs. Learn more at UMCGC.org.

About the Council of Bishops

The Council of Bishops is the executive branch of The United Methodist Church and is made up of all active and retired bishops in the church. The council is responsible for the church's general oversight and provides spiritual leadership to almost 10 million people on four continents. Find them online at UnitedMethodistBishops.org.

 

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