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Paragraph 4, Article IV Ratification

At the postponed 2020 General Conference, the legislative gathering voted to add the words "gender" and "ability" to Paragraph 4, Article IV of The United Methodist Church's Constitution. This amendment affirms that no one should be excluded from membership in the Church for any reason.

This historic vote now needs to be ratified by all annual conferences across the worldwide connection. To help United Methodists understand the impact of this amendment, watch and share this message from Rev. Stephanie York Arnold - and remember to vote YES on Ballot #2.

Bishop Tracy S. Malone surveys the results of General Conference delegates’ vote in favor of constitutional amendments to carry out the worldwide regionalization plan as she presides over a legislative session on April 25, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. This year, annual conferences around the globe will hold votes on regionalization and three other amendments to the denomination’s constitution. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Annual Conferences

Church constitutional amendments head to vote

When United Methodist annual conferences meet this year, lay and clergy voters will determine whether regionalization and other changes become part of the denomination’s constitution.

Ratifying the United Methodist Constitution to amend Paragraph 4, Article IV to include the words "gender" and "ability" protects membership for all people. Image created in Canva.
Protecting membership for all

Learn more about why The UMC needs Paragraph 4, Article IV, an amendment to The United Methodist Constitution, that adds the words "gender" and "ability" to membership categories that cannot be used to exclude membership in The UMC.

The Rev. April Casperson. Courtesy of Otterbein University.

Social Concerns

Annual Conferences

Amendment would make church more open

The United Methodist Church can be a more welcoming denomination by adding gender and ability to its constitution, clergywoman writes.

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