Proposed Constitutional Amendments
The 2024 General Conference passed several proposed amendments to United Methodist Constitution. These unique pieces of legislation only become official once they are ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate of members to the annual conferences.
As a part of that ratifications process, clergy and lay members of the 2025 Pacific Northwest Annual Conference will vote on the four proposed amendments when they meet this June.
Ballot #1: Worldwide Regionalization
A set of amendments to create new regional conferences that will each have equal power to adapt portions of the Book of Discipline within their prospective regions. The United States would become its own Regional Conference, allowing it to make decisions that specifically address outreach and ministry needs within the U.S. context.
Ballot #2: Inclusiveness of the Church
An amendment to add the words “gender” and “ability” to Paragraph 4, Article 4 of the constitution to categories that cannot be used to exclude membership in The United Methodist Church.
Ballot #3: Racial Justice
An amendment to strengthen Article V of the UMC Constitution by explicitly recognizing the church’s role in combating racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy.
Ballot #4: Educational requirements for clergy members
General Conference voted to amend Section VI, Article IV of the United Methodist Constitution, which establishes the educational requirements for clergy members of annual or provisional conferences who are eligible to vote for clergy delegates to the General Conference.