The next step for Regionalizaion - Ratification

The constitutional amendments that are key parts of the Regionalizaiton Plan have one more step before they can be implemented. Having received a 2/3 approval from the General Conference they are now passed on to the annual conferences.

Each annual conference must vote to ratify the legislation.

Those votes are counted at each annual conference and reported to the Council of Bishops. Not until all annual conferences have met, voted, and reported their results will the Council of Bishops tally and certify those results and announce whether each proposed Amendment passed or failed.

An example of how votes from each
annual conference will be aggregated for a 2/3 approval.

What does the Book of Discipline say?

¶ 59. Article I.—Amendments to the Constitution shall be made upon a two-thirds majority of the General Conference present and voting and a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of members of the several annual conferences present and voting, except in the case of the first and second Restrictive Rules, which shall require a three-fourths majority of all the members of the annual conferences present and voting. The vote, after being completed, shall be canvassed by the Council of Bishops, and the amendment voted upon shall become effective upon their announcement of its having received the required majority.

In the event that the General Conference adopts an amendment to the Constitution, the General Conference may immediately adopt enabling legislation for such amendment which shall be contingent on ratification of the amendment by the required two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of members of the several annual conferences present and voting, and effective once the Council of Bishops, operating as a canvasser of votes, announces that the amendment has been passed. In the same manner, an annual conference may approve legislation in anticipation of such a change in the Discipline and/or Constitution that would likewise become effective upon the effective date of said disciplinary change or Constitutional Amendment.

What does the Council of Bishops say?

UMC Bishops To Promote Ratification of Regionalization Legislation

Regionalization will allow missional contexts worldwide the freedom to adapt worship, music, membership, administrative practices, and evangelism strategies. However, it will not alter doctrinal standards, core beliefs, Social Principles, or the Ministry of All Christians.

Read the full Council of Bishops Press Release issued on May 7, 2024

Q and A about Ratification

(click on the question)

  • Petition # 1 the proposal states:

    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.

  • Each annual conference in the entire connection will vote on the items. These votes will be reported to the Council of Bishops and they will report the final results to the church.

  • You can read the petitions as they were submitted by the Standing Committee on Central Conference matters on this website:
    https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/regionalization-legislation-petitions-submitted-to-general-conference.