Each year, the Annual Conference is a sacred gathering—a time for clergy and lay members of The United Methodist Church to discern the Spirit’s leading, celebrate ministry, and make decisions that shape the future of the Church. This is not just a meeting. It is holy work. It is a time of deep connection, shared leadership, and covenant renewal.
Whether you are a full connection member, provisional member, associate member, local pastor, supply pastor, certified lay minister, newly elected lay member, you have a long-storied history serving as delegate to Annual Conference, or one of the many others faithfully serving, you may be wondering:
This guide will walk you through those questions, so that you come to the annual conference not just informed, but inspired.
If you are a clergy person under appointment or in relationship with the Annual Conference, your presence at Annual Conference and Clergy Session is a covenantal responsibility and sacred expectation.
As clergy, you are expected to:
When clergy are present, covenant is modeled to the community and the world. When clergy are absent without cause, the connection suffers. If you are unable to attend, you must notify your District Superintendent and complete the TWK Clergy/Diaconal Request for Excused Absence form.
Your presence matters—not just for what you vote on but for the spiritual and communal leadership you bring.
Laity, your presence at the Annual Conference is a gift to the Church. You are not just participants—you are leaders, disciples, and co-laborers in God’s mission.
You have been elected or appointed to represent your local church, your community, your district, but most importantly, those whose voices might be absent from our midst. That calling is sacred. You bring with you the stories, needs, and hopes of the people you serve alongside week after week. You bring practical wisdom, compassionate perspective, and a prophetic voice.
As lay members, you are encouraged to:
Your voice and presence are a faithful reminder that the Church is not clergy-led but spirit-empowered by all the baptized. So, whether this is your first conference or your fiftieth, thank you for showing up. Thank you for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with clergy. Thank you for making decisions that shape our shared future.
Your voice matters. Your leadership matters. And the Church can only be the Church because of your faithfulness.
The Clergy Session is a unique gathering where the clergy of the Annual Conference:
You MAY vote in the Clergy Session if you are:
You MAY NOT vote in the Clergy Session if you are:
Voice may still be granted, especially for those in the ordination process. Whether you vote or not, your presence and participation enrich our discernment.
At the Annual Conference, clergy and lay members come together to make decisions about the mission, budget, and direction of the Church.
You CAN vote at the Annual Conference if you are:
You CANNOT vote at Annual Conference if you are:
Even if you don’t have a vote, your presence and prayers contribute to the connectional discernment of the body.
In 2025, United Methodists around the world in every Annual Conference voted on constitutional amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church. These were not ordinary legislative changes—they were proposals to revise the foundational legal and theological structure that governs how the denomination is organized and functions globally.
What is the Constitution of The United Methodist Church?
The Constitution, found in Part I of the Book of Discipline, defines the basic organization, governance, and rights of the Church. It includes the Restrictive Rules, which protect the denomination’s core doctrines, and outlines the powers and limitations of various bodies such as General Conference, bishops, and the Judicial Council.
What is a Constitutional Amendment?
A constitutional amendment is a proposed change to the Constitution. Amendments can address issues such as regional governance (e.g., regionalization), inclusivity, voting rights, episcopal structures, and more. These changes are significant because they reshape how the global Church relates to itself and its members.
How Many Amendments Will Be Considered?
In 2025, United Methodists considered four constitutional amendments passed by the 2024 General Conference. These include amendments related to regionalization, anti-racism, inclusiveness, episcopal accountability, and educational requirements for clergy members. Each one must be ratified by the Annual Conferences before it becomes part of the Constitution.
If we have any future constitutional amendments (after the 2028 General Conference), below are the guidelines for voting.
Who May Vote on Constitutional Amendments?
You MAY vote on constitutional amendments if you are:
You MAY NOT vote if you are:
What Is the Ratification Process?
Why This Matters—Even If You Cannot Vote
Our United Methodist polity is both connectional and representative. Not everyone votes on every matter, but everyone participates through prayer, presence, discernment, and leadership. Those who cannot vote still shape our identity by listening, learning, and supporting the decisions made. The Constitution protects the Church’s integrity and unity, and the amendment process ensures broad global agreement before foundational changes are made.
If you cannot vote, your role remains vital. Your conversations, witness, and encouragement empower those who can vote. You help shape the spiritual climate of our connection.
Where Can I Learn More?
Full information about each 2025 amendment, including rationale and text, is available online:
You may not have a vote in every room. You may not cast a ballot. But let me be clear: you are not invisible. You are not on the margins. You are not less important.
If you are a lay observer, a supply pastor, or someone who serves the Church without a formal vote, your role is still vital to the life of our connection.
The United Methodist Church is not merely a system of votes and rules. It is a Spirit-led body, made up of hearts and hands, voices and visionaries, prayers and presence. And your presence is a sacred offering.
You bring wisdom born of ministry in the trenches. You bring care for your congregation and community. You bring the questions, stories, and hopes that remind us why we gather. You are part of the heartbeat of our Church.
So come.
Come with your insights and questions.
Come with your prayers and your hopes.
Come to listen, to learn, to bless, and to be blessed.
This is your Church, too. The table is wide enough. The Spirit is big enough. The mission is shared.
You belong here. And we are better because you are here.
We are not just a church with a connection. We are a connected church. Your presence, your voice, your prayers, and your faithfulness are threads in this sacred fabric.
Thank you for saying yes to this calling.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for making space for others.
Thank you for being the Church.
Let us listen deeply. Let us speak truth in love.
Let us make room for the Spirit to move.
And let us trust that God is doing a new thing—through all of us.
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