During the 2025 Annual Conference session, TWK voting members will consider four constitutional amendments adopted by the 2024 General Conference. These amendments focus on key areas of church life and governance, including regionalization, inclusive membership, racial justice, and clergy delegate elections.
The Constitution can be read beginning on page 25 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2020/2024. How these changes would change the Book of Discipline is shown in this draft of the “marked up” copy of the text.
Each amendment must receive a two-thirds majority of votes from all United Methodist annual conferences worldwide to be ratified. Results will not be finalized until all 127 conferences—across Africa, Europe, the Philippines, and the U.S.—have voted. The Council of Bishops anticipates certifying the final results at its fall 2025 meeting.
You can explore each proposed amendment below, along with links to official information and resources.
- Amendment 1: Worldwide Regionalization
- Amendment 2: Inclusion in Membership
- Amendment 3: Racial Justice
- Amendment 4: Clergy Delegate Elections
Please review the information on the Voting Resources page to prepare for your participation as an annual conference member.
Frequently Asked Questions from the District Gatherings
Constitutional Amendments FAQ
At District Gatherings preceding Annual Conference, attendees were encouraged to propose questions about the Constitutional amendments that will be voted on at Annual Conference. Over 200 questions were submitted. These questions were condensed and answered by our General Conference delegates. More information regarding the proposed constitutional amendments can be found at: Amendments to UM Constitution
Note: Many submitted questions about these proposed amendments asked how the amendments will change our practices in the church. As much as the delegation would like to answer many of these questions, no concrete decisions or actions can be made or taken until the amendments are ratified. Any future actions or results are speculation. Should these amendments be ratified, it will be up to us as the church to live into these changes with resources, education, and follow-through.
General Questions regarding all constitutional amendments:
- Will the vote be counted gradually, as conferences meet, or will they be counted in a lump sum in the end?Both. Each Annual Conference can report the results of their vote. However, to be fully ratified an amendment must receive ⅔ of the aggregate votes of all the voting members. That is, all the voting delegates across United Methodism. That total will not be announced until all the annual conferences have voted.
- When and how will we be notified of the final result? How long will it take? The Council of Bishops will announce the final vote results. That announcement will be made only after all the annual conferences around the world have voted and the votes have been tallied by the Council of Bishops. The specific time cannot be determined because of the variety of factors that influence when an annual conference meets. For example, the last proposed amendments offered at the 2016 General Conference were not announced as ratified by the Council of Bishops until 2018. The Council of Bishops expects results of these votes in the Spring of 2026.
- What is the likelihood of these amendments passing, given the complications of being a world-wide church?The ⅔ aggregate vote threshold is a high one; this is why every vote is vital.
- Why were none of the arguments against any of the amendments presented? The process of presenting constitutional amendments is governed by The Book of Discipline. When General Conference adopts a constitutional amendment, it is submitted to the annual conferences for a vote without alteration. Part of the role of the General Conference delegates is to interpret the work of the General Conference to their respective annual conferences and explain why the General Conference voted to adopt these proposed amendments.
Annual conference members vote to ratify or not to ratify the language as approved by General Conference (¶59, Book of Discipline). Therefore, informational materials distributed by annual conferences typically focus on the language of the amendment itself—what it says, what it would change, and its implications—without offering advocacy either for or against. Annual conference members are encouraged to engage in discussion, raise questions, and seek a full understanding, including concerns and differing viewpoints.
Click on the FAQ below to read the Responses provided by TWKUMC General Conference delegates to your Questions on each amendment:
Amendment 1 FAQ | Amendment 2 FAQ | Amendment 3 FAQ | Amendment 4 FAQ
Transcript: Overview of Constitutional Amendments and Process
Amendment 1: Worldwide Regionalization
Worldwide Regionalization represents an organizational vision designed to enhance adaptive evangelism, emphasize our denomination’s global nature, and strengthen our connection by prioritizing our mission and ministry. This strategic plan was overwhelmingly endorsed by delegates from around the world at General Conference 2024 and now awaits ratification by our Annual Conferences.
One of the most significant and widely discussed proposals is the regionalization amendment, a comprehensive set of changes designed to give all geographic areas of The United Methodist Church equal authority in decision-making.
If adopted, this amendment would establish the U.S., Africa, Europe, and the Philippines as regional conferences—each with the same ability to adapt portions of the Book of Discipline (the denomination’s guiding policy document) to better serve their unique mission fields.
Currently, only central conferences (those outside the U.S.) are constitutionally permitted to make such adaptations. This amendment would extend that same flexibility to the U.S. while also outlining clear parameters for what can be adapted.
Under regionalization, each regional conference would have the authority to:
- Publish its own hymnal, book of worship, and regional Book of Discipline
- Define ordination and licensing requirements for clergy
- Establish standards for lay membership
- Shape practices for marriage, funerals, and other rites in ways that align with Scripture and the laws of their country
- Collaborate with annual conferences to ensure legal and contextual consistency
This amendment passed at the General Conference with strong support (586–164). All regionalization changes will appear on one single ballot.
Learn more:
- Resource UMC page on Ballot #1: Worldwide Regionalization
- Worldwide Regionalization & Ratification Webinar webinar recording
- Regionalization: Effective ministry in every culture one-page resource
Transcript: Ballot 1-Regionalization
Amendment 2: Inclusion in Membership – Paragraph 4, Article IV
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, GCSRW hosted a webinar titled, “Intersectionality & Equity: Shaping the Future of The UMC,” highlighting the significance of inclusive language in the Church Constitution.
If adopted, this amendment would add “gender” and “ability” to the list of characteristics that do not bar people from membership in a United Methodist church. In short, this constitutional amendment means pastors may not deny a person church membership whether that person is male or female or has a disability.
Specifically, the amended Paragraph 4, Article IV in the constitution would say: “All persons, without regard to race, gender, ability, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection.”
The General Conference passed this amendment with a vote of 607–67.
Learn more:
- Resource UMC page on Ballot #2: Article IV-Inclusion
- Protecting membership for all News Story
Transcript: Ballot 2-Protecting Membership for All
Amendment 3: Racial Justice – Article V
Article V of the Book of Discipline serves as a pivotal framework for the United Methodist Church’s commitment to addressing and eliminating racism in all its forms. Recent proposed changes to Article V, at the postponed 2020/2024 General Conference session in April/May 2024, have strengthened this commitment by explicitly recognizing the church’s role in combating racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy both within the denomination and in broader society. These changes reflect a critical shift in the church’s acknowledgment of and response to deeply entrenched racial injustice.
This proposed amendment offers a complete revision of Paragraph 5, Article V in The United Methodist Church Constitution, reinforcing the church’s enduring commitment to racial justice and the dismantling of systemic racism and colonialism.
What’s new in the proposed language:
- Names white supremacy, colonialism, and racial injustice as evils the church must confront
- Declares racism to be incompatible with Christian teaching
- Commits the church to anti-racism in both word and action
This amendment passed by a vote of 621–59.
Learn More:
- Resource UMC page on Ballot #3: V-Racial Justice
- General Secretary of GCORR’s Message Video
Transcript: Ballot 3-Racial Justice
Amendment 4: Clergy Delegate Elections – Paragraph 35
The postponed 2020 General Conference voted to amend Section VI, Article IV of the United Methodist Constitution. This paragraph outlines the educational requirements for clergy members of annual or provisional conferences who are eligible to vote for clergy delegates to the General Conference.
A proposed amendment to Paragraph 35, Article IV seeks to clarify who is eligible to vote for clergy delegates to General Conference, U.S. jurisdictional conferences, and central conferences—all of which play a key role in the life of the denomination, including the election of bishops.
As it currently stands, annual conferences elect these delegates, with equal representation of laity and clergy. The constitution specifies that lay members vote for lay delegates, and clergy vote for clergy delegates.
This amendment, submitted by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, adds further clarity by defining which licensed local pastors can vote in clergy elections. To be eligible, a local pastor must:
- Have completed the Course of Study or hold a Master of Divinity degree from a University Senate-approved theological school (or its equivalent, as recognized in central conferences), and
- Have served at least two consecutive years under appointment immediately prior to the election.
This change ensures that all voting clergy share a foundational level of theological education and sustained experience in ministry. This amendment ensures clear standards and fairness in clergy voting processes and passed with a vote of 547–99.
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