The coming General Conference has received 1,099 total valid petitions — including 352 new petitions submitted since General Conference’s delay in 2020.

The Advance Daily Christian Advocate contains all legislation submitted for consideration by the delegates at the upcoming  General Conference.

The first stop for legislation under consideration at the coming General Conference is one of 14 legislative committees or the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters. The standing committee is a permanent General Conference committee that deals with matters pertaining to church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

Petitions approved by committee then move on to the full body of delegates for possible further revision and a vote.

The Book of Discipline requires that all petitions must receive a vote in their assigned committee and all legislation approved by a committee must receive a vote by the full General Conference plenary.

It is possible for legislative committees and the plenary to vote down multiple petitions in bulk. Likewise, the General Conference plenary can approve multiple petitions in bulk if they qualify for the consent calendar.

Delegates routinely pray over their decision-making. They are to vote based on their own conscience as moved by the Holy Spirit.

Regionalization 

The regionalization proposal aims to address what many United Methodists see as a longstanding problem limiting the denomination’s missional effectiveness — namely that the church in the U.S. and the central conferences have unequal standing in decision-making.

Under the proposed plan, there will be four regional conferences — Africa, Europe, Philippines and the U.S. — all possessing the same duties and powers to pass legislation for greater missional impact in their respective regions.

The goal is to empower each region to act more nimbly in reaching people for Christ — without waiting for General Conference, which typically meets every four years.

Regionalization legislation petitions
Ask UMC series
Regionalization video

Additional Legislation

UMC Budget and Allocation Process—One of General Conference's primary responsibilities is to approve a budget. Representatives of the General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table explained the budget and how it was developed.  GCFA information |  view video 

Social Principles—Delegates will consider the first major overhaul of the church's Social Principles in nearly 50 years. Learn more.

Wespath legislation—Wespath is proposing a significant pension plan change for clergy and several other items.  Legislation summary | view video