Constitutional Amendments

General Conference 2020/2024 approved several proposed amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church. To amend the Constitution, legislation approved by General Conference must receive approval by a 2/3-majority of aggregate votes cast by members of all annual conferences around the globe. Annual Conferences in 2025 will vote on Constitutional amendments with a separate ballot on each of the four proposed amendments.

The bishop and Conference secretary from all 127 United Methodist annual conferences in Africa, Europe, the Philippians, and the United States will send the voting results from their Annual Conference to the Council of Bishops no later than October 31, 2025. The Council of Bishops will tally all votes, certify any amendment ratifications, and announce results in early November.

Learn more about all proposed Constitutional amendments.

Constitutional Amendment #1: Worldwide Regionalization
Regionalization was developed collaboratively by United Methodists across the globe. Regionalization creates equity across the Church without privileging one region as the center and others as peripheries. Existing central conferences will be renamed as regional conferences, and a new U.S. Regional Conference will be created. All regional conferences will share the UM Constitution, doctrinal standards, theological task, The Ministry of All Christians, and The Social Principles. Learn more about Constitutional Amendment #1.

Constitutional Amendment #2: Paragraph 4, Article 4 - Inclusion
Say “YES” to Inclusion! Approval of this amendment would add “gender” and “ability” to The UMC Constitution’s membership protections in Paragraph 4, Article 4 of the Constitution. Learn more about Constitutional Amendment #2.

Constitutional Amendment #3: Article V – Racial Justice
Proposed changes to Article V of The UMC Constitution will explicitly recognize the Church's role in combatting racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy. Learn more about Constitutional Amendment #3.

Constitutional Amendment #4: Educational Requirements for Clergy Members
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. The UMC Constitution currently requires a clergy delegate to have completed a “course of study or an M. Div. degree …” The proposed amendment would change The UMC Constitution language to state “course of study or Master of Divinity from a University Senate approved theological school or its equivalent as recognized in a Central Conference…” Learn more about Constitutional Amendment #4.