General Conference

Who makes decisions for The United Methodist Church if there is no one person in charge? Good question. The only body that can set official policy for the denomination is the General Conference.

The General Conference is an international body of nearly 1,000 delegates that meets for 10 days every four years. The delegates are elected by annual conferences (at Annual Conference sessions) to attend General Conference. They represent all annual conferences around the world. Half of the delegates are laity (non-clergy members), half are clergy.

Bishops attend the General Conference but cannot vote. Different bishops serve as presiding officers during the conference. Other bishops cannot speak unless permission is specifically granted by the nearly 1,000 delegates.

During General Conference, delegates discuss and vote on petitions, resolutions, and legislation proposed by individuals, agencies, annual conferences, and other groups within the denomination. These actions result in a revision of the United Methodist Book of Discipline, the denomination’s book of law, and Book of Resolutions, policies of the denomination on current social issues.

It is at General Conference where delegates wrestle with today’s issues in light of scriptural teachings and the church’s understanding of that teaching. Here is where the church’s official stands and church policies are made regarding such issues as human sexuality, abortion, war and peace, as well as determination of ministries and funding.

General Conferences are held in years divisible by 4, such as 2000, 2004, etc.

Glossary of Terms: Term definition

petition (to General Conference)

A request to the General Conference for official action on a topic or issue. A petition to the General Conference may be a request for an amendment to the Constitution, a change in the legislative content of The Book of Discipline, and approval of a resolution, or an approval of a report. Any official organization (local churches, annual conference, general agencies), lay member, or ordained minister of The United Methodist Church has the right to send a petition to the General Conference. Formerly, petitions to the General Conference were known as Memorials.

 

Some annual conferences use the petition format for bringing items to the annual conference for consideration and action.