What does General Conference do?
As the highest legislative body of The United Methodist Church, General Conference holds the power to revise The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions while also initiating amendments to the denominations constitution. General Conference normally meets once every quadrennium or every four years. The Council of Bishops may also call a special session to address a specific topic.
Any congregation, conference, organization or person may submit a petition to General Conference to change the Book of Discipline or the Book of Resolutions. Further petitions may also be introduced from the floor by delegates. Most legislation requires a simple majority vote to pass. Amendments to the denomination’s Constitution require a two-thirds vote of the General Conference followed by a two-thirds aggregate vote of the lay and clergy members present and voting of the annual conferences.
How are General Conference delegates elected?
Delegates are United Methodists from around the world elected by their annual, missionary or provisional conference. The total number of delegates at General Conference must always fall between 600 and 1,000 people. The General Conference consists of an equal number of lay and clergy delegates. Conferences elect their delegates no more than two years prior to the next General Conference session. Lay members to annual conference elect lay delegates and clergy members elect clergy delegates.
The Book of Discipline contains the formula for determining how delegates are apportioned from each of the conferences. The Secretary of the General Conference determines the total number of delegates and applies that formula to determine how many will come from each conference to meet the total number required.
What happens after General Conference?
The Book of Discipline, the Book of Resolutions and other official documents affected by General Conference are updated following the session to include newly adopted legislation. In most instances, legislation becomes effective on Jan. 1 of the year following year. Amendments to the constitution become official only after they are ratified.
