Wisdom Talks May 2025

Church leaders support amendment to include 'gender' and 'ability'

United Methodist Church leaders join together in support of ratifying Paragraph 4, Article IV of The United Methodist Church's Constitution, which affirms that no one should be excluded from church membership for any reason. Together, they affirm the Church’s responsibility to honor the God-given dignity and worth of every person, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or ability.

Read the full statement

Resources for Your 2025 Annual Conference Session

1. Video: Vote YES on Ballot #2 – Paragraph 4, Article IV
Watch here: https://youtu.be/I0bVLv4P1_Q or download the video: Vote Yes on Ballot #2 video
In this video, Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, General Secretary of GCSRW, encourages support for Ballot #2, which proposes adding gender and ability to the list of protected categories for church membership in the UMC Constitution. A “Yes” vote affirms that all persons—regardless of gender or ability—are welcome in the life and membership of the Church.

2. Annual Conference COSROW Monitoring Forms
Download forms: AC COSROW Monitoring Forms
GCSRW provides standardized forms and tools to help the denomination, its members, and leaders hold the most inclusive sessions possible, where every voice is respected and given an opportunity to be heard. We encourage you to:

Review observer sheets and sample scripts
Understand how to report findings
Prepare to submit reports to your AC COSROW Chair and GCSRW

3. Overview: Paragraph 4, Article IV Ratification
Learn more: Paragraph 4, Article IV Ratification
At the postponed 2020 General Conference, delegates voted to amend Paragraph 4, Article IV of the UMC Constitution to include “gender” and “ability” as protected categories. This historic amendment must now be ratified by annual conferences across the worldwide connection. This page offers an overview, historical background, and talking points to support a “Yes” vote on Ballot #2.

Annual Conference COSROW Spotlight

TWK AC-COSROW Study - "Caring for the Sacred Call of Clergywomen"

The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference (TWK) conducted a comprehensive study examining the experiences of clergywomen across the conference. This study incorporated survey responses, focus group discussions, and an analysis of connectional data, including leadership demographics, base compensation reports, and appointment trends.

Read the full report