Appointment as District Superintendent and election as Bishop are reserved to ordained elders,
There is continued growth in the number of Local Pastors and Associate Members in the US:
1988 4,983 Local Pastors 1,672 Associate members Total 6,655
2008 7,258 Local Pastors 2,037 Associate Members Total 9,295
The United Methodist Rural Fellowship estimates that approximately 6,807 additional persons would be granted
the right to vote on representation for General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
Rationale AGAINST
Ordained full members of the Annual Conference have training in UM polity, history, and doctrine as well as
several years of experience in leadership within those areas in the annual conference, whereas associate and
provisional members may have less training and experience.
Local churches are represented by laity, not by clergy. Clergy are elected to represent the annual conference and
therefore should be full members of the annual conference.
Clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference have traditionally been elected by and from those who
are ordained full members of the annual conference.
Οrdained full members of the annual conference typically have greater knowledge of and appreciation for the
annual conference.
This Constitutional amendment further separates us from the historic ecumenical connection with the Anglican
Church and others: a connection which John Wesley valued and sought to maintain as he began to order the life
of the Methodist Church in America.
As the rules currently stand, only ordained clergy in full connection can vote for ordained Elders and Deacons
to be clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences. This amendment will give the right to vote for
ordained Elder and Deacon Delegates to persons who
have not been ordained (Local Pastors are examined and approved)
have not been examined by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (Local Pastors are examined by the
District Committees on Ordained Ministries)
have answered some, but not all of the historical questions asked of those who are ordained including:
Whether they believe our doctrines are in harmony with Scripture and if they will teach and maintain them.
Whether they approve of our Church government and polity and if they will support and maintain them.
Subject IV: Miscellaneous – Amendments II, VI, VIII, IX, XV, XVII, XXII
Amendment II – Ethics Policies
Constitution paragraph 5
The proposed amendment requires the adoption of ethics and conflict of interest policies for “all official
organizations, groups, committees, councils, boards, and agencies of the UMC” to ensure accountability and
fiduciary integrity. The General Conference approved this proposed amendment by a vote of 90% in favor (744
for, 86 against).
Rationale FOR
Church bodies should have explicit and well-understood policies concerning ethical behavior and potential
conflicts of interest.
Rationale AGAINST
C-28 2009 Missouri Annual Conference
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