Here is a summary of the three petitions proposed by the racial-ethnic and interest groups coalition as alternatives to the Call to Action, Ministry Study and Global Nature of the Church reports coming before the 2012 General Conference.
A New United Methodist Administrative Order: Establishes a Coordinating Council which replaces the Connectional Table, reconfigures program agencies into three, retaining the social witness as a strong component of the UMC's work, and establishes a Center for Resourcing and Operations to ensure the effective use of resources and to centralize administrative services where possible. This proposal will maintain appropriate legal and fiduciary management by elected boards of directors appropriate to the scale of ministry provided.
Clergy Evaluation Process: Places the responsibility for congregational success on the shoulders of the congregation, the pastors, the district superintendents and the bishops together, rather than solely on the shoulders of the pastors.
A More Equitable Worldwide Connection: Places all Central Conferences on an equal footing with the United States by establishing a United States Central Conference. It also permits larger Central Conferences to create Jurisdictional Conferences and to elect bishops under either Central Conference or Jurisdictional Conference proceedings.