Central Conferences
A map showing United Methodist central conferences. (Map courtesy of Louisiana Annual Conference)
Feb. 13, 2025
United Methodist annual conferences are voting this year on constitutional amendments that would enact regionalization, giving regions of the UMC greater autonomy to craft their ministerial standards according to their contexts. A three-hour webinar on Feb. 20 will give clergy and lay members of annual conferences the opportunity to hear details of the amendments before voting. This article compiles recent announcements of the webinar.
From the Louisiana Annual Conference
Regionalization: Moving Closer to Equity in the UMC
Clergy and lay members to annual conference will vote on four proposed amendments to The United Methodist Church constitution. Ballot 1 refers to Regionalization.
Regionalization updates the system of governance for The United Methodist Church by recognizing the diversity of cultures in our worldwide denomination, by better reflecting the growth of the church outside the United States, and by providing equity for followers of Jesus around the world.
Multiple petitions associated with Regionalization passed the General Conference, some of which require amendments to the United Methodist Constitution.
The basic doctrines of the church, the Council of Bishops, Judicial Council, General Agencies and General Conference all would be maintained.
Background
The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters is a permanent committee of General Conference that deals with matters in Central Conferences — regions in Africa, the Philippines and Europe. Most committee members are from those areas, though some come from the United States, including Rev. Amy Lippoldt, pastor at Wichita First United Methodist Church.
The Connectional Table, a leadership body that acts as a denomination-wide church council, initially prepared legislation to create a U.S. Regional Conference. That effort was then expanded by a grassroots group of Central Conference leaders who drafted what is known as the Christmas Covenant.
The standing committee built on that work to create the eight petitions that make up Worldwide Regionalization.
Read the Constitutional Amendments
What Would Change
The changes that will be voted on as Regionalization are all tied to what was titled “Calendar Item 22,” which passed the General Conference 586-164 on April 25, 2024. That item was based on a 29-0 recommendation from the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters. Here is a summary of changes passed at General Conference requiring ratification:
- Establishment of Regional Conferences, all geographic in nature and all equal.
- Language changes throughout the Book of Discipline to match the amendments addressed in the first bullet point.
- Enabling actions via ¶2201, which deals with the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters.
- Changes references to Central Conferences to Regional Conferences throughout the Discipline.
- Establishes an interim U.S. Regional Conference Committee to work on details for implementing this new structure.
- Formally creates the interim committee.
- Allows for the development of a plan of organization for the U.S. Regional Conference.
- Updates church structures to recognize Regional Conferences.
From UM & Global
UM & Global blogmaster Dr. David W. Scott will present on “Theology of Regionalization” as part of an upcoming “Worldwide Regionalization & Ratification Webinar.”
The webinar will be on Feb. 20 at 8am PST/9am MST/10 am CST/11am ET. The webinar is expected to last about 3 hours long. Dr. Scott will be second on the agenda.
The webinar is organized by the denomination’s Regionalization Task Force and presented by United Methodist Communications. It represents a collaboration among UMCOM, the Connectional Table, the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, members of the Christmas Covenant writing team and The Council of Bishops
According to the event description, “This session will examine the significance of worldwide regionalization in The United Methodist Church, its implications for the U.S. church and the consequences of inaction. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the ratification process, engage with key leaders, and explore how regionalization fosters adaptability, equity and mission effectiveness.” The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A.
Interested readers can register here.