United Methodists Approve New Global Structure, Inclusive Rules

by

Nov. 6, 2025

After five years' effort that began outside the United States, United Methodists have overwhelmingly approved four constitutional amendments that make the worldwide denomination into a global network of co-equal regions devoted to gospel-mandated inclusive principles.

The Council of Bishops announced the results of a year-long vote Nov. 5, with the four amendments all garnering more than 90 percent approval, meaning by church law that they take effect immediately.

The highest-profile amendment, known as “Worldwide Regionalization,” restructures the denomination into eight roughly geographical regions, giving each region authority to craft its own operational rules except for the denomination’s core tenets.

According to a Council of Bishops’ announcement, the vote tallies were:

The bishops’ announcement said the amendments enact the following:

  • Amendment 1, Worldwide Regionalization: A set of changes to create new regional conferences that each will have equal power to adapt portions of the Book of Discipline, the UMC’s collection of church laws, within their respective cultural contexts.
  • Amendment 2, Inclusiveness of the Church: Adding the words “gender” and “ability” to constitutional categories that cannot be used to exclude membership.
  • Amendment 3, Racial Justice: Strengthening the denominations commitment to combating racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy.
  • Amendment 4, Educational Requirements for Clergy: Standardizes rules regarding educational requirements for clergy eligible to vote for clergy delegates to General Conference.

Regionalization, gender and disability inclusiveness and racial justice were among the issues that garnered the most attention. Traditionalists contended for years that regionalization was a smokescreen that would allow the UMC’s U.S. segment to drop the church-wide condemnation of sexual minorities as “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Regionalization proponents countered that regionalization was a means for the UMC to drop its U.S.-centric focus that perpetuated colonialism and give the denomination’s international regions autonomy to craft their own operational rules according to their respective cultural contexts.

As that debate turned out, delegates to last year’s General Conference eliminated the UMC’s anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions without needing regionalization.

Almost overlooked in debates about regionalization, inclusiveness and racism was the amendment that standardizes educational requirement for those eligible to vote for clergy delegates to General Conference. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, which proposed the legislation, said the amendment’s intent was to ensure clergy delegates had sufficient education to understand and adapt the UMC’s theology and polity. Some opponents contended the high-level educational requirement disenfranchised non-seminary-trained local pastors.

UMC now has 8 regions

The UMC is now divided into eight regional conferences: Africa, Congo, West Africa, Central & Southern Europe, Germany, Northern Europe & Eurasia, Philippines, and the United States. Each region now has authority to craft its own operational rules, including whether to accept LGBTQ+ people as ordained clergy and to allow UMC clergy to perform same-sex marriages.

“This has been called the most significant structural change in the church since the merger of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968 to form The United Methodist Church,” Judi Kenaston, chief officer for the ministry coordination body, the Connectional Table, told UM News. “Regionalization is the opportunity to de-center the church so that it isn’t a U.S.-dominated church but that United Methodism in every region is a unique expression of the church.”

The Connectional Table worked with the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters and the Council of Bishop to craft the proposal that was ratified Nov. 5.

Moves toward restructure rather than schism began in late 2019 after a special General Conference tightened the UMC’s anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions. The movement also rejected a negotiated proposal to divide the UMC according to theological differences over LGBTQ+ acceptance.

Regionalization emerged in a statement called the Christmas Covenant, a church unity proposal from Philippines United Methodists. The Christmas Covenant and the separation proposal were to be voted on at the 2020 General Conference, the UMC’s top legislative assembly, but were delayed three times by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Those delays, along with declining support for the negotiated splintering, led to the UMC’s division that began in May 2022 with creation of the traditionalist Global Methodist Church. Since then, more than 7,500 churches have “disaffiliated” from the UMC, but not all joined the GMC.

When the 2020/2024 General Conference finally voted on regionalization in May 2024, the Christmas Covenant had been adapted by the UMC’s ministry coordinating body, the Connectional Table, in consultation with the Council of Bishops and the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters. The latter body represented United Methodist interests outside the United States.

“In all things, the amendments require regional conferences to comply with national laws and not stray from the Articles of Religion and Confession of Faith that contain the denomination’s doctrines, including belief in Christ’s resurrection, the Trinity and the sacraments of baptism and communion,” reported Heather Hahn of UM News. In passing the amendments originally, General Conference designated nonadaptable parts, listed in the Discipline’s Paragraph 101, are: the Constitution, “Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task,” “The Ministry of All Christians,” and “The Social Principles.”

U.S. bishops must name a committee that will be responsible for creating a U.S. regional conference including whether the United States region should continue to have jurisdictions, Hahn reported. Currently there are five multi-state jurisdictions: Northeastern, North Central, Southeastern, South Central and Western. Jurisdictions are a holdover from the racially segregated structure that resulted from a 1939 three-way merger that created the UMC’s predecessor Methodist Church. Opponents said regionalization would put an added bureaucratic burden on U.S. jurisdictions.

Amendments' supporters rejoice

Jubilation broke out among United Methodists Nov. 5 after the vote totals were announced.

Benedita Penicela Nhambiu of Mozambique, who has promoted approval of the legislation, told UM News: “We celebrate this historic and successful ratification of Worldwide Regionalization as a powerful affirmation of the worldwide United Methodist connection.” Nhambiu said approving regionalization moves the UMC “into an equitable era where every region is an empowered partner.”

In the bishops’ vote tally announcement, council president Bishop Tracy S. Malone said, "The ratification and certification of these constitutional amendments mark a defining moment in the continuing renewal and unity of The United Methodist Church. These amendments reflect the church’s rich diversity and deep commitment to live more fully into our shared mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and strengthen our worldwide connection to serve faithfully and inclusively in every context.”

To facilitate explaining the changes in annual conferences and local churches, United Methodist Communications announced resources to help local churches explain the amendments and their effects on the denomination. Printable talking points in three of the UMC’s official languages – English, French and Portuguese – are available.

The General Commission on Religion and Race, which championed both regionalization and strengthening the UMC’s racial justice commitment, issued a celebratory statement:

“Article V (on racial justice) moves beyond recognition to action,” said the Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo, the commission’s top executive. “It commits the denomination to eradicate racism in all its forms, dismantle systems of privilege and oppression, and lead transformation within both the Church and society through education, advocacy, and accountability. It positions the Church to live out its mission as a diverse and inclusive body that reflects the kin-dom of God—a community where all people are valued, loved, and free to flourish.”

The UMC’s Disability Ministries Committee, supervised by Religion and Race, also celebrated passage of Article IV on inclusion, “emphasizing its impact on accessibility and belonging across the denomination,” according to a press release.

“As co-chairs of the Disability Ministries Committee, we rejoice in the passage of Paragraph 4, Article IV, adding the words ‘gender’ and ‘ability’ to the Constitution of the UMC!” said the Rev. Melinda Baber and the Rev. Mimi Luebbers, co-chairs.

“This amendment will help ensure that people with disabilities are no longer excluded from the church. This amendment recognizes that disabled people belong as full members in the body of Christ,” they said. “We look forward to all the ways that God will continue to work in and through our UMC to bring about inclusion and true belonging for those with disabilities and those who accompany them!”

The Rev. Dr. Israel (Izzy) Alvaran of LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Reconciling Ministries Network said, “This moment calls us to reimagine connectionalism through gracious engagement  and reciprocity. Worldwide Regionalization is more than a structural change—it’s a spiritual invitation to embody mutuality, equitable partnerships, and hope for respectful dialogue across all regions of our church.” Reconciling Ministries has advocated for full gender inclusion of United Methodists for 40 years and supported the amendments.

(“Connectionalism” is the UMC’s structure in which local churches are linked to one another and the wider denomination through units known as annual conferences.)

Another progressive advocacy group, Methodist Federation for Social Action, noted that decades of work for equitable governance and racial and gender inclusion lay behind the amendments’ ratification.

“And yet, we know that ratification is not the finish line,” said Bridget Cabrera, the unofficial social-action association’s director. “These commitments now call for lived accountability — in our policies, our pulpits, and our pews.

“Together, we press on toward a more just church and a more just world,” she said.

Cynthia B. Astle is Editor and Founder of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011 as a media channel to amplify news and views of under-served and marginalized United Methodists.