Marking a Defining Moment for Church Unity and Inclusiveness
Washington, D.C., November 5, 2025: The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (UMC) has officially completed the canvassing and certification of votes from annual conferences on four constitutional amendments approved by the 2024 General Conference. All four amendments have received the required two-thirds majority, confirming their ratification and immediate effect.
According to the Book of Discipline (BOD), constitutional amendments passed by the General Conference must be ratified by annual conferences before taking effect. The Council of Bishops is responsible for canvassing, certifying, and announcing the results.
The final tally of votes from conferences that have already voted shows overwhelming support across the board:
Amendment Total “Yes” Votes Total “No” Votes % Yes Votes
Amendment I 34,148 3,124 91.6%
Amendment II 33,895 2,920 92.0%
Amendment III 33,875 2,989 91.9%
Amendment IV 33,952 2,792 92.4%
While a few annual conferences have yet to submit their results, the Council stated that these remaining votes are not expected to affect the outcome.
The ratified amendments cover the following key areas:
Regionalization—Establishes new regional conferences with equal authority to adapt portions of the Book of Discipline for their respective contexts.
Church Inclusiveness: Article IV is expanded to forbid exclusion from membership on the grounds of “gender” and “ability.”
Racial Justice—Strengthens Article V by recognizing the Church’s role in addressing racism, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy.
Educational Requirements for Clergy—Amends Section VI, Article IV to update the educational requirements for clergy eligible to vote for General Conference delegates.
With the completion of the canvassing process, all four amendments are now officially in force. Bishop Tracy S. Malone, President of the Council of Bishops, described the ratification as a “defining moment” for the Church’s unity and renewal.
“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,” Bishop Malone said. “They strengthen our worldwide connection to serve faithfully and inclusively in every context.”
The Council of Bishops hailed the outcome as a major step forward in ensuring that the United Methodist Church continues to embody inclusivity, justice, and regional equity within its global ministry.
