NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Individuals and groups wanting to change United Methodist Church policies, procedures or practices have until Nov. 29, 2003, to submit petitions to the denomination's top lawmaking body.
Petitions will be considered by the General Conference during its next meeting, April 27-May 7, 2004, in Pittsburgh, according to the United Methodist News Service.
The General Conference, the only body that can speak officially for the denomination, comprises nearly 1,000 delegates -- half clergy and half lay. After each conference, revised editions of the Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions are released.
General Conference delegates can change anything in the Book of Discipline except the church's constitution. Any recommended changes in the Constitution must be ratified by the annual, or regional, conferences.
Petitions (three hard copies required and a 3.5-inch disk requested) should be mailed to: Gary W. Graves, Petitions Secretary, United Methodist General Conference, P.O. Box 6, Beaver Dam, KY 42320.
Petitions (three hard copies required and a 3.5-inch disk requested) submitted via commercial overnight carriers (Federal Express, UPS, DHL) should be sent to: Gary W. Graves, Petitions Secretary, United Methodist General Conference, 302 N. Lafayette St., Beaver Dam, KY 42320.
Petitions also can be sent by fax to (270) 274-4590 or by e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org.
