The proposed constitutional amendments to the UMC Book of Discipline voted on last June at the Dakotas Annual Conference in Mitchell, South Dakota., and across the denomination, have been ratified. All four amendments to the United Methodist constitution have passed with approximately 92% of the total votes from annual and central conferences of the UMC. Ratification required a 2/3 majority.

Bishop Lanette Plambeck had this to say about how the amendments will affect our church. "I am hearing an echo of Bishop Rueben Job who said, 'The church changes when love demands it.' Love has demanded this and the church has responded.'”

Our former lay delegate* to General Conference 2024, Rev. Kara Heagel, was surprised at today's news. "My initial reaction to all four amendments being ratified is quite a shock. I recall so many conversations in the past year that it was going to require a lot of education on the constitutional amendments and would be difficult to get the votes to ratify. I am in awe that over 90% of United Methodists worldwide voted to ratify these amendments. It shows our desire to move forward together and work faithfully across the world toward inclusion of all in every context."

Beata Ferris, lay reserve delegate to the 2024 General Conference from the Dakotas, recalls the diligent work put into the legislation.  "The overwhelming approval of the amendments is a clear indicator that The United Methodist Church is looking to move into a new day and season."

Rev. Sara Nelson, senior pastor at Sioux Falls First UMC, and clergy reserve delegate to GC2024 added, "The passage of the Constitutional Amendments is truly good news! But this is only the beginning. As we live into our connection and work together, we trust that God is leading us forward and shaping us into the church God is calling us to be."

For more information on the changes we will be seeing in our denomination, see these resources:

Read today’s press release from the UMC Council of Bishops.
For an overview of the amendments, see this article from last spring.
Read this series of articles on regionalization from Ask the UMC.
Read Regionalization Infographic from UMC.org

*Rev. Kara Heagel is now a provisional elder in our conference, and no longer a lay delegate.