Understanding Paragraph 4 Article 4 Ballot #2
In this conversation with Rev. Dr. Denise Smartt Sears (Director of Leadership Development and Accountability, United Methodist Church’s General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and an ordained elder and member of the New York Annual Conference) and Rev. Doris K. Dalton (Director of Connectional Ministries, New York Annual Conference) offer details on Paragraph 4 Article 4 Ballot #2
Please listen to the entire podcast, access the resources below, and do the work needed to learn more to inform and affirm your vote at the New York Annual Conference's 226th Annual Conference Session on June 6-8, 2025 in Stamford, Connecticut.
Text of Paragraph 4 Article 4 Ballot #2 approved at General Conference held in 2024
Inclusiveness of the Church - The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, gender, ability, color, national origin, status or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection. In The United Methodist Church, no conference or other organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, status or economic condition.
The amended portion of the Constitution adds ability and gender to existing social categories that clergy in The United Methodist Church cannot use to discriminate against a potential member. Said another way, a pastor may not deny a person membership in the church because they have a disability, are female or male, married or single, young or old.

BACKGROUND

At the Postponed 2020 General Conference, the legislative gathering voted to add the words "gender" and "ability" to Paragraph 4, Article IV of The United Methodist Church's Constitution. Now what? This historic vote now needs to be ratified by all the annual conferences across the worldwide connection. A 2/3 majority vote is required by counting the votes from every voting member.

GCSRW is encouraging United Methodists across the world to better understand why ratifying the United Methodist Constitution to amend Paragraph 4, Article IV to include the words "gender" and "ability" protects membership for all people.

When it comes time to vote at your upcoming Annual Conference session in June, vote "yes,"on Ballot #2 to make sure nobody is excluded from membership in The United Methodist Church for any reason.

RESOURCES

• About Rev. Dr. Denise Smartt Sears

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