Rationale: (¶ 6) The proposed amendment acknowledges God’s action in conferring the gift of the Church by including praying for unity among the tasks of the Church.

On April 30, 2012, at a session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church held in Tampa, Florida, the following Constitutional Amendment was adopted by a recorded vote of 865 Yes, 50 No (Calendar Item 211, DCA p. 2340).  It is now presented to the Annual Conferences for vote.

In the 2008 Book of Discipline, Division One, ¶ 6, Article VI, (2012 Book of Discipline, Division One, ¶ 6, Article VI)) amend by addition as follows:

After “it will” add “pray.” 

If voted and so declared by the Council of Bishops, ¶ 6 (¶ 6) would read:

Ecumenical Relations — As part of the church universal, The United Methodist Church believes that the Lord of the church is calling Christians everywhere to strive toward unity; and therefore it will pray, seek, and work for unity at all levels of church life: through world relationships with other Methodist churches and united churches related to The Methodist Church or The Evangelical United Brethren Church, through councils of churches, and through plans of union and covenantal relationships with churches of Methodist or other denominational traditions.