Rationale: (¶ 14) The proposed amendment would allow the General Conference to meet at other times during the calendar year on dates better suited for younger delegates and those with parenting responsibilities.

On May 1, 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 731 Yes, 181 No (Calendar Item 205, DCA p. 2430).  It is now presented to the Annual Conferences for vote.

In the 2008 Book of Discipline, Division Two, Section II, ¶ 14, Article II, (2012  Book of Discipline, Division Two, Section II, ¶ 14, Article II)) amend by deletion and addition as follows:

After “shall meet” delete “in the month of April or May” and after “duly authorized committees.” add a new sentence, “The change in the preceding sentence shall become effective at the close of General Conference in 2016.”

If voted and so declared by the Council of Bishops, ¶ 14 (¶ 14) would read:

The General Conference shall meet once in four years at such time and in such place as shall be determined by the General Conference or by its duly authorized committees. The change in the preceding sentence shall become effective at the close of General Conference in 2016. A special session of the General Conference, possessing the authority and exercising all the powers of the General Conference, may be called by the Council of Bishops, or in such other manner as the General Conference may from time to time prescribe, to meet at such time and in such place as may be stated in the call. Such special session of the General Conference shall be composed of the delegates to the preceding General Conference or their lawful successors, except that when a particular annual conference or missionary conference shall prefer to have a new election it may do so. The purpose of such special session shall be stated in the call, and only such business shall be transacted as is in harmony with the purpose stated in such call unless the General Conference by a two-thirds vote shall determine that other business may be transacted.