Rationale: (¶ 40) The proposed amendment gives the power of boundary decisions to jurisdictional and central conferences, bodies that include lay persons. 

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 848 Yes, 57 No (Calendar Item 207, DCA p. 2431).  It is now presented to the Annual Conferences for vote.

In the 2008 Book of Discipline, Division Two, Section VII, ¶ 40, Article I, (2012  Book of Discipline, Division Two, Section VII, ¶ 40, Article I) amend by deletion and addition, as follows:

Delete the first two words, “Changes in” and following “episcopal areas” delete “may be effected” and add “shall be determined” and after “and the central conferences” add  “The authority of jurisdictional and central conferences provided herein is not circumscribed or limited by the authority provided to the College of Bishops to arrange a plan of episcopal supervision.”

If voted and so declared by the Council of Bishops, ¶ 40 (¶ 40) would read:

The number, names, and boundaries of the annual conferences and episcopal areas shall be determined by the jurisdictional conferences in the United States of America and by the central conferences outside the United States of America according to the provisions under the respective powers and pursuant to the respective structures of the jurisdictional and the central conferences.  The authority of jurisdictional and central conferences provided herein is not circumscribed or limited by the authority provided to the College of Bishops to arrange a plan of episcopal supervision.