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Format for Petition Submissions
1. All petitions must be submitted digitally by: e-mail, 3.5-inch diskette, CD, or through the General Conference
website.
2. Petitions must be typed, double-spaced. Microsoft Word or any other software that allows files to be saved as
rich-text format (RTF) may be used.
3. The top of each page of the petition should read as follows:
Page Number: (i.e. – “Page 1 of 4”); Suggested Title: (i.e. – “Establish Quorum”); Discipline Paragraph or Resolution Number:
(i.e. “Discipline No. 506”); Financial Implications: (i.e. –
“Financial Implications: ‘None’ or ‘Yes’”)
4. The bottom of the final page of the petition should include:
Date; Signature of the Petitioner; Identification of the Petitioner: (i.e. – “Member of Local
Church”; “Secretary of Annual Conference”);
Phone; Fax Number; E-mail Address
“Each petition must be signed by the person submitting it, accompanied by appropriate identification, such as
address, local church, or United Methodist board or agency relationship.” Telephone numbers must also be
included. “Each petition submitted must identify the individual submitting it, accompanied by identification as
above, and must contain a valid digital mail return address by which the submitter can be reached. Electronic
signatures will be accepted in accordance with common business practice. (¶507.3, The Book of Discipline).
Content of Petition Text
To Amend or add to the Book of Discipline or Book of Resolutions:
5. “Each petition must address only one issue if the Discipline is not affected; if the Discipline is affected, each
petition must address only one paragraph of the Discipline, except that, if two or more paragraphs in the Discipline are so closely related that a change in one affects the others, the petition may call for the amendment
of those paragraphs also to make them consistent with one another.” (¶ 507.2, The Book of Discipline)
6. State action desired, i.e., “Amend ¶ No. __”; “Add new sub-paragraph after ¶ ___”; “Delete ¶ ___ and
substitute the following... ”; “Add new paragraph…; etc.”
7. Use bold for proposed additions and strike through for proposed deletions. If more convenient, double
underlines may be used for proposed additions and single underlines for proposed deletions. Do not submit
petitions that have been prepared by using the "track changes" feature.
8. “All petitions submitted to the General Conference, except those submitted by individual members of The
United Methodist Church and local church groups, which call for the establishment of new programs or the
expansion of existing programs will be invalid unless accompanied by supporting data that address the issue of
anticipated financial requirements of the program.” (¶507.4, The Book of Discipline)
9. Rationale for the petition may be included and may not exceed fifty (50) words for each petition.
Sending Petitions to the Petitions Secretary
10. Petitions may be sent to the Petitions Secretary beginning May 1, 2007. “Petitions must be postmarked by a
national postal service no later than 180 days prior to the opening session of the General Conference.” (¶507.5, The Book of Discipline) This date is October 26, 2007. “If petitions are transmitted by a means other than a
national postal service, they must be in the hands of the Petitions Secretary no later than 180 days prior to the
opening session of the General Conference.” (¶ 507.6, The Book of Discipline) This date is October 26, 2007.
11. Petitions should be submitted within the General Conference website or by email to
petitions@umpublishing.org
12. Petitions (3 hard copies required and 3.5” diskette or CD) may also be submitted via:
U.S. Postal Service to:
Gary W. Graves, Petitions Secretary
United Methodist General Conference
PO Box 85
Beaver Dam, KY 42320-0187
Overnight Carriers (Federal Express, UPS, DHL) to:
Gary W. Graves, Petitions Secretary
United Methodist General Conference
302 N Lafayette Street
Beaver Dam, KY 42320 |
