Petition Text: 20613-GJ-805-D

Understanding Petition Numbers

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Amend ¶805:

1. Nominations by Conferences.--a) ...shall select persons for election to the following general agencies: General Council on Ministries; General Board of Church and Society...

2. General Program Board Membership.--a) Basic Membership.-- [Delete existing text and replace with the following.] Twenty-eight members shall be elected by the Jurisdictional Conferences on a ratio providing for an equitable distribution among the various jurisdictions, based on the laity and clergy membership thereof. The secretary of the General Conference shall calculate the ratios and determine the number of members of each board to be elected by each jurisdiction; provided, however, that no jurisdiction shall be represented by fewer than two members on each board. Primary consideration shall be given to persons with specific expertise in the program areas of the general program agencies. Membership on each board shall be equally divided, as far as practicable, between ordained ministers and lay persons. It is recommended that persons elected by each jurisdiction be inclusive of women and ethnic groups. No other criteria shall be used for general board membership.

b) Episcopal Membership.--The episcopal membership of not less than five three nor more than ten six members...

c) Additional Membership.--(1) United Methodist Members from Central Conferences ---- Additional members shall be elected by each general program board in order to bring into the board persons with special knowledge or background which will aid in the work of the agency, to consider differing theological perspectives, and to perfect the representation of racial and ethnic persons, youth (¶264.2), young adults (¶264.3), older adults (¶264.5), women and men, persons with a handicapping condition, and persons from small-membership churches, and distribution by geographic area. There shall be not less than five nor more than nine additional members of each general program board. It is recommended that such additional membership shall maintain the one-third laymen, one-third laywomen, and one-third clergy balance. In addition, eEach board shall elect six three persons from the Central Conferences, and one alternate for each who may attend if the elected member cannot attend. In the election of the Central Conference members, it is recommended that two be clergy, two be laymen, and two be laywomen.

(2) [Delete.]

3. Other General Agencies.--a) ...those agencies as set forth in The Book of Discipline: General Council on Ministries (¶1007), General Board of Pension...

b) Episcopal and additional members, if any,...The agencies shall consider names forwarded to them by the jurisdictions as having been nominated by the Annual and Missionary Conferences in the United States and Puerto Rico but not elected by the Jurisdictional Conferences to general agency membership. Additional names may be considered in order to perfect the representation as provided in ¶805.2c.

4. ...and Pacific Islanders; all such boards, committees, and agencies whose membership is set forth in the Discipline shall be authorized to elect as many additional members as necessary to meet this requirement.

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Petition Text: 20613-GJ-805-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference