In a February meeting in Copenhagen brought together more than 80 United Methodist leaders from four continents to press forward with a years-long effort to revamp the Book of Discipline, the denomination’s main policy book. The leaders want to make clear what parts of the Discipline bind all United Methodists together and what parts can be adjusted by the church’s different geographic regions.
That work has only grown more urgent now that United Methodist voters have ratified regionalization.
The restructuring creates nine regional conferences with equal authority to adapt the Discipline — the eight former central conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines and a newly created regional conference that encompasses the entire United States. With ratification, there are now four regional conferences in Africa, three in Europe, one in the Philippines and soon-to-be one in the U.S.
Making Regionalization Practical
Ultimately, the leaders hope their work will make the idea of regionalization into a practical reality for how United Methodists carry out ministry worldwide.
Bishop Harald Rückert, who chaired the gathering, explained the assignment to the congregation of Jerusalem United Methodist Church, where the international church leaders worshipped Feb. 8.
“Basically, we are tasked to try to help our church move into the future where we grant each other in our connection more freedom to do mission in a way that really addresses the needs of our context,” the German bishop said.
He added that the goal is “to grant us this freedom and at the same time stay together united as one United Methodist Church.”
The work in Copenhagen eventually will result in legislation that will be up for approval by the next General Conference, which is scheduled to meet in 2028.
The denomination’s top lawmaking assembly, in the Discipline’s Paragraph 101, authorized the leaders to propose what’s being called the General Book of Discipline that truly applies worldwide.
Working Towards a Universal Book of Discipline
The hope is that the work will result in a slimmer, more universal Discipline that doesn’t set up U.S. church policies as the default around which United Methodist regions in Africa, Asia and Europe must adapt.
Leading the work is the group Bishop Rückert chairs — what is now called the Standing Committee on Regional Conference Matters Outside the USA (previously the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters). The group is a permanent legislative committee of General Conference that meets between sessions. It is the only church body with a majority of its members from outside the U.S.
Assisting the work on the General Book of Discipline are members of the Connectional Table, the denomination’s Committee on Faith and Order and leaders of the Study of Ministry Commission.
Together these church leaders are developing the proposals that the standing committee ultimately will submit to General Conference.
The standing committee plans to make final decisions on its legislation to General Conference at its next in-person meeting in February 2027.
Now with the ratification of regionalization, a new U.S. regional conference will have the opportunity to put together its own supplement.
The church leaders in Copenhagen expressed their prayers and support as United Methodists in the U.S. embark on de-centering themselves.
Rückert, the chair, said that what touched his heart most about the gathering wasn’t the work being accomplished but the way United Methodists from very different regional contexts did the work together. Even as the denomination allows more autonomy in its different regions, he sees signs that leaders worldwide are drawing closer together in their sense of mission.
Your Generosity Can Continue the Work
By supporting the General Administration Fund apportionment you help support the implementation and administrative oversight for all General Conference sessions. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the General Administration Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor for UM News
This story shows the impact of the General Administration Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to maintain the structures that keep the Church connected, transparent, and accountable. Your church’s support enables the coordination of General Conference, the Judicial Council, and other systems that ensure integrity and stewardship in our shared mission.
When your church supports the General Administration Fund, you help the Church steward its resources wisely and live out its mission with integrity.
