Values and purpose of worldwide regionalization legislation

Legislation to provide for Worldwide Regionalization reflects the strong values of equity, respect for contextual mission settings, effective mutuality in mission, and legislative equality for regional bodies of the church. Recognizing the effects of colonization, the guiding principle for the regionalization legislation is to empower each region to make certain context-specific decisions in real-time, without being dependent on General Conference, as well as de-centralizing the influence of the United States on General Conference.

The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters collaborated with The Connectional Table and The Christmas Covenant team to submit one set of eight revised petitions that call for the creation of a US Regional Conference; amend the Constitution to establish regions around the denomination with the ability to legislate; and creates an interim legislative body in the United States. The legislation also creates a committee to discern other opportunities that emerge from regionalization. Once approved at General Conference, the legislation will require approval in the annual conferences.

The regionalization legislation puts an end to imposing cultural views of one region of the world onto another, fostering a sense of identity and belonging that’s essential in our global connection. By celebrating the diversity of our respective mission settings, regional governance offers a vibrant and hopeful vision for The United Methodist Church now and into the future.

To learn more, view petitions, or see translations, click here. See this issue of the Contact for further reading on regionalization.