Annual Conference Legislation Information

Submission of legislation closed on April 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern.

Click here to contact us with any questions regarding legislation.

The below information explains how to submit legislation (Petitions and Resolutions) for consideration at the next Annual Conference Session.  Click here to download a PDF version.

A. Definitions:

1. A Petition is a request for the Great Lakes Annual Conference to take action, make a change, or formally express a position on a particular issue.
2. A Resolution is a request for the Great Lakes Annual Conference to support a proposed change to the Global Methodist Church Book of Doctrines and Discipline. If the resolution is affirmed, the Conference Secretary will submit the resolution on behalf of the Annual Conference. A resolution may still be submitted by the individual if the Annual Conference does not affirm.

B. Who May Submit Legislation

Any lay member, clergy member, or agency of the Great Lakes Annual Conference may submit a petition or resolution for consideration by the Great Lakes Annual Conference.

C. Submissions

1. Petitions must be limited to one issue.
2. Resolutions must conform to any requirements set for the General Conference.
   
3. All submissions become the property of the Great Lakes Annual Conference.
4. Any incomplete submissions will be returned to the submitter. Deadlines will not be extended for incomplete submissions.

D. Methods of Submission

1. Upload a Word (doc, docx, rtf) document
   See below for formatting requirements.
   Other formats will not be accepted.
2. Use the online form.
3. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted.

E. Formatting Word Document (doc, docx, rtf) Submissions

1. Incomplete submissions will be returned to the submitter. Submissions must include all of the following:
2. General Information
3. Date of submission
4. Indication of submission type: Petition or Resolution
5. Information about the person submitting the petition/resolution
6. Full name
7. Clergy or Laity?
8. Phone number
9. Email address
10. Full Address
11. Your Church or Extension Ministry
12. Your Church or Extension Ministry full mailing address
13. Signature
14. The Petition or Resolution
15. Title
16. Text of petition or resolution
17. Rationale (reason for the petition/resolution)
18. Indication of whether or not the petition/resolution has any financial implications to the Great Lakes Provisional Annual Conference, including an explanation of the financial implications if yes
19. Any committees or groups impacted if the petition/resolution is affirmed
20. Use Garamond font, size 12.
21. Do not use the “Track Changes” feature.
22. If the submission changes an existing document:
23. Indicate additions by underlining the text.
24. Indicate deletions using strikethrough.