A request to the General Conference for official action on a topic or issue. A petition to the General Conference may be a request for an amendment to the Constitution, a change in the legislative content of The Book of Discipline, and approval of a resolution, or an approval of a report. Any official organization (local churches, annual conference, general agencies), lay member, or ordained minister of The United Methodist Church has the right to send a petition to the General Conference. Formerly, petitions to the General Conference were known as Memorials. Some annual conferences use the petition format for bringing items to the annual conference for consideration and action.
Source: A Dictionary for United Methodists, Alan K. Waltz, Copyright 1991, Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
