General Conference Memorials enable the entire denomination to hear the voices of those on our ministry front lines. Specifically, Memorials are resolutions which propose to change the content of “The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church,” which in effect changes the governance of our denomination. In addition, Memorials serve as the primary vehicle shaping the conference proceedings and helping the assembly consider important General Church issues.
Referencing the first General Conference of The Wesleyan Church (TWC), General Secretary Janelle Vernon said, “Since 1968, elected peer representatives have prioritized the discernment of God’s will as they considered, discussed and voted on Memorials. It is through Memorials that Wesleyans continue to establish our shared culture, steward our shared history and shape our shared future of faithful witness and mission fulfillment.”
Memorials take a variety of avenues before arriving at General Conference. Some emerge from local church delegates who collectively sponsor a Memorial, submitting it for consideration to their district conferences. Others emerge at the district level, where they are also voted upon by the district conference or the District Board of Administration (DBA). General officers and the General Board of Administration (GB) may also submit Memorials for consideration. After each of these layers, a Memorial is submitted to the General Board, which acknowledges the Memorial as recommended or not recommended, prior to its consideration before the General Conference.
This process is designed to elevate every voice within TWC, allowing multiple individuals to draft Memorials and thereby making room for important issues to be considered by the entire denomination.
General Conference gathers representatives from local churches, regional districts, the denomination and the global church to worship, share stories of God’s work and faithfully consider the business of the church.
Matters to be voted on by the General Conference delegates this May fall into three classifications:
Consent agenda
A consent agenda allows members to vote on multiple items as a group without discussion. This is an efficient way to act upon routine noncontroversial business, like appointing a journal committee to review and approve the minutes of daily proceedings. If a member of the conference feels strongly that an item on the consent agenda needs to be discussed and voted on separately, that person can address the chair and ask that the item be removed from the consent agenda. The request does not need a second and is not discussed (“Robert’s Rules of Order, Third Edition,” paraphrased).
Statutory Memorial
Memorials that seek to amend statutory law (400-7040) deal with such items as finances and local church, district and General Church governance. To adopt, these Memorials require a simple majority vote of the General Conference (“The Discipline,” 155, 1590:4).
Constitutional Memorial
Memorials that seek to amend the Constitution (Constitutional Law: 200-385) must meet two requirements. First, they need a two-thirds majority vote of the delegates of the General Conference. Second, they must be ratified by two-thirds of all the members of the district conferences (“The Discipline,” 145, 1590:1, 2).
Dr. Bud Bence, a TWC historian and retired Indiana Wesleyan University professor, shares, “Our governance procedures pertaining to Memorials endeavor ‘to serve the present age’ by allowing local congregations, districts and denominational leaders to make appropriate changes in our operation and, on occasion, to refine our beliefs and practices. These procedures are designed to assure that changes are carefully considered and express the strong support of the entire church. We seek to be flexible to the changing world in which we live, while preserving the truths of Scripture and the faith of those who have gone before us.”
Some Memorials being considered during 2026’s General Conference include:
- Memorial 138: Colleagues in Ministry “Discipline” Update — This Statutory Memorial updates “The Discipline” by providing definitive language affirming The Wesleyan Church’s equally shared ministry responsibilities.
- Memorial 360: North American General Conference Headquarters Structure — This Statutory Memorial allows the General Superintendent to present a Headquarters’ structure to the General Conference for approval and corresponding general officer nominees for election.
- Memorial 560: Global Partners as a Sending Agency for Network Missionaries — This Statutory Memorial allows Global Partners to function as a missionary sending agency for non-Wesleyan Network Missionaries who align with The Wesleyan Church’s Articles of Religion (210-250) and Guides and Helps to Holy Living (260-268).
In keeping with “Discipline” 1565, only Memorials that have been recommended for adoption by the Committee on Memorials will be read. These Memorials will be presented for adoption in the order that has been decided upon by the committee.
Memorials that come to the General Conference as not recommended for adoption will be referred to by number only and by stating that they are not recommended. Delegates can move for a not recommended Memorial to be read. The motion must be seconded and receive a majority vote to be read for adoption.
Since all delegates have been sent and can access Memorials, the full Memorial title, Whereases, “Discipline” references and originator will not be read unless otherwise requested.
For more information about General Conference, visit wesleyan.org/15thGC. Memorials are posted on this site.
The Wesleyan Church Communications Team
