There are voting and non-voting delegates to the GYPC (¶1210 Section 3 of the UMC Book of Discipline).

The UMC Book of Discipline provides that “membership to the Legislative Forum shall be inclusive.” In electing delegates to the GYPC, jurisdictions and central conferences are encouraged to be mindful of inclusive representation in terms of race/ethnicity, gender, geographic location, and annual conference/episcopal area membership. In addition, the process for electing the delegates should be clear, transparent and well-publicized to the concerned youth, young adults, and adult workers.

Voting Members.
Voting Members participate in the discussions during the Legislative Forum and vote on matters requiring a vote. The voting members are elected in the year preceding the GYPC. Delegates to the 2018 GYPC need to be elected this year (2017).

From the Jurisdictions:

· 5 youth (ages 12-18, at the time of GYPC)

· 5 young adults (ages 19-30, at the time of GYPC)

· 2 adult workers

In the Jurisdictions, the delegates are chosen through a process outlined by each Jurisdictional Young People’s Ministry (¶1210 Section 3 of the UMC Book of Discipline).

From the Central Conferences:

· 5 Youth (based on the age definition of the Central Conference at the time of GYPC)

· 5 Young Adults (based on the age definition of the Central Conference at the time of GYPC)

· 2 Adult Workers

Youth, young adult, and adult worker delegates from the Central Conferences shall be elected by Central Conference youth or young adult organizations. In case there is no Central Conference youth or young adult organization, a Central Conference standing committee on young people’s ministry may elect the delegates to the GYPC (¶547 Section 4 of the UMC Book of Discipline).

The process for choosing delegates should be clear, fair, and well publicized among youth, young adults, and adult workers. It should also take into account the need to be inclusive in terms of race and ethnicity, gender, geographic location, and annual conference/episcopal area membership.

Adult workers elected as official GYPC delegates are expected to serve as chaperones for the youth in their delegation. Non-voting delegates may also attend the GYPC and participate in discussions, but they will not be able to vote.

Non-voting members.
Non-voting members may have voice, but are not able to vote.

· Youth and young adult members of the general agencies

· Members and staff of the Division on Ministries with Young People

· Additional members from jurisdictions, central conferences, and ecumenical partners.

Registration for the 2018 GYPC will open on October 30, 2017.