On May 10, 2000, The Genera1 Conference of the United Methodist Church, which meets only once every 4 years, voted 679 to 1 I to declare that the "continuing disenfranchisement of the citizens of the District of Colurnbia is an egregious moral wrong, which must be rectified" and called for "the provision of full democratic rights to the people of the District of Columbia." The body declared its "full support" for District enfranchisement noting that "the Social Principles contained in the United Methodist Book of Discipline state that the 'form and the leaders of all governments should be determined by exercise of the right to vote guaranteed to all adult citizens,' and further, that the strength of a political system depends on the fuil and willing participation of its citizens.'"

The body met in Cleveland, Ohio, starting May 2 and concluded business on May 12, 2000.

The Resolutian, based in large part on United Methodist principles and tradition, was originally drafted by the Democracy Project, a social justice mission of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C In June 1988, that Resolution was approved by an overwhelming margin by the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference&emdash;the legisiative body goveming the United Methodist Churches of the District of Cohunbia, the State of Maryland (except the Eastern Shore) and parts of the West Virginia panhandle. From there, the Resolution went on to General Conference for its 2000 session.

Joseph Sternlieb, President of DC Vote stated, "We applaud the United Methodist Church for its leadership on this critical moral issue; we now expect many national denominations to follow their lead and join our effort for full voting representation in Congress for the citizens of Washington, DC."

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