UMC bishops agree to call jurisdictional conferences, Nov. 2-5
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to Judicial Council decision 1445, the Council of Bishops (COB) has formally set the dates for regular sessions of the Jurisdictional Conferences of The United Methodist Church (UMC) to be convened November 2-5, 2022. During a special COB meeting held today, the ...
Bishops discern ways for churches choosing to separate from UMC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bishops of The United Methodist Church in their March 15 called meeting discerned pathways for churches choosing disaffiliation and separation. The bishops have met two consecutive weeks to discern pathways forward in these changing times. The bishops affirmed by an ...
Bishops seek ruling on whether an annual conference can exit UMC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on whether an annual conference can separate from the denomination under the provision of the Book of Discipline. During a special meeting COB held via Zoom and ...
Congregations encouraged to vote no on BSA bankruptcy plan
A United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee is encouraging congregations to vote against a proposed Boy Scouts of America (BSA) reorganization plan following months of negotiations that have failed to yield a settlement thus far. United Methodist local churches that have chartered Scout troops or Cub packs ...
Bishops: Act now to end racism and white supremacy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the aftermath of police killings of unarmed Black people, the bishops of The United Methodist Church today called on all United Methodists to act now by using their voices, pens, feet and hearts to end racism. In a statement released by Council of Bishops President Bishop ...
Bishop Harvey makes history as first Hispanic woman to be Council of Bishops president
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Area has made history by becoming the first female Hispanic to be president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. She is also the first woman of color to lead the more than 128 active and retired bishops of the one of the largest ...
In Easter message, bishops urge Christians not to despair in midst of global pandemic
President of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church Bishop Kenneth H. Carter has urged Christians to rely on the power of Easter to overcome the forces of death, division, darkness, and despair in the amidst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. In the Easter message to The United ...
Bishops request declaratory decision from Judicial Council on protocol legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has asked the denomination’s highest court, the Judicial Council, to decide whether the legislation implementing The Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation is constitutional. A diverse group of representatives ...
Reps from across human sexuality spectrum sign agreement for amicable separation
A diverse group of representatives from United Methodist advocacy groups with contrasting views and bishops from around the world has collaborated on a proposed agreement for the separation of The United Methodist Church (UMC) that has the unanimous support of all the parties involved. The ...
African bishops say United Methodist Church will continue, even after 2020 General Conference
MUTARE, ZIMBABWE -- Bishops in Africa have vowed that The United Methodist Church will continue in Africa even after the 2020 General Conference. Therefore, the bishops have resolved not to support any proposed legislation or plans that call for dividing or dissolving The United Methodist Church. “...
Bishops call for discipleship; urge end to white supremacy, xenophobia
In the aftermath of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter is calling for United Methodists to help end white supremacy and xenophobia which he says is fueling a culture of violence. Crosses for each of the victims of a mass shooting...
Bishops call for new ways of embodying unity through mission, relationships
CHICAGO – The bishops of The United Methodist Church will seek to strengthen annual conferences in 2019 through the ministries of sending and missional strategy, Bishop Kenneth Carter, president of the Council of Bishops, said in a statement. In a statement released at the end of the Executive ...
UMC Bishops pose five questions to Judicial Council on Traditional Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (COB) has asked the Judicial Council for a declaratory decision as to the constitutionality, meaning, application and effect of certain petitions adopted as the Traditional Plan by the 2019 General Conference held in St. ...
Bishops offer pastoral word, make key decisions at May meeting
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church completed its May 2019 meeting held outside Chicago with a pastoral and prophetic word in response to the decisions of the Special Session and the codification of some of those decisions in the Book of Discipline. “Bishops are not judges or ...
Council of Bishops writes letter to LGBTQ community
To the People of the United Methodist Church: Grace and Peace to you in these days of Christmas, and at the conclusion of a calendar year. At the fall meeting of the Council of Bishops at St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, bishops approved a motion to send a pastoral letter to the Global LGBTQ ...
Bishops praise release of missionaries from Philippines
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The bishops of The United Methodist Church are praising God that all three of the young UMC missionaries detained by in the Republic of the Philippines have been allowed to leave that country and are now safely reunited with their families. American Adam Shaw reached his parents’...
Translation for commission's final report expected by July 30
NASHVILLE - The final report of the Commission on a Way Forward to the Special Session of the General Conference in 2019 will become available once it has been translated from English into the other three official languages of The United Methodist Church (French, Portuguese, and KiSwahili), ...
Bishops, Upper Room launch Phase 3 of Praying Our Way Forward
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Council of Bishops, in partnership with The Upper Room, is launching Phase 3 of Praying our Way Forward. Phase 1 involved 84 members of the Council of Bishops praying for The United Methodist Church’s way forward for 15 minutes daily, from August to December 2016. This was ...
Commission ends its work; hears bishops’ recommendation for a way forward
NASHVILLE — The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward for The United Methodist Church concluded its ninth and final meeting May 16 in Nashville. The commission met nine times over 17 months. The commission reviewed a wide variety of petitions presented as legislation to previous General Conferences...
Two of five amendments fail to get two-thirds majority
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has completed canvassing the votes of annual conferences on the five constitutional amendments that were approved by the 2016 General Conference. The five proposed amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist ...
Bishops recommend One Church Plan
CHICAGO – United Methodist bishops, meeting in Chicago, engaged in a prayerful process to discern a way forward. At the conclusion of the discernment process, the Council of Bishops strongly approved the following motion and rationale: Having received and considered the extensive work of the ...
The church is watching, waiting, UMC Bishops are told
CHICAGO – United Methodist bishops were reminded April 29 that the church is watching, waiting and wondering if and how they will lead the denomination into the future. At the opening of the 2018 April/May meeting of the Council of Bishops at the Hilton Rosemont Hotel in Chicago, President Bruce R....
Bishops to act on three major issues at Chicago meeting
The Bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet in Chicago from April 29 to May 4 to celebrate leadership through the passing of the gavel, certify constitutional amendments and finalize their recommendations to the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference. The April/May meeting of the ...
Commission completes final report for bishops
Members of the Commission on a Way Forward expressed gratitude at the opportunity to be part of the commission and they signaled hope for The United Methodist Church as they completed their meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 22. Members of the Commission on a Way Forward take part in ...
Methodist leaders optimistic about possible changes
DALLAS -- Several leaders of United Methodist Church-related institutions voiced optimism and are preparing for possible changes in the global denomination that could occur as a result of the Special Session of the General Conference called for February next year. As part of its commitment of ...
Commission on a Way Forward meets March 19-22 to prepare final report
WASHINGTON D.C. – The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward will meet in Los Angeles on March 19-22 to prepare a final report to be submitted to the Council of the Bishops for consideration by the bishops at their April/May meeting. “The Commission is focused on suggesting a way forward that pays ...
Commission on a Way Forward clarifies values as it presents two sketches to bishops
DALLAS -- What is the Christ’s way forward for doing mission and ministry in the worldwide United Methodist Church? That is the question bishops pondered during their February meeting in Dallas this week as they received an updated report from the Commission on a Way Forward. In the report given ...
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