In the spring of 1968 after many years of prayer, exploration, negotiation, and planning, several branches of our Wesleyan family merged. The Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren became a new denomination - The United Methodist Church.

The uniting conference was held that spring in Dallas and the first meeting of this new denomination’s “Council of Bishops” took place in November 1968 in Chicago. The Council of Bishops is made up of the active and retired Bishops of the denomination from around the world.

They give leadership to 12 million persons in a broad range of settings on four continents, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Historically, bishops play an important leadership role in ordering the life of the church and helping set the direction to fulfill its mission in the world. All bishops share in teaching, equipping, and encouraging mission and service. They serve as shepherds of the entire church, providing a prophetic witness for justice and unity. All bishops are members of the Council of Bishops, which collectively is charged with the general oversight and promotion of the temporal and spiritual interests of the entire church. The work of this Council of Bishops is to “speak to the Church and from the Church to the world and to give leadership in the quest for Christian unity and interreligious relationships.” (The United Methodist Book of Discipline ¶427.2.)

For the first time in 50 years, the Council of Bishops will return to Chicago at another historic moment in our denomination’s life. We do not know why Chicago has been bypassed for this biannual meeting these past 50 years. I’m certain Chicago was a wonderful host in 1968, but after a long hiatus, we are honored to be the site for the 2018 spring meeting, April 29-May 4.

Planned by the general church and led by the Bishops themselves, most of the working sessions are not open to the public. Northern Illinois will, however, provide airport greeters, hotel hosts, and support while the bishops are in our area. In addition, some local church musicians from Geneva United Methodist Church and Urban Village Church, as well as the youth choir from Chicago: St. Mark, Sounds of Judah, will participate in the opening worship. We will also be given a few minutes on Sunday evening to share stories of our conference’s work with the gathered bishops featuring the ministry of Urban Village and Latino/Hispanic development.

Many eyes will be on this session of the Council. Since a difficult and divisive General Conference in 2016, bishops have been working with the Commission on the Way Forward to study and recommend ways to reconcile denominational differences on human sexuality. The commission, a 32-members group, has been meeting for two years and will bring a final report to the council. They are focused on suggesting a way forward through the differences that exist in our denomination.

The Chicago Council meeting is the final gathering of the bishops where they will decide on a report to present to the Special Session of General Conference called for February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri, which will be voted on by the delegates. Many people from around the world will be focused on this Council of Bishops meeting as we await their recommendations. A final report will be released in early July.

All of Northern Illinois Conference is invited to hold the bishops in prayer as they deliberate and discern the way forward for our denomination.