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.
Read MoreAs most of you may know, yesterday the Judicial Council, the nine-member top court of The United Methodist Church, released their rulings from February’s Special General Conference related to the Traditional Plan and disaffiliation legislation.
Read MoreThe United Methodist Church’s top court has found that while some provisions of the newly adopted Traditional Plan remain unconstitutional, the rest of the plan is valid as church law. That was the Judicial Council’s ruling on a requested review of the Traditional Plan, which was approved during a special denomination-wide legislative session in February to strengthen enforcement of bans on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy and same-sex weddings.
Read MoreThe Council of Bishops is inviting the people of The United Methodist Church to be in prayer for the Judicial Council, which is in session this week in Evanston. The Judicial Council will be discussing the constitutionality of matters related to the Special Session of the General Conference held in February.
Read MoreIn response to questions from churches following the Special Session of General Conference regarding designation of apportionment funds, we have changed the NIC apportionment statement. The new statement will provide more information about the ministries supported by your local church, designating contributions to three NIC funds and seven general conference funds.
Read MoreMore than a thousand clergy and laity gathered at three debriefings across the NIC last weekend – overflowing the space in two locations – to learn more about what did and didn't happen at the Special Session of General Conference in St. Louis.
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