Judicial Council

Judicial Council to review church-exit rules

The United Methodist Church’s top court faces multiple questions related to the deadline for General Conference legislation and a new law allowing congregations to exit with property.

General Conference

Ruben T. Reyes, who was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and a longtime member of the United Methodist Judicial Council, died Sept. 13 at age 82. Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.

Reyes, jurist for nation and church, dies

Justice Ruben T. Reyes served on both the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the top court of The United Methodist Church.

Judicial Council

The Rev. Jessica Winderweedle (right) joins in prayer with other members of the Greater New Jersey Way Forward Team during an Oct. 26, 2019 special session of their annual conference at Brookdale Community College in Middletown, N.J. The United Methodist Judicial Council has issued five decisions related to the bishop’s rulings of law from that session. File photo by Corbin Payne.

Judicial Council releases more decisions

The United Methodist Church’s top court has been meeting via multiple Zoom meetings since late last year.

General Church

A diverse group of bishops and other United Methodist leaders gather for a group photo in Washington after reaching agreement on a proposal that would maintain The United Methodist Church but allow traditionalist congregations to separate into a new denomination. Some of that team are frustrated after the Judicial Council declined to rule on the proposal ahead of General Conference. Photo courtesy of the Protocol Mediation Team.

Lack of ruling adds to protocol concerns

With The United Methodist Church’s top court declining to rule in advance on the proposed separation plan, some are worried what this means for the legislation going forward.

Sign up for our newsletter!

UMNEWS-SUBSCRIPTION