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Judicial Council

General Church
Members of the 2024-2028 Judicial Council are (front row, from left) the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday; the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, president; the Rev. Angela Brown, secretary; and Molly Hlekani Mwayera; (back row, from left) Bill Waddell; Andrew Vorbrich; the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen; the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran; and Harriett Olson. The Judicial Council released decisions from its spring docket on April 29. Photo by Linda Bloom, UM News.

Megachurch’s closure improper, ruling says
The Dakotas Conference’s vote to let the multicampus Embrace congregation leave with property violated church law, said The United Methodist Church’s top court.
Judicial Council
A congregation’s trustees cannot prevent their pastor from using church facilities to perform a same-sex wedding, The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled in Decision 1516. The ruling was one of two decisions released by the Judicial Council on April 29. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News.

Ruling: Same-sex weddings solely up to pastors
The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that a congregation’s trustees cannot prevent their pastor from using church facilities to perform a same-sex wedding.
Judicial Council
Map of U.S. jurisdictions, episcopal areas and annual conferences by United Methodist Communications

Court rules against bishop-assignment guidance
The United Methodist Church’s top court said a committee’s recommendation for a bishop to serve in two jurisdictions went beyond what General Conference approved.
Judicial Council
Members of the 2024-2028 Judicial Council are (front row, from left) the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday; the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, president; the Rev. Angela Brown, secretary; and Molly Hlekani Mwayera; (back row, from left) Bill Waddell; Andrew Vorbrich; the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen; the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran; and Harriett Olson. The Judicial Council released decisions Oct. 29. Photo by Linda Bloom, UM News.

Church court: Season of church exits is over
The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that a church closure cannot be used as a method of disaffiliation. The Judicial Council also struck down changes to church-closure law.

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