Judicial Council

The Holston Conference’s Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor embraces the Rev. David Graves following his election as United Methodist bishop at the 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Taylor is among the 11 U.S. bishops who retired last year, and Graves is among the bishops now taking on extra work because of the retirements. The Judicial Council issued a decision May 20, addressing the question of whether jurisdictional conference can meet to elect new bishops. File photo by Annette Spence, Holston Conference.

Ruling opens door for bishop elections in 2022

The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that the Council of Bishops has the authority to call jurisdictional conferences to elect and assign new U.S. episcopal leaders but not to change the date when those new bishops take office.

Judicial Council

Attendees of the 2017 Kentucky Annual Conference in Bowling Green, Ky., raise their arms in prayer during a "Worshipful Work, Plenary." On May 10, The Judicial Council released a ruling that says U.S. annual conferences cannot disaffiliate from the denomination under current church law. File photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News.

Church court: Conferences can’t exit unilaterally

The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that current church law does not allow annual conferences in the U.S. to withdraw from the denomination.

Judicial Council

Church court faces resolutions on LGBTQ inclusion

The Judicial Council released four rulings, two related to conference resolutions about the status of LGBTQ people in the church.

Judicial Council

Church court evaluates bishops’ decisions

The Judicial Council reviewed bishops’ decisions related to annual conference standing rules, General Conference deadlines and equitable compensation for pastors.

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