Support UM News on World Press Freedom Day: Give to help sustain and expand the storytelling capacity of UM News. Your donation today will transform information into inspiration and ensure we can continue sharing stories of God’s work in the world through The UMC. Help us reach our $10,000 goal and keep this vital ministry fair, faithful, trusted and free for all!

Separating the set-aside bishop from the Call to Action

Bishops have a message for General Conference delegates: Don’t confuse the proposed set-aside bishop with the Call to Action restructuring plan.

The confusion is understandable. The Call to Action informational materials say that the chair of the proposed 45-member General Council for Strategy and Oversight will be the Council of Bishops president.

Those materials also advocate for the constitutional amendment submitted by the Council of Bishops that would allow the council the elect an active bishop as president without the usual obligations of overseeing a geographic area. The Call to Action Interim Operations Team also endorsed the amendment.

But nowhere does theactual restructuring legislationspecify that the set-aside bishop be chair of General Council for Strategy and Oversight — only that the chair be a bishop.

Over the past six months, the Call to Action’s proposed consolidation of nine general agencies under a board of 15 has received a great deal of pushback. In the legislation, those 15 board members would report to the General Council for Strategy and Oversight.

But at this point, it looks like even the legislation’s draftersplan to drop the proposed 15 and go instead with the board of 45. Legislation also has been drafted for at leasttwo alternative reorganization plans.

So while restructuring is up in the air, many bishops don’t want the proposed set-aside bishop to be lost in the shuffle or to be abandoned by critics of the Call to Action reconfiguration.

“The set-aside bishop would accomplish exactly what critics of the Call to Action are calling for,” said Arkansas Area Bishop Charles N. Crutchfield, who himself supports the restructuring legislation.

He said having a president with no residential responsibilities would allow bishops to spend more time in their episcopal areas.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
General Conference
The Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa. Photo courtesy of the author.

An appeal to hold General Conference outside US

The United Methodist Church’s top assembly has never met in the central conferences; the decision to hold the 2028 gathering in Minneapolis should be rescinded.
Church Leadership
Caralyn Ware. Photo courtesy of the author.

When the shepherd strays: Addiction and clergy wellness

The United Methodist Church must act at every level to help pastors in crisis and create space for wellness.
General Conference
The Minneapolis Convention Center stands in downtown Minneapolis, Minn. United Methodist organizers plan to make good on the original location of the COVID-delayed 2020 General Conference, choosing Minneapolis as the host city for the next legislative assembly scheduled for May 8-18, 2028. Photo by Dan Anderson, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis. (www.minneapolis.org)

Minneapolis chosen for 2028 General Conference

United Methodist organizers plan to make good on the original location of the COVID-delayed 2020 lawmaking assembly. They also hope to make up the budget deficit from earlier sessions.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved