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General Conference 2020

Judicial Council
United Methodist bishops process into the opening worship service for the 2019 special General Conference in St. Louis. The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, released a memorandum that clarifies an earlier ruling on bishop elections. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Church court modifies ruling on bishop elections
The United Methodist Judicial Council has modified an earlier ruling to say that newly elected U.S. bishops will take office on Jan. 1, 2023.
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.
Social Concerns
Kendra Weddle. Photo courtesy of the author.

Let’s love our neighbors
Growing up in a traditionalist church but now on staff at a reconciling congregation, Kendra Weddle feels there is room at the table for everyone.
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.

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