The United Methodist Judicial Council dealt with questions about what conference statements about LGBTQ people are aspirational and what go beyond the boundaries of church law.
The United Methodist Judicial Council released nine rulings dealing with such matters as the eligibility of some churches to exit and the role of conference trustees in setting the terms for disaffiliation.
The Judicial Council ruled that a much-debated church law can only be used to deed and transfer church property to another denomination with which The United Methodist Church has an existing agreement. No such agreement exists with a new breakaway denomination that launched this year.
The United Methodist Church’s top court released the final rulings of its fall docket, including a decision raising constitutional issues with a longtime provision of church law. Looking ahead, the Judicial Council faces more questions related to disaffiliations.
