WASHINGTON – Ending weeks of speculation among church leaders and observers about their intentions, the United Methodist Council of Bishops announced April 10 that it has asked the Judicial Council – the denomination's "high court"– for a declaratory decision on what petitions can be submitted to the denomination’s Special Session of General Conference called for February 2019.
The announcement came several weeks after United Methodist Insight attempted to verify reports a) that the bishops would meet with the Judicial Council in a closed session, or b) that the bishops would request a ruling on whether alternatives to the Commission on A Way Forward recommendation could be presented at the 2019 General Conference.
According to its emails on file, Insight inquired in February and March of both the Rev. Lui Tran, secretary of the Judicial Council, and of the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga, director of communications for the Council of Bishops, about reports of a declaratory request and/or a special meeting. Both spokesmen didn't give specific answers to Insight's direct inquiries; instead, both cited the two bodies' typical processes. Both spokesmen also didn't respond to Insight's follow-up emails requesting clarification of their initial answers.
2016 Book of Discipline
The 2016 Book of Discipline contains the theology, policies and procedures of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
According to Dr. Mulenga's April 10 press release, "the bishops took an electronic vote that affirmed the request made at their February 2018 meeting in Dallas." Officially, the bishops seek a ruling "on the meaning, application, and effect of Paragraph 14 in relation to Paragraph 507 of the 2016 Book of Discipline. Paragraph 14 deals with how a special session of General Conference is called and conducted while Paragraph 507 deals with how and when petitions to General Conference are to be submitted."
The press release continues: "The Book of Discipline states that petitions to General Conference should be received by the petitions secretary or secretary of the General Conference no later than 230 days before the opening of General Conference." Since the special General Conference has been set for Feb. 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis, Mo., this means that any proposal would have to be submitted by July 8, 2018.
Council President Bishop Bruce R. Ough is quoted in the press release: “The intent is to resolve the question of whether additional petitions, beyond the report of the Commission on a Way Forward and the Council of Bishops, can be submitted to the Special 2019 General Conference prior to the convening of the Special General Conference."
The press release also stated: "To help facilitate a timely decision from the Judicial Council, the bishops also voted to ask the Judicial Council to convene a special meeting to address the request for a declaratory decision and any others that might arise from the upcoming April/May Council of Bishops meeting." The Council of Bishops meets April 29-May 4 in Chicago.
Earlier, the Judicial Council announced that it canceled its scheduled Spring meeting to save money because there were only two items on its docket. According to the Council on Finance and Administration, it costs approximately $39,000 to hold a session of the Judicial Council, especially to cover travel costs for the high court's nine members.
There was no word as of April 10 about when the Judicial Council would meet on the bishops' request.
Information from a Council of Bishops' press release was used in this report. Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle contributed to this compilation.