A Public Call to Lift the Prolonged Suspension of Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

by

March 16, 2023

We, leaders and members of ethnic caucuses of California-Nevada Annual Conference as well as national ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church, are putting out this public call because our letter of request (Exhibit 1) to the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy to lift the unprecedented, prolonged suspension of our Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño was met with silence. We are now left with one option, and that is to go public.

It is in order to present to you a chronology of the events which leads to this public call.

  1. On March 9, 2022, the Western Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy and the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops announced that Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the San Francisco Episcopal Area has been placed on leave from episcopal responsibilities after they received two complaints against her (Exhibit 2). But the announcement did not describe the nature of the complaints; instead, the name of the bishop was made known to the public, while the names of the complainants were kept confidential. The announcement stated that under the church law a bishop may be suspended for a period not to exceed 60 days. But the announcement did not cite which section of the church law.  Apparently, the church law mentioned in the announcement must be Paragraph 413.3a in the 2016 Book of Discipline (Exhibit 3).  The announcement said that the bishop “shall receive full pay and benefits during that time while the allegations are under review” and “the aim of which is to work toward a just resolution.” 

However, we noted that the action for change of status of Bishop Minerva Carcaño was taken prior to the establishment of the Administrative Review Committee which was required to review the disciplinary procedures. Paragraph 539 in the 2016 Book of Discipline (Exhibit 4) clearly states that the only purpose of the Administrative Review Committee “shall be to ensure that the disciplinary procedures for any involuntary action recommended by the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy are properly followed. The entire administrative process leading to the action for change of status of the bishop shall be reviewed by the administrative review committee, and it shall report its findings to the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy and the jurisdictional conference prior to any action by those bodies.” Therefore, changing the status of the bishop, from active to suspension, before the establishment of the Administrative Review Committee is clearly a violation of the fair process.

  • On March 17, 2022, the Methodist Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino Americans (hereafter “MARCHA”) wrote and posted an open letter (Exhibit 5) to the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops, “MARCHA is puzzled by the decision of the Western Jurisdiction’s College of Bishop to suspend Bishop Carcaño while a special committee investigates the complaints related to the suspension. This action raises concern as a prolonged process can only produce a negative impact, independently of the result of the investigation.”
  • On March 25, 2022, the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops wrote a letter to MARCHA (Exhibit 6), saying that the process was being followed as outlined in Paragraph 413.3a in the 2016 Book of Discipline (BOD). The letter also stated, “It was for protection from harm for all parties that suspension was put in place. The BOD allows for up to 60 days, but should a just resolution be achieved prior to May 7, the suspension would be lifted.” 
  • On April 6, 2022, MARCHA requested the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops to lift the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño. It says, “MARCHA respectfully requested the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops to lift the suspension of Bishop Carcaño immediately, while the complaint process continued to find a resolution.” (Exhibit 7)
  • May 7, 2022 was the 60th day of the suspension of Bishop Carcaño. The suspension was not lifted.
  • In May 2022, an appeal was sent to the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church, the Church’s highest court.  Paragraph 523 in the 2016 Book of Discipline clearly states, “Any bishop shall have the right of appeal to the Judicial Council.” (Exhibit 8).  This appeal was brought to the Judicial Council after the suspension extended beyond the Book of Discipline's maximum period of 60 days.
  • On September 5, 2022, the Chinese Caucus of California-Nevada Annual Conference realized that their bishop was placed on leave for a long time. They were also told that they cannot talk, visit, or contact her. Thus, they issued a press release to their Bishop Minerva Carcaño (Exhibit 9), hoping that their Bishop would receive it somehow. The press release was emailed to many bishops of our denomination as well as many clergy and lay members of the Annual Conference. Their open letter expressed their admiration of Bishop Carcaño’s episcopal leadership and guidance as well as her care for ethnic clergy, churches and ministries. Their open letter concluded with these words, “Bishop, we miss you, we love you, we pray for you.”
  • On October 25, 2022, Memorandum Number 1450 (Exhibit 10) with reference to the appeal of Bishop Carcaño was published by the Judicial Council, which comprises 9 Members. The majority, 5 of 9 Members, ruled, “Therefore, the Judicial Council declines jurisdiction in this case.” 
  • However, the minority, 4 of 9 Members, disagreed with the majority. In their dissenting opinion, citing various Paragraphs of the 2016 Book of Discipline, including Paragraph 539, the minority stated, “The Bishop’s rights have been violated” and “fair process has been violated.” The minority concluded, “Therefore, we disagree with the majority opinion and believe that the Bishop is entitled to immediate reinstatement to her episcopal assignment.”
  • The minority also noted, “The Bishop that brought this appeal has been subjected to a suspension that was extended beyond the Discipline’s maximum period of sixty days.”
  • Footnote 1 of the majority’s decision stated, “As of the date of the oral hearing in this matter, the Western Jurisdiction has not established the Administrative Review Committee (ARC) despite the fact that ¶ 539 of the Discipline requires it do so. While the pending matter has not and may not reach the ARC, we observe that fair process will require that the ARC be established with members appointed to the same as required by the Discipline.”
  • On October 31, 2022, the 238th day of the suspension of Bishop Carcaño, the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops published “Information regarding the complaint process” (Exhibit 11).  There is new information, and we have some questions.
  •  For the first time we were informed that the complaints brought against Bishop Minerva Carcaño were about “violating the sacred trust of ordained ministry.”  The phrase, “ordained ministry,” gives an impression that clergy might be involved in filing the complaints. Why were the names of the complainant kept secret up to now?  A new benefit, “housing,” which was not listed in the announcement of the suspension of Bishop Carcaño published on March 9, 2022, was added here. 
  •  The Information says, “However, a new suspension was put in place at the request of the Counsel of the Church (¶2704.1c).”  No rationale was given to this new suspension. Paragraph 2704.1c (Exhibit 12) states, “If five or more members of the committee on investigation so recommend, the jurisdictional committee on the episcopacy may suspend the respondent pending the conclusion of the trial process.”
  • Paragraph 2704.1c does not clearly specify a time limit of suspension, while Paragraph 413.3a & 413.3b did limit it to a total of 300 days.  Under this Paragraph, the respondent could be suspended as long as the investigation and trial process take. 
  • The word “may” in legal terms is an expression of possibility. It normally implies some degree of discretion. Given the Judicial Council’s ruling of 5-4 vote, did the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops take the minority opinion and the footnote of the majority’s decision, the violation of Paragraph 539, into serious consideration?  What degree of discretion was used in their deliberation to place a new suspension on Bishop Carcaño, since she has been suspended for 238 days already?
  • This double suspension, the first and the second, will produce a negative impact on Bishop Minerva Carcaño herself.  MARCHA has already voiced out this concern in their open letter dated March 17, 2022, “a prolonged process can only produce a negative impact, independently of the result of the investigation.” 
  • The discretionary language in Paragraph 2704.1c allows the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Committee on Episcopacy to suspend the Bishop as long as the investigation and trial process take. It means that they could suspend Bishop Carcaño indefinitely!
  • On December 22, 2022, the California-Nevada Conference Committee on Episcopacy issued a summary of the process involving Bishop Carcaño’s case (Exhibit 13). It basically reiterated the information provided by the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops on October 31, 2022.  However, there was one new piece of information.
  • It says, “An individual under suspension should not address work related issues, attend meetings, or be in contact with persons affiliated with the organization at any level.”  
  • The new information above, now prohibits Bishop Carcaño from being “in contact with persons affiliated with the organization at any level.”  This confirmed what the Chinese Caucus of California-Nevada Annual Conference had heard, that is, they cannot talk, visit, or contact their bishop.
  • The Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Committee on Episcopacy have said repeatedly that suspension is neither punitive nor a judgment of guilt.  How is the action taken against the bishop as enumerated above, not constitute punitive?  We wonder if the application of punitive in this matter could be viewed or seen by other persons in the same way?
  • Furthermore, Bishop Carcaño is prohibited to “attend meetings.”  Bishop Carcaño is not only a key leader of the denomination, serving on many general boards and agencies, but also a strong advocate for refugees, immigrant rights and human rights (Exhibit 14). She “has testified before the U.S. House of Representative Judiciary Subcommittee on immigration and Border Security.”  Additionally, “A water station in the Sonoran Desert bearing Bishop Carcaño’s name was placed there by the Humane Borders organization in recognition of her efforts to save the lives of immigrants crossing this treacherous land seeking life and hope.”  

The reputation of Bishop Minerva Carcaño in the community at large is well attested!  Given the legacy of Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the prohibition against her as mentioned earlier, is most devastating and hurtful.

  1. On December 28, 2022, nine clergy and lay members of the Filipino American United Methodist in the California-Nevada Annual Conference wrote an open letter to support Bishop Minerva Carcaño as well as to urge the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy to find a just resolution and end the suspension (Exhibit 15).
  1. On January 19, 2023, Rev. Jorge Domingues, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries of California-Nevada Annual Conference, invited Rev. Peter Lau, Rev. Tikiko Lesuma, Rev. Tevita Koroi and Dr. Mary Cheng to a zoom conversation about ethnic ministries (Exhibit 16).  The letter which the leaders of ethnic caucuses drafted and wanted to mail to the President of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Chair of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy was brought up in the conversation. There was an argument over the content of the letter.  Rev. Domingues and Rev. Lesuma wanted Rev. Lau to remove or change the statements that the prolonged suspension of Bishop Carcaño had a negative impact on ethnic ministries and missions in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Dr. Cheng supported them. But, Rev. Lau refused to do so.  The argument escalated, when Rev. Lau felt that he was being accused and framed, he left the zoom meeting instantly.
  2. On January 26, 2023, fourteen clergy and one lay member of various ethnic caucuses in California-Nevada Annual Conference and national ethnic caucuses mailed a letter of request (dated January 20, 2023) to the President of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Chair of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy (see Exhibit 1). The letter concluded with these words, “Therefore, we humbly beseech you to immediately terminate the prolonged suspension of Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño and immediately restore her to her episcopal office and responsibilities.”  As mentioned above, our letter was met with silence.
  3. On February 15, 2023, the Chair of Tongan Mission of California-Nevada Conference sent a letter of endorsement to the President of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Chair of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy to request to immediately terminate the prolonged suspension of Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño (Exhibit 17). His letter was also met with silence.
  4. March 15, 2023 was the 373rd day of the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño.

From the above chronology of the events, these are our candid observations:

1. The Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy and College of Bishops have not addressed the issue of violation of fair process prescribed in Paragraph 539 in the 2016 Book of Discipline: changing status of Bishop Minerva Carcaño [that is, suspension] without first establishing the Administrative Review Committee to review the disciplinary procedures.

2. By prohibiting Bishop Minerva Carcaño from attending meetings and being in contact with persons affiliated with the organization at any level, is in our view, punitive and judgmental. This action has hurt and continues to hurt our ethnic ministries and missions in the California-Nevada Conference as well as nationwide.

3, Placing suspension one after another on Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy and College of Bishops show no intention to restore her to her episcopal office. This, in our view, is considered an indefinite suspension.

4. Providing Bishop Minerva Carcaño, full pay salary, benefits, and housing during the time of suspension is not the issue. The issue is that the prolonged suspension has damaged the reputation of Bishop Minerva Carcaño and has discredited her faithful years of services and contributions to the California-Nevada Annual Conference.

5. The Judicial Council, the United Methodist Church’s highest court, declined jurisdiction in Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s case. Therefore, the door of appeal to challenge her suspension is closed.  We are now left with one option, call on the members of our conference and the United Methodist Church to join us to appeal for the lifting of Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s suspension. 

We are fully aware that there might be some reactions because of our position in bringing Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s case to the public square. But our Church advocates social justice and fair process.

Respectfully,

Rev. Dr. Peter K. Lau, Chair, Chinese Caucus of California-Nevada Conference

Mrs. Norma M. Betancourt, CML, Secretary, El Caucus Hispano of California-Nevada Conference

Rev. Gail Chiew, Vice Chair, Chinese Caucus of Chair, California-Nevada Conference

Rev. Sifa Hingano, Tongan Mission of California-Nevada Conference

Rev. Debbie Dillon, Clergy of California-Nevada Conference, Clergy member of Filipino Cauc

Rev. Alex Cambe, Clergy of California-Nevada Conference, Clergy member of Filipino Caucus,

Rev. Johann M. Osias, Clergy of California-Nevada Conference Member of Executive Committee, Clergy member of Filipino Caucus,

Rev. Dr. Joel Hortiales, Clergy member of Filipino Caucus MARCHA-NATIONAL

Rev. Lyssette Perez, President of MARCHA-NATIONAL, Clergy of California-Nevada Conference

Rev. Emilio Sazon, Clergy member of Filipino Caucus, California-Nevada Conference

Rev. Charles Tran, Chair, Vietnamese National Caucus President of MARCHA-WEST

Rev. Jorge Rodriguez Vazquez, Clergy of California-Nevada Conference

Attached are the 17 Exhibits attached to "A Public Call to Lift the Prolonged Suspension of Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño" in PDF format, a total of 45 pages.