Dear Friends and Members of California-Nevada Conference,
Greetings from Geneva, Switzerland. As part of being the Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, I went from the North Central Jurisdictional Conference to a World Council of Churches’ meeting where I write this message.
As you know by now, Bishop Minerva Carcaño, your resident bishop, was reassigned to the California-Nevada Annual Conference effective January 1, 2023 at the conclusion of the Western Jurisdictional Conference. She is still on suspension although her suspension is being reviewed by the Committee on Investigation (which is the entity that suspended her after the first 60 days). We await their decision and if necessary the College of Bishops will act accordingly, making sure that there is episcopal coverage for the California-Nevada Conference.
Even though I am so far away from you this week, I can sense the strong emotions, confusion about the process, and continuing uncertainty. Many feel fearful and others angry; some uncomprehending or not really caring while others are deeply affected and vigilant. While not to diminish anyone’s feelings or perspective, all of this creates such a distraction from the vital ministry each of you and your congregations are called to as you share the good news of Jesus Christ through acts of mercy and justice as well as hope and healing. That’s perhaps what grieves me the most.
No matter how you feel about the situation, the best thing you can do is to remain focused on sharing love and grace to one another and to those who are hurting in our communities.
Depending upon what happens in the near future with Bishop Carcaño’s status, I will be considering the best ways to strengthen the conference during this time. I have come to care deeply about you and your witness to our faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ. As I’ve said before, I urge you to pray for all closely involved with the complaints, including Bishop Carcaño, but also all the churches and clergy in this annual conference so that our differences will not separate us from each other. So I leave you with this scripture:
I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. – (Ephesians 4:1-6)
I’ll be in touch soon as I have more information and direction. In the meantime, I pray for you all.
Sincerely,
Sally Dyck