Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News
Court Room
GLENVIEW, Ill. – The church trial of Bishop Minerva G. Carcano is being held in a partitioned section of Wespath Benefits and Investments, The United Methodist Church's pensions agency. The group of people with their backs to the camera are the trial jurors who will decide on the bishop's innocence or guilt. Their identities are protected by order of the presiding judge, retired Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn.
Do not ever let anyone tell you again that our bishops can do whatever they want and are not accountable. That is the current setup for GMC bishops. But United Methodist bishops (and all of us) serve under accountability.
So the next time someone tries to peddle this ever-recurring falsehood, point to the Sept. 19-22 trial of Bishop Minerva Carcaño . A United Methodist bishop was on trial. She was found not guilty on all counts by a jury of United Methodist clergy from outside the conference where she served. If she was guilty, they would have set the consequences. We don’t do accountability by public opinion ginned up by the loudest (and frequently most ill informed) voices.
Make the falsehood promoters tell you the truth. Tell them it is false to say bishops have no accountability. What is true is that people outside the situation think they are smarter than the bishops. What is true is that some bishops are not doing what the critics want. What is true is that church people have adopted the corruption of the culture: if someone doesn’t agree with what you think/want (no matter how little you know about the situation), it is fine to personally attack, insult and demean whoever disagrees with you. What is true is that false attacks have become common practice. What is also true is that this is not the way of Christ.
UM bishops serve under accountability in a carefully constructed system where the whole story can be heard and considered. Accountability is important. Charges can be brought. A fair process is activated for charges with merit. With authority comes accountability in the United Methodist system. Those in authority may not meet your personal preferences — but our system is one of connection and sacrifice with the goal of following Jesus in greater holiness.
Mutual, collective wisdom is at the heart of the goodness (and messiness) of our church. The UMC is not the “my way or we will blister you with personal attacks” of those who falsely undermine our denomination.
I am proud of that.
The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is a retired clergy member of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. This post is republished with permission from her Facebook page.