Council of Bishops
Looking Forward to General Conference
The Rev. Darryl W. Stephens provides a summary of what's coming at the special 2019 General Conference in February in St. Louis, Mo. Read more
Bishops Sound Alarm About Surge in Racism
The full Council of Bishops has committed itself to dismantling racism across the church, especially in the United States, after African-American bishops decried the politics of hatred taking place in America. Read more
Bishops Called to 'Scriptural Imagination'
In the midst of turbulent times, Bishop Kenneth Carter encouraged the Council of Bishops to try to view The United Methodist Church's future "through the lens that Scripture gives us." Read more
Court Ruling Propels GC2019 Strategizing
The Judicial Council didn't endorse any of the three models from the Commission on A Way Forward's report, but ruled on the constitutionality of petitions related to the options. Now comes the strategizing by plan backers. Read more
Court: One Church Plan Largely Constitutional
The Judicial Council's unanimous ruling clears the way for the One Church Plan -- the model recommended from the Way Forward report – to proceed to the special 2019 General Conference in February. Read more
United Methodist Bishops Call for Prayers of Peace in Zimbabwe
United Methodist bishops call for prayers for peace in Zimbabwe as violence breaks out following the first national election since President Robert Mugabe was deposed in 2017. Read more
What Is This ‘Local Option?’
Retired Bishop William B. Lewis explains how the idea of "local option" on human sexuality actually conforms to United Methodist law, which reserves to annual conferences and local congregations certain responsibilities in ministry. Read more
How I Understand the Bishops' Recommendation
The Rev. Lloyd T. Nyarota sees the Council of Bishops' Way Forward recommendation as a call for all United Methodists to discuss what it means to be the church across lines of difference. Read more
Court Ruling Spurs Competing Interpretations
United Methodists are now trying to determine how best to submit legislation pertaining to the Way Forward report to the 2019 General Conference. Read more
Bishops, The Upper Room Launch Phase 3 of Praying Our Way Forward
The latest emphasis asks United Methodists to pray daily for the 2019 General Conference on unity. Read more
Beware the Spirit of Inquisition
The Rev. F. Richard Garland finds the atmosphere now abroad in The United Methodist Church reminds him of the "spirit of inquisition" against which author Kathleen Norris warns. Read more
Bishops' Action Leads to Questions
Bishops, especially Bishop Scott Jones of the Texas Conference, are giving different accounts of what the Council of Bishops voted to forward to the 2019 General Conference. Read more
How’s The Church at Ephesus Doing Today?
The Rev. Richard Lowell Bryant compares the churches of Paul's letters to today's United Methodist Church. Read more
Where Do We Go from Here?
The real issue for the 2019 General Conference isn't homosexuality or even unity, it's domination, writes Cynthia B. Astle. Read more
Mike DuBose Mike DuBose, UMNS
Bishops' Proposal Garners Range of Responses
The Council of Bishops' proposal to adopt the "One Church" model on United Methodist unity gets few full endorsements and lots of doubts. Read more
Bishops Back 'One Church' Plan for Way Forward
The United Methodist Council of Bishops wants to give annual conferences, congregations and pastors the authority to decide their own stances regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the life and ministry of the church. Read more
What the Bishops Really Did
Bishop Bob Hoshibata explains to the Desert Southwest Conference what actions the Council of Bishops took in regard to the report from the Commission on A Way Forward on three church unity models. Read more
Bishops Announce Constitutional Amendment Results
United Methodist bishops have confirmed that three of five proposed constitutional amendments have been adopted by the required two-thirds majority of aggregate voting by annual conferences worldwide. Read more
Photo Courtesy of Bishop Laurie Haller
Women Bishops Issue Pastoral Letter on Amendments' Defeat
The women bishops of the United Methodist Council of Bishops express the full body's dismay at the narrow defeat of two constitutional amendments intended to protect the status of women and girls in church and society. Read more
The Odd Persistence of Ritter's Two-Class Methodism
The Rev. Jeremy Smith takes issue with the Rev. Chris Ritter's proposal on "A Way Forward," saying it turns progressive United Methodists into second-class citizens. Read more
United Methodist News Service Photo by Mike DuBose
United Methodist Bishops Call for a 'Clean Dream Act'
United Methodist bishops are calling on Congress, as a matter of faith, to enact a law to protect undocumented young immigrants brought to the United States as children. Read more
UM Insight Screencap
Bishops Extend Christmas Greetings
In a Christmas message to the people of The United Methodist Church on behalf of the Council of Bishops, Council president Bishop Bruce Ough reminds us that disruptions in our lives are sometimes God's call for us to make room for Him. Read more