Council of Bishops
Why I’m Hopeful …
Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky gives an inside account of the recent Council of Bishops' meeting. Read more
Bishops Plan to Explore 'New Forms of Unity'
Chastened by the results of the 2019 General Conference, the Council of Bishops pledges to listen more to the church and sets up a team to visit and hear ideas for the UMC's future. Read more
The Peril of All These Secret Meetings
The proliferation of secret meetings across the United Methodist Church show how rotten the institution has become, and what future path its members should seek, writes Cynthia B. Astle Read more
Traditionalists, Bishops Talk Church Future
Traditionalist groups requested a meeting with the bishops, which took place in private after previously being announced as a public gathering. Read more
Bishops Begin Meeting in 'Chaotic Moment'
Council of Bishops' President Ken Carter of Florida urged his sister and brother bishops "to welcome unconditionally, walk together and worship constantly" in the face of schism threat. Read more
COB President Calls for Forgiveness in Holy Week Letter
Council of Bishops President Ken Carter invites United Methodists to deeper contemplation of the practice of forgiveness in church life. Read more
UMC Bishops Prepare to Preside at Special Session of General Conference
The Council of Bishops has agreed to a "covenant of presiding" on how they will oversee the work of General Conference 2019 Read more
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
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
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
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
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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