Articles about developments of alternatives to the present state of The United Methodist Church: discussions of options, other expressions of the Methodist or Wesleyan Way, new alignments, petitions and resolutions approved in annual conferences, etc.
- Analysis by Jeremy Smith below and here.
- Council modifies decision; Bishops take office Jan. 1, 2023
By Heather Hahn May 20, 2022 | UM News
Key Points:
- The United Methodist Church’s top court says that the Council of Bishops can call jurisdictional conferences to elect and assign new U.S. bishops.
- However, the Judicial Council also says that the bishops cannot change the established date of Sept. 1 when church law mandates that newly elected U.S. bishops take office.
- The church court also said the number of bishops approved by the 2016 General Conference for each U.S. jurisdiction remains legally binding.
Church court: Conferences can’t exit unilaterally
The Editor of UM-Insight, Cynthia Astle, has written a great summary email with lots of helpful links for what's happening in the UMC these days. Thank you, Cynthia! (She has given permission to reproduce this piece.)
News about the postponement of the 2020 General Conference:
Well, the resolution to our 50+ year conflict over sexuality (especially "homosexuality"--see this reason for the quotes) has been postponed a third time! First postponed to 2021, then 2022, now 2024. Here's the UMNews story:
Citing long wait times for visas, General Conference organizers announced that The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly — long postponed by pandemic — must wait until 2024.
“We engaged in a fair, thorough, integrity-filled discussion of the alternatives," said Kim Simpson, chairperson of the Commission on the General Conference, in a press statement.
“The visa issue is a reality that is simply outside our control as we seek to achieve a reasonable threshold of delegate presence and participation. Ultimately our decision reflects the hope that 2024 will afford greater opportunity for global travel and a higher degree of protection for the health and safety of delegates and attendees.”
General Conference was scheduled to be in Minneapolis this year. In the press statement, the commission said a new already-secured venue would be announced at a later date as soon as logistical planning is complete....
- Update, January 2022
- Catching Up With The UMC -- and Me
- Neocolonial Manipulations by Good News and WCA Are Resurfacing
- Delegates discuss mapping new church vision
- Wrestling with budget after GC2020 postponed
- Looking at financial impact of GC2020 plans
- New Website and Educational Materials Introduce the Revised Social Principles
- New Era Begins with Resistance, Warnings
- Greater New Jersey Creates New "Discipline"
- Church Future Under Negotiation Before GC2020
- Central Conferences Speak Up Against Dissolution of UMC
- Background and Update on UMC Debate
- Separation Outlook: It's All in the Details
- The WCA: How Did We Get Here?
- Western Jurisdiction's "Fresh" Summit Envisions Inclusive Church
- WCA looks toward new, traditionalist church
- WJ Bishops Promise Safe Harbor, Invite Others To Do Likewise
- Bishop Carter Suggests Moratorium on Trials
- Bishop Carter reflects on journey to GC2020
- Greater New Jersey Conference Chooses a Way Forward
- An Inspiring and Courageous Episcopal Address
- The Filipino UMC Link Between Revival, Unity, and Mission
- A Filipino Experience With Schism
- BIshop Announces "Guiding Coalition" For Future
- Background: Breaking up would be hard to do
- We're Not in Kansas Anymore
- Will Filipinos Resolve the UMC's Three-Way Standoff?
- Leadership Gathering Holds Conversations on UMC Future
- COR Leadership Institute Focuses on Future of UMC
- 'Reform & Renewal' Forces Acknowledge 20 Percent Delegate Drop
- Black Leaders Meet to Discuss Future of United Methodist Church
- The Current Three-Way Standoff in the UMC
- The winding road ahead for United Methodism
- The Bursting of the Methodist Wineskin
- Reflections on Where We Are
- Western Jurisdiction Holds "Fresh United Methodism Summit"
- African Pastor Calls For Honesty in Global Methodism
- Two Traditionalist Arguments that Fall Flat
- Global? Who You Calling 'Global'?
- Papers, Discussions, Research: UM-Insight.org
- Parody Humor; Venn Diagram; First African Reconciling Congregation
- GC2020: Pick Up a Pen, Start Writing
- The struggle for the perfect plan
- State of the UMC: Bloggers weigh in
- The US & the Central Conferences at the UM Scholars Conference
- Speech: Four Words, Three Rules, Two Standards, One Grace
- Commission on General Conference added to confusion
- Bishop Richard Wilke: A plea to the United Methodist Church