Court rules One Church Plan largely constitutional
Story by Linda Bloom, Assistant News Editor, United Methodist News Service
A review of
possible plans for the future direction of The United Methodist Church
found the One Church Plan to be largely constitutional, said a decision
released Oct. 26 by the denomination’s top court.
In Decision 1366,
which was unanimous, the United Methodist Judicial Council found more
problems in the Traditional Plan petitions that would need to be
addressed before that plan could pass a constitutional test. Read entire press release on UMNews.org
Statement from the Moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward on Judicial Council decisions
As Moderators
of the Commission on a Way Forward, we are very grateful that the
Council of Bishops asked for a declaratory decision in the
constitutionality of the three plans contained in the Commission's
report. This week during the Judicial Council oral hearings, the
Commission was well represented by three of its members, Rev. Tom
Berlin, Rev. Tom Lambrecht and Mrs. Pat Miller.
We thank the Judicial Council for their diligent work in analyzing the plans and giving guidance to the delegates so they can do their best work. Click here to read the full decision from the Judicial Council
Using the
General Conference legislative process, individual Commission members
will work alongside delegates to think through how all three plans might
be amended based on the analysis of the Judicial Council.
Our prayer
remains the same, that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will use the
work of the Commission to maximize the presence of a United Methodist
witness in as many places of the world as possible. We invite the church
to continue to pray for our church as we seek to make disciples of
Jesus for the transformation of the world.
With the Peace of the Lord,
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball and Bishop David Yemba
Moderators, Commission on the Way Forward
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball and Bishop David Yemba
Moderators, Commission on the Way Forward
Statement from the Council of Bishops regarding the Judicial Council Decision
Story by the Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga, Director of Communications, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church
In service to
the delegates of the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference, the
Council of Bishops asked for a declaratory decision of the Judicial
Council regarding the constitutionality of the three plans contained in
the report of the Commission on a Way Forward.
In a unanimous
decision, the Judicial Council raised questions regarding petitions in
all three plans while finding the One Church Plan, the plan supported by
the Council of Bishops, to be most in compliance with the Constitution
of The United Methodist Church and the Traditional Plan to have
significant constitutional problems. The Judicial Council said that they
did not have jurisdiction over the Connectional Conference Plan. Read entire press release on Mountain Sky website
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