Navigation Back Search
Search

Court to consider GC2019 request from bishops

By Linda Bloom
Feb. 23, 2019 | ST. LOUIS (UMNS)
The Rev. Gary Graves announced that the United Methodist Judicial Council has received a petition for a declaratory decision from the Council of Bishops on the constitutionality petitions. Graves, secretary of the General Conference, made the announcement to the General Conference delegates during the Feb. 23 opening session. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
The Rev. Gary Graves announced that the United Methodist Judicial Council has received a petition for a declaratory decision from the Council of Bishops on the constitutionality petitions. Graves, secretary of the General Conference, made the announcement to the General Conference delegates during the Feb. 23 opening session. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

The United Methodist Judicial Council has received a petition for a declaratory decision from the Council of Bishops regarding the constitutionality of two General Conference legislative items, Petitions 90052 and 90078.

In giving notice of the bishops’ petition, the denomination’s top court set a 3 p.m. CST Feb. 23 deadline for the submission of opening briefs and a 5 p.m. CST deadline for the submission of reply briefs.

Lonnie D. Brooks Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Lonnie Brooks submitted petition 90052, which focuses on chargeable offenses found in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. File photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Petition 90052, submitted by Lonnie Brooks, focuses on chargeable offenses found in the United Methodist Book of Discipline in Paragraph 2702.1b — “practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teaching, including but not limited to ...” The petition makes changes related to the supervisory and just resolution processes.

“This petition appears to cross the separate lines of power between the episcopal, administrative and judicial functions and powers similar to other petitions ruled unconstitutional in Judicial Council Decision 1366,” the bishops’ petition said.

In Decision 1366, the court pointed to possible issues with 17 petitions in the Traditional Plan and a few petitions in the One Church Plan. Judicial Council did find the One Church Plan largely constitutional at that time.

Petition 90078, submitted by the Rev. Maxie Dunnam, refers to the Modified Traditional Plan and would create a global episcopacy committee that addresses complaints against bishops related to chargeable offenses. That petition also “appears to violate the separation of powers doctrine,” the bishops said.

Guidelines on how to prepare briefs can be found on the Judicial Council website. Electronic copies of briefs should be emailed to secretaryjudicialcouncil@gmail.com. 

Bloom is the assistant news editor for United Methodist News Service and is based in New York.

Follow her at https://twitter.com/umcscribe or contact her at 615-742-5470 or newsdesk@umnews.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.

Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Related Tags

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
General Church
The Leadership Gathering, organized by the Council of Bishops, is scheduled to be held Oct. 20-24 at Knox United Church Calgary in downtown Calgary, Canada. Both war in the Middle East and the Ebola outbreak in Congo have brought complications, but the gathering’s organizers are pushing forward with an event aimed at helping The United Methodist Church begin a new chapter. Photo courtesy of Knox United Church Calgary.

Leadership Gathering moves ahead amid challenges
Despite rising costs and visa troubles, organizers are pressing ahead with the gathering intended to help set a new course for The United Methodist Church.
Bishops
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, who leads the Upper New York and Susquehanna conferences, distributes communion to participants during opening worship service on April 23, 2024, at General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Next to him, also distributing communion, is Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr., who is now the Council of Bishops president. A United Methodist leadership body recommends that the U.S. have 34 bishops starting in 2028. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Group advises adding 2 more US bishops
While recognizing The United Methodist Church’s financial constraints, church leaders have approved a recommendation to increase the number of U.S. bishops in 2028.
Human Sexuality
Jan Lawrence addresses Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held July 24-27, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. Lawrence is retiring after serving as Reconciling Ministries Network’s executive director for nearly a decade. Many United Methodists credit her with helping to lead the denomination to a new day. File photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ leader retires after pivotal changes
Jan Lawrence kept United Methodist advocates organized after the denomination strengthened bans against LGBTQ people and helped lead the way toward the longtime bans’ repeal.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved