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Marriage

Judicial Council
Council of President Tracy S. Malone (center), who also leads the Indiana Conference, addresses her fellow bishops and those watching on livestream on May 2, final day of the Council of Bishops 2025 spring meeting in Chicago. The bishops released a statement late that day trying to ease concerns about a Judicial Council ruling on same-sex weddings. Sitting beside Malone, from left, are Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president-designate, and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, secretary. Holston leads the Alabama-West Florida and North Alabama conferences. Photo by Rick Wolcott, Council of Bishops.

Bishops respond to same-sex wedding ruling

United Methodist bishops seek to ease concerns after the denomination’s top court ruled that trustees cannot bar a pastor from officiating at same-sex weddings within church walls.
Judicial Council
A congregation’s trustees cannot prevent their pastor from using church facilities to perform a same-sex wedding, The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled in Decision 1516. The ruling was one of two decisions released by the Judicial Council on April 29. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News.

Ruling: Same-sex weddings solely up to pastors

The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that a congregation’s trustees cannot prevent their pastor from using church facilities to perform a same-sex wedding.
Faith Stories
Sally Ball and Paul Morgan are married at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., on Dec. 30, 2023. Photo by Tim Jackson, courtesy of the Holston Conference.

When Paul met Sally: Volunteers find love

Paul Morgan met Sally Ball amid the dusty archives at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. Almost two years later, after showing up from separate churches to help get the 100-year-old building back on its feet, the two were married in Magnolia Avenue’s sanctuary.
Bishops
Children from the Congo lead the recession of bishops from the Memorial du Centenaire Cathedral in Lubumbashi, Congo, following the opening worship service for the Africa Colleges of Bishops retreat that took place Sept. 2-7. Over 3,000 people attended the service where Council of Bishops president Thomas J Bickerton preached about the power of love in troubling times. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

African bishops tackle regionalization

Conversations at a recent gathering of episcopal leaders in Africa focused on regionalization, possible new episcopal areas and the definition of Christian marriage.

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