The United Methodist Council of Bishops began a new chapter in denominational life by addressing challenges both within the church and around the globe.
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The November meeting marked the first time the denomination’s bishops had gathered since a historic General Conference.
During closing worship, Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone encouraged her fellow bishops to continue to abide with each other in Christ as they face the ministry needs ahead.
The meeting saw bishops address some of what that work entails, including a Wesleyan understanding of mission, a recognition of church finances and care for immigrants after the U.S. presidential election.
Here is an overview of the bishops’ actions.
Retired Bishop Minerva Carcaño, chair of the bishops’ Immigration Task Force, called her colleagues to uphold the denomination’s longtime commitment to migrants, especially after the election of a U.S. president who promises to use the military to conduct mass deportations. She said the task force is assembling resources to help United Methodists stand firm.
The bishops also discussed ongoing concerns about the long-precarious Episcopal Fund, which supports their work and their office staff.
The denomination has reduced its total number of bishops, but the Episcopal Fund is still at risk of going into the red in the future if giving rates do not improve.
Mississippi Conference Bishop Sharma Lewis, who chairs the bishops’ finance committee, announced that the bishops plan to form a task force and invite the finance agency’s staff to discuss ways to improve giving.
The Rev. Paul W. Chilcote — a United Methodist elder, missionary, author and noted scholar of Methodism founder John Wesley — led the bishops in an all-day session on their formational work around the church’s mission.
The bishops moved forward with plans for a leadership gathering in 2026. The bishops want to bring together church leaders from around the globe to pray and discern a vision for the denomination’s future disciple-making.
The bishops accepted the challenge from the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History to participate in a Sand Creek Healing Walk.
The bishops also made plans to share best practices in responding to hurricanes, typhoons and other natural disasters. This comes after Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the southern United States and multiple typhoons have caused destruction across the Philippines.
excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor, UM News
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