Photo courtesy of Council of Bishops

November 9, 2017
LAKE JUNALUSKA, NORTH CAROLINA - Placing emphasis on the values of unity, space and
contextuality - all for the sake of mission – the Council of Bishops (COB) is exploring
sketches of three models as possible directions for a way forward for The United
Methodist Church over LGBTQ inclusion.

With the mission of God through the risen Christ at the core, the bishops this week
received an interim report from the Commission on a Way Forward that offered three
sketches of models that would help ease the impasse in the church, noting that the power
of the Holy Spirit trumps and guides all the church’s activities. The Commission serves the
COB, helping prepare the COB to fulfill its mandate to make a recommendation for a way
forward to the General Conference.

Just as the Commission did not express a preference for any of the models in its interim
report to the COB in order for the bishops to fully do their work, the COB is also not now
expressing a preference for any model, while engaging deeply with them and the
implications for their church and their leadership. This will provide the space bishops
need to teach and engage leaders in their episcopal areas.

After receiving the interim report of the sketches of the three possible models, the
bishops engaged in prayerful discerning and offered substantial feedback to the
Commission, but did not take any vote on any of the sketches.

Click here to read the COB statement in its entirety.

Click here for reports from United Methodist News Service on the bishops' meeting.