The United Methodist Church’s top court entertained questions that could affect the allocation of U.S. bishops, starting in 2028.
But even as they wait for a Judicial Council ruling, United Methodist leaders say they are cooperating like never before to ensure the denomination can sustain the leadership of bishops for generations to come.
The ministry and financial leaders whose work intersects around bishops also have committed to maintaining their collaboration no matter what the Judicial Council decides. This commitment marks a significant change after years of wrangling among various church bodies over the allocation and funding of bishops.
Participants agree that they came away from the summit in February with a shared sense of purpose, open lines of communication and a better understanding of the role they each play in strengthening denominational ministries.
What has changed
The denomination’s top lawmaking assembly eliminated the formula long utilized for calculating each U.S. jurisdiction’s allotment of bishops. The study committee had proposed the changes.
Before 2024, the number of bishops assigned to each jurisdiction largely depended on the number of members on the jurisdiction’s church rolls.
General Conference revised Paragraph 404 in the Book of Discipline, so that recommending the number and distribution of U.S. bishops is now not simply a matter determined by General Council on Finance and Administration calculations. Instead, the responsibility will mostly lie with the Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy, which has seen its role expand from typically only meeting during General Conference to meeting regularly between sessions. The committee, elected by General Conference, brings together members from each jurisdiction’s committee on episcopacy.
Questions before church court
Still questions remain about the revisions to Paragraph 404, and that’s where the Judicial Council comes in.
The General Council on Finance and Administration, with the support of the interjurisdictional committee’s leadership, has asked the church court to clarify the finance agency’s role in the new bishop-allocation process. The finance agency also has asked the Judicial Council what allowing jurisdictions to request additional bishops means for apportionments — shares of church giving that the agency collects to support bishops and other denomination-wide ministries. The Discipline allows each jurisdiction to have a minimum of five bishops.
The finance agency is responsible for administering the Episcopal Fund that supports the work of bishops.
For now, the Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy has paused its work until the Judicial Council releases its ruling.
In 2028, 14 U.S. bishops will reach mandatory retirement age, but the interjurisdictional committee is still determining how many episcopal elections it will recommend to General Conference.
By making a recommendation early, The Rev. Kim Ingram hopes to help the General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table, as the bodies begin work this fall on the denominational budget that will go before the 2028 General Conference.
The task force has been surveying U.S. bishops, especially those who oversee more than one conference, about their challenges and successes.
As the task force does its work, Beata Ferris said, she hopes to consult with United Methodists in Africa, Europe and the Philippines about the work of their bishops. Most bishops outside the U.S. oversee multiple annual conferences.
Ferris also wants to consult with the heads of the denomination’s general agencies about the impact of the Episcopal Fund on their budgets.
Bickerton said it will take all people in the denomination cooperating, alongside bishops, to carry out the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Your Generosity Helps Bishops Provide Mentorship and Leadership
When you support the Episcopal Fund apportionment you help pay the salaries and expenses for United Methodist Bishops and allows them to travel across their episcopal areas providing mentorship and leadership. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Episcopal Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor for UM News
This story shows the impact of the Episcopal Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to sustain the leadership and oversight of bishops who guide our shared mission. Through this fund, the Church provides fair compensation, support, and accountability for episcopal leadership across the connection. Together, we ensure that every conference has the guidance needed to carry out ministry effectively and faithfully.
When your church supports the Episcopal Fund, you uphold the shared leadership that unites our Church in mission and ministry.
