This is an update on the case of Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who was put on suspension for unnamed charges more than a year ago. The General Commission on Race & Religion has publicly reprimanded those responsible for her case and demanded an immediate lifting of her sanction. Meanwhile, another group of oppressed people from California-Nevada have simultaneously reprimanded GCORR for demanding justice because it might violate their justice. All this while the Council of Bishops is gathering to livestream everything they're doing outside of closed door session. Well, they haven't streamed anything all day, but I'm sure all is well!

Urgent request from GCORR Board regarding Bishop Carcaño's suspension - https://www.gcorr.org/news/urgent-request-from-gcorr-board-regarding-bishop-carcaos-suspension

Timeline of Carcaño's Suspension - https://www.cnumc.org/newsdetails/conference-committee-on-episcopacy-outlines-process-involving-bishop-carca-o-17192125

Statement from California-Nevada Clergy -

https://hackingchristianity.net/2023/05/california-nevada-clergy-respond-to-calls-to-lift-their-bishops-suspension.html?fbclid=IwAR2Boqa6AS3eEwcU8Z6brMaJQZxn43OVFrVA7WtLNF2gM9huz23VuQ21TL8

Article on Council of Bishops Meeting - https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/umc-bishops-to-meet-in-person-april-30-to-may-5-first-since-2019-17410006

Judicial Council Ruling #1450 - https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial-decisions/memorandum-1450

Council of Bishops Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/umcbishops

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Being connected together is a hallmark of being a Methodist, unfortunately we as conservatives can sometimes forget that. Rather than banding together and tackling issues head on we've isolated ourselves in our smaller communities, its time for that to change.

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First United Methodist of Shreveport Louisiana voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church this month, but that was not before a lawsuit and a well funded #StayUMC campaign that brought the church's drama into the spotlight.

Show Notes:

FUMC Shreveport Website:

https://firstshreveport.com/

FUMC Shreveport Press Release:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/76/76668e34-eac2-4436-8b4d-8be57de991f3/documents/FUMC_Disafiliation_Announcement_Letterhead.pdf

Lawsuit Article:

https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2023/03/24/first-united-methodist-church-of-shreveport-intervenes-vote-may-proceed/

Bishop Williamston Profile:

https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/4172924

FUMC Shreveport Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHPLUftWolyPMXxVVEw12eQ

FUMC Shreveport Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/fumcshreveport

Stay UMC Shreveport Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Stay-United-Methodist-102046336194851

UM Data FUMC Shreveport Stats:

http://umdata.org/ChurchProfile.aspx?ChurchID=716181

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The Oklahoma Annual Conference hosted a "Special Called Conference" at which the two churches I serve were allowed to disaffiliate. This has some implications for me and my ministry that I wanted to explain. Also, PlainSpoken is doing well. I wanted to say out loud some things about what loyalties I hold and what my intentions are as I speak to sensitive topics.

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Last year 106 churches in the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church filed suit against the conference in order to leave the organization. A Florida judge has now dismissed this lawsuit. We look into the details of happened with the case.

Show Notes:

WCA Update:

https://wesleyancovenant.org/2023/04/18/an-update-on-lawsuits-across-the-usa/

Annual Conference Update:

https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/court-dismisses-disaffiliation-lawsuit-against-the-florida-conference-17399166#:~:text=The%20Court%20today%20issued%20an,settling%20matters%20of%20church%20doctrine.

UM News Article:

https://www.umnews.org/en/news/exiting-florida-churches-lawsuit-dismissed#:~:text=A%20Florida%20county%20judge%20has,exit%20costs%20under%20church%20law.

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As many annual conferences around the country begin to gather to vote one disaffiliation what are some of the issues or common objections that will be put forward by those in opposition to churches leaving? In this video we explore some of the reasons why annual conferences might object to letting a local congregation leave, and if those objections actually hold any water.

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Recently the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church declared "Exigent Circumstances" and seized the property of Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, a 175 year old congregation in Wilmington North Carolina. The members of the church, some who have been members their entire lives, were completely blindsided by the act. The congregation, who's members were beginning the process of disaffiliation, were locked out of the building after their final service on Easter. In this video we take a look at what happened with this historic church.

Show Notes:

NC Annual Conference Press Release:

https://nccumc.org/news/2023/03/wilmington-church-closure-brings-rebirth-and-opportunity/

Affidavit:

https://wesleyancovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Affidavit-Fifth-Avenue-UMC.pdf

Fifth Avenue Congregation Press Release:

https://juicyecumenism.com/wp-content/uploads/20230327-Fifth-Avenue-Press-Release-Approved-for-release-to-media.pdf

UM Data Church Profile:

http://umdata.org/ChurchProfile.aspx?ChurchID=460185

Church Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/5thAveUMC

Christian Post Article:

https://www.christianpost.com/news/nc-church-trying-to-leave-umc-is-shut-down-by-denomination.html

WCA Article:

https://wesleyancovenant.org/2023/04/09/chaos-in-carolina-seizing-assets-and-closing-a-church/

It May Happen to You, Too Article:

https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/04/12/it-may-happen-to-you-too-bishop-connie-shelton-shows-danger-of-staying-united-methodist/

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Today we look at another United Methodist Annual Conference and how they are dealing with disaffiliation. The Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, lead by newly elected Bishop Tom Berlin, has implemented that disaffiliating churches are required to obtain potentially costly insurance policies on top of the other costs to leave the conference, which could leave some churches unable to leave.

Show Notes:

UM Data Website:

http://umdata.org/

Letter From Bishop Carter:

https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/update-from-bishop-carter-about-churches-withdrawing-from-lawsuit-17170418

Judicial Council Decision 1449:

https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial-council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial-decisions/decision-1449

Moving The Needle - WCA Article:

https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/10/10/moving-the-needle/

Bishop Tom Berlin Response:

https://revtomberlin.com/response-to-gmc-pastor-letter/

Florida AC DEI & CRT:

https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/what-christians-need-to-know-about-policies-that-exclude-dei-and-crt-17371462

Additional Article That Explains The Insurance Issue:

https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/17270843

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Our bishops are elected to provide general oversight to the worldly and spiritual interest of the Church. With 46 active bishops in the US alone there are going to understandably be a wide range of different personalities and believes on different topics. In this video we are trying something different, we look at three of our bishops in the United States and evaluate some of the things they have said. To get the full context of what was said please take the time to watch the whole videos that were put out by the bishops, we only address a few short instances within these larger videos, they are listed below for your convenience.

Show Notes:

Conservative Tolerance Article:

https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/01/17/why-united-methodist-tolerance-of-conservatives-will-be-impossible/

Interview With Robert Barnes (On Oliveto):

https://youtu.be/Av4Z9ENR54A

Bishop Trible Video:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5909243292462493&ref=sharing

Bishop Oliveto Video:

https://vimeo.com/799302437

Bishop Shelton Video:

https://vimeopro.com/user1637118/connie-mitchell-shelton/video/748598978

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Bishop Minerva Carcaño was suspended from her position (with pay) as Bishop of California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church pending an investigation into charges made against her. One year later it doesn't seem that much has happened, now a board within the organization wants to get involved to determine what is causing the delay. We look into what is happening with Bishop Carcaño and what little information has been made available to the public.

Show Notes:

Bishop Profile:

https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/2464065

Agency Seeks Role Article:

https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/finance-and-administration/agency-seeks-role-in-complaint-against-bishop/

Culture Of Secrecy Article:

https://um-insight.net/perspectives/is-the-umc-s-first-latina-bishop-a-victim-of-its-culture-of-/

Conference Sue For Control Article:

https://www.umnews.org/en/news/conference-bishop-sue-for-control-of-glide

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jeffreyrickman.substack.com

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