United Methodist bishops to meet before General Conference

e-HUM Announcement

April 21, 2004

United Methodist bishops to meet before General Conference

Church leaders to consider role of the church in world security issues

PITTSBURGH -- More than 100 active and retired bishops of The United Methodist Church are scheduled to meet in Pittsburgh beginning Friday, April 23, to set the stage for the denomination's General Conference that begins Tuesday, April 27.

The Council of Bishops, including Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White, traditionally meets at the site of the quadrennial General Conference before the official opening of the church's top lawmaking body. Nearly 1,000 delegates representing more than 10 million United Methodists in the U.S., Africa, Europe and the Philippines will meet at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for 11 days.

The council's meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Friday with a worship and memorial service at Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park. Plenary sessions and committee meetings will take place at the Westin Convention Center Hotel, 1000 Pennsylvania Ave. in Pittsburgh.

One item on the bishops' agenda could play an important role during the General Conference. A committee is scheduled to present a draft paper Sunday afternoon on the role of the church in the war on terrorism and other issues related to security. Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker of Lakeland, Fla., is chairperson of the committee.

Bishop Walter Klaiber of Frankfurt, Germany, drafted the 17-page document, "In Search of Security" for the council's consideration. The document focuses on theological issues related to security across a broad range of circumstances and nations.

In creating the committee to develop the paper, bishops expressed the hope the document will become a study guide used by United Methodists throughout the world. A similar study guide, "In Defense of Creation," became an important Cold War congregational resource during the 1980s.

Several bishops played key roles in criticizing the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq in March 2003. U.S. President George Bush is a United Methodist.

As the war was beginning, the Council's of Bishops executive committee issued a statement questioning the president's decision. Other bishops made public statements opposing the war. Retired Bishop Melvin Talbert of Nashville, Tenn., appeared in a national television commercial questioning the war.

General Conference delegates are expected to consider a number of petitions and resolutions related to the church's position on war. More than three-dozen proposals related to war and peace issues are on the General Conference's agenda.

Bishops have a limited role at the General Conference. They serve as presiding officers during plenary sessions, but do not vote. A rules change proposal would also assign bishops as presiding officers of the conference's 11 committees. That proposal will be one of the first actions of the General Conference when it organizes April 27.

Bishops will meet in closed session to make final adjustments to the traditional episcopal address. Bishop Kenneth Carder of Jackson, Miss., was selected to deliver the keynote address on Wednesday, April 28, at 2 p.m. EDT. That address will be carried live online at www.gc2004.org.

The council's new president, Bishop Peter Weaver of Philadelphia, a Pittsburgh native, will take office during the bishops' meeting. He will take the reigns from Bishop Ruediger Minor, of Moscow, Russia. Weaver will be the first bishop elected for a two-year term under changes in the council's governance approved last year. Previous presidents served one-year terms in office.

For more information about General Conference 2004, log on to www.gc2004.org.

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