April 18, 2017
He urged the members not to be afraid. “We are Easter People and we are not afraid! Come Holy Spirit! Come and grant us ears to hear and hearts to discern your wisdom and will for “such a time as this.”
Bishop Ough pointed out that the Judicial Council’s actions are always specific to particular circumstances and its decision will not change The Book of Discipline.
He noted that The General Conference speaks for the church. The Council of Bishops exercises oversight and support of the church’s mission. The Judicial Council determines the constitutionality and legality of actions taken by individuals or constituted entities of the church.
He said the Council of Bishops is committed to the unity of the church and the flourishing of its mission and one of the instruments of this unity is the Commission on a Way Forward, which is accountable to the Council of Bishops, and through the Council, to the General Conference.
“We believe the Holy Spirit is operating through the Commission’s and Council’s leadership and conferencing,” he said, calling for prayers by all. “Pray that God will empty you of all your pre-conceived solutions and preferences so that the Holy Spirit can rush in and fill you with new possibilities, new hope, new life.”
Read the full statement from Bishop Ough here.
Read Q & A about the Judicial Council from the Southeast Jurisdiction College of Bishops