OPEN LETTER TO THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS
OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
April 29, 2023
Dear Council of Bishops,
Greetings in the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Today is the 418th Day of the suspension of our Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño.
We clergy and laity of the ethnic caucuses of the California-Nevada Annual Conference as well as
of Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, have expressed our serious concerns over
the unprecedented ongoing suspension of our Bishop Minerva Carcaño in four letters at different
times.
On January 20, 2023, we mailed a letter of request to the President of the Western Jurisdiction
College of Bishops and the Chair of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy to
immediately lift the prolonged suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño and immediately restore her
to her episcopal office and responsibilities. However, our voices were ignored.
We realized that the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Committee on Episcopacy would
not address the violation of fair process as prescribed in Paragraph 539 in the 2016 Book of
Discipline.
Moreover, by placing suspension one after another (Paragraph 413.3 first and Paragraph 2704.1
next) on Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Committee on
Episcopacy have shown no intention to restore her to her episcopal office and could suspend her
indefinitely.
In addition to the prolonged suspension, Bishop Minerva Carcano was prohibited to “be in contact
with persons affiliated with the organization at any level.” This treatment has hurt the ministries of
ethnic minority local churches and communities as well as damaged her reputation in public square.
We shared this situation with a retired civilian court judge, an active member of a local United
Methodist Church, he said, “In a civilian court, this kind of inquisition would not be tolerated,
because our Constitution requires that an accused be brought to trial or hearing in a reasonably
timed manner.”
On April 25, 2023, the Judicial Council Decision Number 1484, by a 7 to 2 vote, ruled: “The
provisions of ¶ 413.3d(ii) and (iv) are constitutional because they do not violate the constitution of
the United Methodist Church.” We see light at the end of the tunnel.
Bishops, we humbly beseech you to exercise your constitutional authority to remove the complaint
against Bishop Minerva Carcaño from the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops to the Council of
Bishops and create a panel that ensures a fair, equitable, and transparent process.
Bishops, we earnestly plead with you to immediately lift the inconceivable prolonged suspension of
Bishop Minerva Carcaño, 418 Days, while the process continues. We really miss her and her able
and gracious episcopal leadership.
Respectfully,
Peter Lau
Rev. Dr. Peter K. Lau
Chair, Chinese Caucus of California-Nevada Conference
Email: rockofages@gmail.com
Cc:
Chair, Tongan Mission of California-Nevada Conference : Rev. Sifa Hingano
Secretary, Hispanic Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Mrs. Norman M. Betancourt
Chair, Formosan Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. William Chou
Chair, Fijian Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. Tevita G. Koroi
Chair, Vietnamese Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. Charles Tran
Chair, Korean Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. Dr. Justin Chesung Ryu
Chair, Hmong Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. Cheng Yang
Chair, Pacific Islander Ministries of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. Latu Tangulu
Representative of Filipino Caucus of California-Nevada Conference: Rev. Dr. Fel Cao
Chair, Chinese Caucus of Western Jurisdiction: Rev. Ernest Kan
President, MARCHA-WEST: Rev. Jorge Rodriguez Vazquez
For more information, contact Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez, President of MARCHA
The United Methodist Church The Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group (IESDG) represents the racial-ethnic caucuses of the United Methodist Church. The IESDG supports the Native American International Caucus (NAIC) endorsement of the Rev. Dr. David Wilson, of the South Central Jurisdiction, for election as a United Methodist bishop.
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