2602. Members--The Judicial Council shall be composed of nine (9) members, and should reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of The United Methodist Church. In the year 2000 and each sixteen (16) years thereafter there shall be elected three (3) laypersons and two (2) ordained ministers other than bishops. In 1992 and each sixteen (16) years thereafter there shall be elected three (3) ordained ministers other than bishops and two (2) laypersons. In 1996 and each eight (8) years thereafter there shall be elected two (2) ordained ministers other than bishops and two (2) laypersons. They shall be members of The United Methodist Church. Elections shall be held at each session of the General Conference for only the number of members whose terms expire at such session. A member's term of office shall be eight (8) years; provided, however, that a member of the council whose seventieth (70th) birthday precedes the first day of the regular session of a General Conference shall be released at the close of that General Conference from membership or responsibility in the council, regardless of the date of expiration of office.
Members of the council shall be nominated and elected in the manner following: At each quadrennial session of the General Conference, the Council of Bishops shall nominate by majority vote three (3) times the number of ordained ministers and laypersons to be elected at such session of the General Conference. The number to be elected shall correspond to the number of members whose terms expire at the conclusion of such session. Each of the jurisdictions and the central conferences as a group shall be represented by at least one (1) nominee, but it shall not be a requirement that each of the jurisdictions or the central conferences as a group be represented by an elected member. At the same daily session atwhich the above nominations are announced, nominations of both ministers and laypersons may be made from the floor, but at no other time. The names of all nominees, identified with the conference to which each belongs and a biographical sketch which does not exceed one hundred words, shall be published by the Daily Christian Advocate at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time of election, which shall be set by action of the General Conference at the session at which the nominations are made; and from these nominations the General Conference shall elect without discussion, by ballot and majority vote, the necessary number of ministerial and lay members.1 This paragraph shall become effective immediately upon passage by the General Conference.
1See Judicial Council Decision 540.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2602
1996 United Methodist General Conference