Bishop Kenneth H. Carter speaks during an oral hearing before the United Methodist Judicial Council meeting in Evanston, Ill. Carter is president of the denomination's Council of Bishops. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

EVANSTON, Ill. (UM News) — Legislation setting special provisions for United Methodist churches that want to leave the denomination took effect last February, the church’s top court has ruled. The Judicial Council also issued no opinion on the “constitutionality, meaning, application or effect” of certain petitions of the Traditional Plan, adopted at the same special General Conference. And the court deferred until its next session a request on the question of improper voting related to the disaffiliation legislation. Linda Bloom reports. 
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