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Grappling with longterm disaster recovery needs and their global focus on evangelism and disciple-making, 130 active and retired United Methodist bishops from around the world will gather for their fall meeting Oct. 30 to Nov. 4 at Lake Junaluska in Western North Carolina.

The group, including 50 active bishops from the U.S. and 18 from Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, is expected to embrace a special church-wide fundraising appeal to assist congregations affected by this year?s stream of destructive hurricanes in the southeastern U.S.

'Hurricanes Katrina and Rita damaged and destroyed scores of United Methodist churches in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas,' said Bishop Peter D. Weaver, president of the Council of Bishops. 'While support for humanitarian relief has been exceedingly generous, it is clear the rebuilding process will be long and expensive.'

Under United Methodist church law, the Council of Bishops, working in collaboration with other agencies, may create a special church-wide financial appeal. Weaver said this effort will focus on raising funds for rebuilding and repairing churches, supporting salaries for pastors and church staff displaced by the storms and helping with other expenses not covered by insurance or other disaster relief funds.

Bishops from the affected areas are expected to report on the damage and disaster response effort to the full council. They will also hear a report on damage from the most recent Hurricane, Wilma, which carved a wide swath through Florida earlier this week.

The bishops also will continue work on their four-year emphasis focused on leading the church in making disciples of Jesus Christ. Both active and retired bishops will make reports on their activities and plans for making disciples. An ongoing planning team will outline a series of recommendations for action by the full council.

In addition, the council is expected to:

? Elect a president-designate for the next two years.

? Choose a bishop to deliver the Episcopal address at the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

? Continue planning its fall 2006 meeting, scheduled to take place in Mozambique. This will be the first council meeting held in Africa.

By church law, only active bishops may vote on council matters, with retired bishops given voice in the process. Plenary and committee meetings are open to the public and news media.