How the CME Discipline 

speaks to times such as these

            Para. 432.7. Upon notification of the death of a Presiding Bishop, or certification by legal and/or medical officials of incapacitation, either physical or mental of an assigned Bishop, the Senior Bishop shall be in charge, immediately, of the Episcopal District thereby affected. If the death/incapacitation is of the Senior Bishop, the next bishop in line of seniority shall take charge immediately. The bishop shall freeze all accounts immediately and shall handle all business necessary until the Committee on Episcopacy shall have met to make an assignment.

             Para. 437.5. Unless otherwise directed by the General Conference, the College of Bishops shall, upon advice of the Legal Counsel, make the legal decisions and take the steps necessary to preserve and protect the interests of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (The Book of Discipline of the ChristianMethodist Episcopal Church, 2006).