Decision Number 520
SUBJECT TO FINAL EDITING
Application of Discipline Par. 805.1, 2 to Annual Conferences Within Central Conferences
Digest
Par. 805.1, 2 does not apply to Annual Conferences within Central Conferences. The present legislation does not allow special provision for representation of each Annual Conference within the Central Conferences on the General Board of Global Ministries.
Statement of Facts
The 1982 Annual Meeting of the General Board of Global Ministries voted to: petition the Judicial Council to rule whether under Par. 805.1 and 2, (The Book of Discipline, 1980) Annual Conferences within Central Conferences are entitled to the same right of election and representation as those within jurisdictional conferences, namely the election of one person to each Program Board; if not, to rule whether a special provision can be made for representation of each Annual Conference (within the Central Conferences) on the General Board of Global Ministries.
Bishop Jesse DeWitt appeared for the Board of Global Ministries at the oral hearing on April 21, 1983 before the Judicial Council.
Jurisdiction
The Judicial Council has jurisdiction under par. 2615 of the 1980 Discipline.
Analysis and Rationale
The question raised refers to Par. 805.1, 2 which reads in part
General Agency Membership.-The following provisions shall govern the nomination and election of the voting membership of those general agencies to which the Jurisdictional Conferences elect members;
The reference is to Jurisdictional Conferences. In further examination of the pertinent paragraphs of the Discipline we find no reference to Central Conferences or the Annual Conferences within them.
The second part of the question raised by the Board of Global Ministries refers to whether a special provision can be made for representation of each Annual Conference within the Central Conferences on the Board of Global Ministries. We do not find any permission in the present legislation for such special provisions.
Decision
Par. 805.1, 2 does not apply to Annual Conferences within Central Conferences. The present legislation does not allow special provision for representation of each Annual Conference within the Central Conferences on the General Board of Global Ministries.
Leonard D. Slutz was absent.