Decision Number 760

Digest

During the 1995 clergy session of the Iowa Annual Conference, the presiding bishop, Charles Wesley Jordan, was presented with the following question of law:

Is the procedure resulting in the Board of Ordained Ministry's decision that termination of Rev. William E. Ballard's membership in the Iowa Annual Conference be recommended to the executive session of the clergy members in full connection of the Iowa Annual Conference, unless he shall choose withdrawal or trial, invalid because it is in violation of the Iowa Annual Conference Policy on Power and Sexual Abuse (as printed in the 1993 Iowa Annual Conference Journal) and the 1992 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, in, at least, the following ways?

Thirteen (13) lettered reasons or grounds followed.

The bishop ruled that "The recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry's decision and recommendation and its procedure in making that decision and recommendation are in compliance with the requirements of the 1992 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church." Thereafter, the bishop gave a detailed, thorough, and well-reasoned statement as to the basis for his decision.

The bishop's ruling is correct and it is affirmed.

This copy subject to final editing and correction.