Memorandum Number 759

Review of Bishop's Decision of Law in the New England Conference Concerning Authority of the Annual Conference to Require Local Church Participation in a Conference Property and Liability Insurance Program.

Digest

An Annual Conference has the right and authority to require local churches to participate in the Annual Conference property and liability insurance program.

This copy subject to final editing and correction

Statement of Facts

At the 1995 New England Annual Conference, a clergy member asked the presiding bishop, F. Herbert Skeete, whether the action of the Annual Conference in mandating that all local churches participate in the conference property and liability insurance program was in violation of the 1992 Discipline. The clergy member cited Pars. 2533.1, 2533.2 and 2550.7 as indicating that all decisions concerning property and liability insurance rest with the local church trustees and Charge Conference.

The bishop responded with reference to Judicial Council Decision No. 636, which ruled that an Annual Conference has both the right and authority to require local churches to participate in the Annual Conference property and liability insurance program.

Since that 1990 decision, there have been no Judicial Council decisions nor new paragraphs in the Discipline, which reverse or modify Decision 636. The bishop is affirmed.