Updates: Four items have been added to the pending docket: Docket items 0420-15, 16, 17 and 18. These docket items are posted and the deadline for submission of all briefs on Docket Items 15-18 is January 5, 2021.
Docket 0420-01
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Question of Law in the Michigan Annual Conference Regarding the Legality of the Clergy Session’s Statement Affirming Various Efforts and Expressing Support for their Board of Ordained Ministry
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Docket 0420-02
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Question of Law in the Michigan Annual Conference Regarding the Legality of the Resolution “Aspirations for the Michigan Conference”
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Docket 0420-03
In Re: Request from the Michigan Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of ¶¶ 341.6 and 2702.1b Pursuant to the Constitutional Separation of Powers and the Safeguards Concerning Authority Under ¶ 16
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Docket 0420-04
In Re: Request from the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to Whether it Is Legal and Constitutional or Whether Judicial Council Decisions, and Particularly JCD 592 [All requirements for qualifications, elections and service that are contained in the Discipline are powers reserved to the General Conference. ... Delegates to General Conference, just as members of an Annual Conference, are bound to do as their conscience dictates what is good for the Church of Jesus Christ, The United Methodist Church in particular, and that only.] Interpreting and Applying the Discipline and Constitutional Provisions [e.g., ¶¶ 13, 16, 33-36] Prohibit an Annual Conference Policy that Creates Additional Requirements for General/ Jurisdictional /Central Conference Delegates that Compel Attendance to Pre-conference Delegation Meetings and Permit the Disqualification and Removal of Credentials — from a Lay Delegate Duly Elected by the Annual Conference Laity or a Clergy Delegate Duly Elected by the Annual Conference Clergy — for Failure to Meet the Additional Requirements
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Docket 0420-05
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Question of Law in the Mississippi Annual Conference Concerning the Meaning, Application, and Effect of the Last Sentence in ¶36 of the Discipline. Specifically, Whether the Phrase “and are members thereof within the annual conference electing them at the time of holding the General and Jurisdictional or Central Conference” Means that the Lay Person’s Membership Must Be with a Local Church that Is within the Annual Conference that Elected Him/Her (versus local church membership in a different annual conference) and that Said Membership Must Be in Effect when the Layperson Is Serving as a Delegate to General Conference
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Docket 0420-06
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Question of Law in the Upper New York Annual Conference Regarding Whether the Adopted Resolution, “A Call for Structural Change”, Attempts to Negate, Ignore or Violate The Book of Discipline
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Docket 0420-07
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Question of Law in the New England Annual Conference as to Whether the Conference Disaffiliation Policy and Discernment Process Are Permissible Under the Discipline or Are in Conflict with ¶ 2553
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Docket 0420-08
In Re: Request from the Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision Regarding the Effect of the Nullity of the Vote to Add a New Paragraph to Chapter Six (¶2553 Disaffiliation of a Local Church over Issues Related to Human Sexuality) on Related Amendments Made During the 2019 Special Session of General Conference
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Docket 0420-09
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Matter of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference as to the Legality of the Actions Approved by the Annual Conference at its October Special Session on the Way Forward
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Docket 0420-10
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Matter of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference concerning the Legality of Recent Conference Actions as well as Impermissible Delegations of Authority, Unconstitutional Assumptions of Authority, and Unauthorized Actions Being Taken within and/or on Behalf of the Annual Conference
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Docket 0420-11
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Matter of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Concerning the Legality of the Actions of the Annual Conference at its October Special Session and Whether Such Actions Negate, Ignore, and Violate the Book of Discipline, Particularly the Scope and Limitations of Power and Authority Set Forth therein Regarding Annual Conferences, Local Churches, and General Conference
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Docket 0420-12
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Matter of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Concerning Initial Steps Being Taken in the Implementation of Provisions Set Forth in the “Way Forward Report” Prior to the Matter Being Deliberated and Decided by Formal Action of the Annual Conference and Without the Annual Conference’s Approval and Authorization
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Docket 0420-13
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Matter of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Regarding the Legality of the Annual Conference’s Expression of Support and Affirmation Concerning the Bishop, BOOM, and the Witness of Local Churches and Clergy
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Docket 0420-14
In Re: Administrative Appeal of Thomas Buckley
Docket 0420-15 (added item—brief deadline 1/5/2021)
In Re: In the Matter of a Request From The Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of Proposed General Conference Legislation, Prior to the Convening of General Conference, Concerning One of the Proposed Plans for Denominational Restructure
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Docket 0420-16 (added item—brief deadline 1/5/2021)
In Re: Review of a Bishop’s Ruling on a Question of Law in the Alaska United Methodist [Missionary] Conference, concerning whether the Conference's petition to General Conference falls within the exceptions to filing deadlines set forth in ¶ 507.6 of The Book of Discipline
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Docket 0420-17 (added item—brief deadline 1/5/2021)
In Re: In the Matter of a Request from the Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision Clarifying Decision 1383 and Conditionally Staying Decision 1384 Pending Legislative Action by the General Conference
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Docket 0420-18 (added item—brief deadline 1/5/2021)
In Re: In the Matter of a Request from the General Council on Finance and Administration for a Declaratory Decision on The Meaning, Application or Effect of ¶ 806.1 of The 2016 Book of Discipline on 2021 General Church Apportionments
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