Decision Number 1067
SUBJECT TO FINAL EDITING
Request for a Declaratory Decision by the Minnesota Annual Conference Concerning the Meaning of the Term "Urban Center" in ¶ 2548.7 of the 2004 Book of Discipline.
Digest
Paragraph 2548.7 of the
Statement of Facts
The 2006 session of the Minnesota Annual Conference adopted a motion requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the following question:
Must "urban center" in Par. 2548.7 mean "municipality," or may annual conference trustees interpret it as a "Metropolitan Statistical Area" (as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau) or as some other urban entity broader than "municipality"?
Jurisdiction
The Judicial Council has jurisdiction under ¶ 2610 of the
Analysis and Rationale
When properties from the discontinuation of a congregation or abandonment are sold in urban centers with more than 50,000 population, the proceeds of sale must be used for new and/or existing ministries, within that urban center.
The General Conference has not defined the term "urban centers." Indeed, what constitutes an "urban center" could vary from annual conference to annual conference.
Decision
Paragraph 2548.7 of the
Shamwange P. Kyungu was absent.