Decision Number 1238

Decision

In response to the three questions posed by the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, the Judicial Council finds the following: First, the responsibility for managing the mission including the expenditure of funds was designed to be a direct partnership between the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference and the East Africa Annual Conference. There is no legal justification in the record for inferring donor intent from the evidence presented or for requiring restoration of funds to the donor conference. Second, the funds in the amount of $3,000 intended for compensation to Isaac Sebit should be paid to him by the East Africa Annual Conference by January 1, 2014, or be returned to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference. Third, the inquiry about the complaint filed against the Bishop is hypothetical at this point and cannot be addressed by the Judicial Council.

Beth Capen and Ruben Reyes were absent.

Sandra Lutz, first lay alternate, and Warren Plowden, fifth lay alternate, participated in this decision.