Decision Number 989
SUBJECT TO FINAL EDITING
IN RE: Request from the 2004 General Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of Calendar Item 1017, as Adopted, with respect to the Lay Membership of Annual Conferences.
Digest
Calendar Item 1017 as adopted by the 2004 General Conference adding the conference scouting coordinator to lay membership of the annual conference is unconstitutional.
Statement of Facts
The 2004 General Conference adopted Calendar Item 1017, adding the conference scouting coordinator as a lay member of the annual conference.
On May 7, 2004, (p. 2317 of the Daily Christian Advocate) the General Conference adopted a motion stating “the General Conference request[s] a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council as to whether the action of the conference [sic] in adopting Calendar Item 1017 (2004 Daily Christian Advocate, p. 1746) is congruent with ¶ 30 of the Constitution.
Jurisdiction
The Judicial Council has jurisdiction under ¶2610 of the 2000 Discipline.
Analysis and Rationale
Under ¶ 30 of the Constitution, the membership of the annual conference is defined. The conference scouting coordinator is not listed as one of the ex-officio lay members of the annual conference. Paragraph 602.4 of the Discipline also states the membership of the annual conference in relation to ¶ 30 of the Constitution. The addition of the conference scouting coordinator to ex-officio lay membership of the annual conference is unconstitutional, and the General Conference action is null and void.
Decision
Calendar Item 1017 as adopted by the 2004 General Conference adding the conference scouting coordinator to lay membership of the annual conference is unconstitutional.