Decision Number 866
SUBJECT TO FINAL EDITING
Review of Bishop=s Decision of Law in the Wisconsin Annual Conference on Whether Mandatory Conference-Wide Insurance Is Legal and Appropriate in Light of & 2532 of the 1996 Discipline.
Digest
It is not in conflict with the 1996 Discipline for the Wisconsin Annual Conference to implement a mandatory conference-wide property and casualty insurance plan. The ruling of Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader is affirmed.
Statement of Facts
At the 1999 session of the Wisconsin Annual Conference Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader was asked to rule on whether the Wisconsin Annual Conference=s implementation of a conference-wide insurance property and casualty plan is legal and appropriate in light of & 2532 of the 1996 Discipline. Bishop Rader ruled that the plan is in compliance with the Discipline.
Jurisdiction
The Judicial Council has jurisdiction under & 2613 of the 1996 Discipline.
Analysis and Rationale
In Decision 636 the Judicial Council ruled that an annual conference may adopt a conference-wide plan of property and casualty insurance. Decision 759 reaffirmed that decision. While those decisions were made under earlier editions of the Discipline, the relevant paragraphs were not changed by the 1996 Discipline. The Discipline continues to be silent on who is to obtain insurance on church property. Under & 2532.2 the board of trustees of the local church is responsible for reviewing annually the adequacy of insurance coverage, but there is no mention made of who is responsible for selecting and securing insurance. It is not in conflict with the 1996 Discipline for the Wisconsin Annual Conference to implement a mandatory conference-wide property and casualty insurance plan. The ruling of Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader is affirmed.
Decision
It is not in conflict with the 1996 Discipline for the Wisconsin Annual Conference to implement a mandatory conference-wide property and casualty insurance plan. The ruling of Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader is affirmed.