ICJ Number 6

Digest

The action of the Uniting Conference in adopting Report No. 17 of the Committee on Christian Social Concerns is not unconstitutional.

Statement of Facts

The Secretary of the Uniting Conference certified to the Interim Judicial Council that the Uniting Conference had appealed to the Council for an opinion on the constitutionality of one of its acts in the following communication:

"This is to certify that at the morning session, May 3, 1968, the Uniting Conference of The United Methodist Church requested the Interim Judicial Council to determine the constitutionality of the action adopting Calendar No. 263 (D.C.A. p. 460) in regard to Article XXV of the Constitution."

The Calendar No. 263 is Report No. 17 of the Committee on Christian Social Concerns which authorizes the printing in the Discipline of 1968 a statement entitled "The Rule of Law and the Right of Dissent."

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is based upon the creation of the Interim Judicial Council and the grant of authority given to it by the Uniting Conference (D.C.A. 190-192). 

Decision

It is the decision of the Interim Judicial Council that Report No. 17 of the Committee on Christian Social Concerns, entitled "The Rule of Law and the Right of Dissent" as adopted by the Uniting Conference is not unconstitutional.

May 3, 1968

MURRAY H. LEIFFER

Vice President, Interim Judicial Council

J. RUSSELL THROCKMORTON

Secretary, Interim Judicial Council

(Paul R. Ervin, Leon E. Hickman and Samuel W. Witwer were absent.)