wfn.org | Judicial Council Fall Docket

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (203
notes).

Note 203 by UMNS on July 8, 1997 at 16:23 Eastern (3057 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Joretta Purdue                          391(10-71B){203}
          Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722            July 8, 1997

Judicial Council to face
13 docket items in October

                 by United Methodist News Service

     The Judicial Council has only 13 items on the docket for its
fall meeting, Oct. 22-25 in San Antonio, Texas -- unlike some
previous sessions that regularly included more than 20 items --
but some of the cases are complex or multi-faceted.
     A series of questions are raised in the request from the
Minnesota Annual Conference for a declaratory decision regarding
the new membership provisions of the 1996 Discipline.
     Also relating to new material in the Discipline as a result
of 1996 General Conference legislation is a request for a
declaratory decision from the churchwide Board of Discipleship on
the meaning of the phrase "or other equivalent structure" in a
paragraph about the conference board of laity.
     South Carolina Conference has requested a decision on whether
the phrase "full-time and part time pastors" in disciplinary
material on the appointment of deacons means "ordained elders"
only.
     West Ohio Annual Conference has asked for a review of its
revised Clergy Sexual Ethics Policy, and North Georgia Annual
Conference is seeking a review of its Sexual Ethics Policy and
Procedures.
     A provision of the church's constitution requires a judicial
review of all decisions of law made by bishops during annual or
other legislative conferences; hence the review of North Alabama
Annual Conference Bishop Robert E. Fannin's ruling concerning the
conference's "Policy Statement and Procedures on Misconduct of a
Sexual Nature."
     Reviews of decisions by Bishops Joe A. Wilson and Donald A.
Ott regarding fair process in the surrender of clergy credentials
have been forwarded to the council by Central Texas and West
Michigan conferences, respectively.
     From Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference has come a
decision of Bishop William W. Morris relating to financial
recompense of a clergy member denied appointment through a flawed
grievance process.
     Bishop Hae Jong Kim's decision in the North Central New York
Annual Conference session concerning the withdrawal of a clergy
member under complaint will be reviewed; as will be a decision of
Bishop Susan M. Morrison relating to the Wyoming Annual
Conference's policy to discontinue honoraria for clergy members of
the annual conference.
     A decision by Bishop Neil L. Irons relating to the Central
Pennsylvania Annual Conference's defeating an amendment to the
conference connectional ministries budget will be reviewed also.
     Bishop Bruce P. Blakes's ruling on a matter of autonomy for
annual conferences in the Philippines Central Conference will be
scrutinized as well.
                              #  #  #

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