wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 306-Lease of property issue heads to United Methodist 'supreme court'

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Lease of property issue heads to United Methodist 'supreme court'

Jul. 18, 2008    News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470*   Nashville {306}

>By Linda Green

DALLAS-A faculty member of Southern Methodist University wants The  United Methodist Church's highest court to rule on whether the leasing  of property to The President George W. Bush Foundation violates the  university's articles of incorporation and subsidizes a political view  point.

The Rev. Jeannie Trevino-Teddlie, director of the Mexican-American  program at Perkins School of Theology at United Methodist-related SMU  and a delegate to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference from the  Central Texas Annual (regional) Conference, asked for a decision of law  that will go to the United Methodist Judicial Council this fall.

"The main thing I am most concerned about is that by leasing property to  the Bush Foundation, at less than fair market value, we are in effect  subsidizing a policy institute that has a specific political ideology  and ideological point of view," she said, adding the denomination's law  book, the Book of Discipline, allows church property "to be used for the  work of the church and not to subsidize a political point of view."

In February, SMU officials approved giving the Bush Foundation a 99-year  lease to build a presidential library, museum and policy institute on  university property. The lease is $1,000 for 99 years--renewable for up  to 250 years.

Trevino-Teddlie asked Bishop Robert Hayes of Oklahoma, who was presiding  over that session of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference, for  the ruling of law. Hayes said he will determine if it "was within the  bounds of SMU to lease this land for the amount of money that they  wanted."

"I have to examine her petition and determine whether I feel that the  conference has violated the terms of the Book of Discipline," Hayes  explained. "I will write and respond to her seeking a declaration of law  and submit it to the Judicial Council."

The council will then examine the question and Hayes' decision and "make  a ruling on whether I am correct or she is correct" when it meets in  October. The council reviews all bishops' decisions of law during annual  and jurisdictional conference sessions.

The delegates to the South Central Jurisdiction, owners of the Southern  Methodist University, on July 17 affirmed the leasing of the land to the  Bush Foundation. Along with that approval, the delegates asked that the  university's integrity be protected.

Trevino-Teddlie said allowing the institute on the campus of SMU is  "contrary to what the United Methodist Book of Discipline allows, and I  would like to get a ruling on that."

Her question for a ruling of law asks: "Is the approval of the lease of  property of Southern Methodist University by the South Central  Jurisdiction and Southern Methodist University, at less than market  value, to the Bush Foundation for the purpose of establishing a policy  institute, in conflict with the articles of incorporation of Southern  Methodist University, the rules of the South Central Jurisdiction and/or  The Book of Discipline, specifically Para. 2503.4, which requires all  United Methodist property to be 'kept, maintained . . . for the benefit  of The United Methodist Church and subject to the usages and the  Discipline of The United Methodist Church'" and said lease would  subsidize a specific political and ideological point of view?"

While the library and museum have been welcomed by many United  Methodists, others have opposed the institute fearing it will be a  partisan think-tank.

"The issue is the policy institute," Trevino-Teddlie said. "The United  Methodist Church should not be in the business of endorsing any  political point of view--whether that is democrat, republican, green  party--that is not what The United Methodist Church has stated the use  of Methodist property is for. I think there is a violation there."

Acknowledging that seeking the question of law makes her walk a fine  line with the university that employs her, she emphasized, "I am a  Christian first. I am speaking out of my faith and to me that is all  that is important."

># # #

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in  Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or  newsdesk@umcom.org
********************

United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org

----------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe from this group, go to UMCom.org, log in to your account, click on the My Resources link and select the Leave option on the list(s) from which you wish to unsubscribe. If you have problems or questions, please write to websupport@umcom.org.

Powered by United Methodist Communications http://www.UMCom.org