JCD 1126

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1247&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1100&EN=1181

A retired minister was elected chair of the finance committee of the local church he attended and where he held his charge conference membership. There was an unwritten policy of the Eastern Pennsylvania Cabinet that he could not hold that position. The main grounds were concern about possible undermining of the authority of the pastor in charge, a possible conflict of interest, and depriving a lay person of that responsibility.

The Council ruled that since he was a member of the charge conference, he was eligible for the position, it not having been identified by the Discipline is requiring lay relationship to the local church.

The jurisdiction for this ruling was that it was a request for a declaratory decision. Jon Gray, a Council member, wondered whatever happened to the criteria that such rulings had to be restricted to the business of the conference.

I really believe the Council uses that restriction when it wants to and feels free to go outside its restrictions when it wants to.

I believe the question was worth asking and the Council was right in responding. What I wish is that the Council would loosen its criteria for taking jurisdiction so that unanticipated requests like this one can be resolved without appearing to contradict the Council’s own restrictions.