JCM 1123

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1240&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1100&EN=1181

One of the dirty tricks that are played on pastors that Cabinets and Boards of Ordained Ministry do not like, earned or not, is to change the requirements for the pastor to get back into service after he or she has already met the original requirements. It is most unfortunate for the pastor, though not for the conference leaders, that the secretary did not somehow see to it that the vote was properly recorded and therefore the questions could not be considered by the Council.

Reports to the Council by conference secretaries are required to be prompt after annual conferences conclude. The due date is July 15 for the October session and December 31 for the April docket. What is not reported is whether the Council sought clarification from the Baltimore-Washington conference secretary when that gap in crucial information is seen. This has been a problem in the past with this Council. Hopefully this simple matter of administration has been addressed.

This case should have been remanded.