JCM 1157

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1276&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1100&EN=1189

A policy on sexual conduct of the Baltimore-Washington Conference was the subject of a request for a declaratory decision on its effect and application in light of Paragraph 605.8. The conference voted to forward the request to the Council. The Council held a hearing with the parties at interest.

The analysis was not of the issue in question but of what allows the Council to have jurisdiction. This is the longest discussion of their criteria I have seen in one place.

They ruled they had no jurisdiction!

It appears there was no specific case on which to base the request. I think the Discipline allows requests for declaratory decisions that could have an effect on someone but so far, the Council has not agreed with me. My argument goes back to their JCM 1048. (See my argument related to that on this blog dated January 11, 2011.)