JCM 1168

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1288&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1100&EN=1189

Sometimes I really like this Council. In this memorandum, they refuse jurisdiction because the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops wanted the Council to make a ruling at their request. My initial response to the opening of this memorandum was that the bishops were at it again, stretching their authority over the limits set by the Discipline. When I got to the Council’s decision to not take jurisdiction because the executive committee does not have authority to access the Council, I said, “Yes!”

I hope the question is properly raised by an authorized group because it is important that there be clarity about the terms of bishops and their election.

Some parts of Africa have the tradition of their bishops having to be re-elected every four years. When missionary bishop Ralph Dodge was working in Africa, he never presumed on a longer term but always insisted on that re-election process. He was honored with re-election each time until he retired. I wish that process was in effect in the U. S. It might curb the overreach of bishops that I have seen during my lifetime.