JCM 1186

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1307&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1100&EN=1189

A California-Pacific Conference pastor was taken before a conference relations committee facing an administrative complaint. Unresolved at the time of conference, the pastor’s advocate presented a request for a declaratory decision on the way the case was being handled and the fairness of restrictions on what the pastor could do in the hearing, among other concerns.

The Council could take no jurisdiction. The matter had not risen to become an action before the conference. Though not mentioned, JCD 1048 lay behind the Council’s decision to not look at the matter because it was not yet part of the business of the conference even though a conference committee and its practices were involved.

By taking this view, the Council leaves no way for it to intervene when something that could be contrary to church law may be going on. The Council leaves itself stuck until the conclusion of the process when it is too late to prevent unjust practices from occurring.