JCD 1206

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1327&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1201&EN=1211

CHANGING THE TIME FOR AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE MEETING

The West Middle Philippines Annual Conference under retired Bishop Arichea’s authority faced a resolution calling for a change of time of the conference’s meeting. This appears to be an action by those who may have felt the retired bishop was acting arbitrarily. There is a history reflected in JCDs 1142 and 1152 which may be relevant here.

However, the action was taken in violation of the Discipline which requires involvement of the presiding bishop in the decision of changing the time. That had not been done in the process of passing the resolution. A counter resolution supporting Bishop Arichea was offered and this question of law from his supporters was referred to the Judicial Council. It appears that once again, the bishop used the Council to solidify his position.

Since the original resolution to change the time was not done in any official body of the conference, it could have been ruled out of order by the bishop when brought by the ad hoc group who could have then raised a question of law. However, that did not to happen, though the record is not clear on what all did happen.

It appears that friends of the bishop brought a resolution confirming the bishop’s decision about the conference’s meeting time and then a question of law supporting that was brought in order to get the backing of the Judicial Council.

Ain’t politics grand? Not really. The pain of division within the Manila area conferences who have gotten the attention of the Council over the past several years may go on and on. Hopefully, a new bishop elected this year may be able to bridge the gap between those wanting change and those unwilling to do it.