JCM 1207

http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1328&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1201&EN=1211

AN INDIVIDUAL’S REQUEST FOR A JUDICIAL COUNCIL RULING

From that Manila Area came a request for a declaratory decision from a suspended bishop. Unfortunately, no conference or other Disciplinary body forwarded it so the Judicial Council could not take jurisdiction.

As I have reported in the past, I was consulted on some matters by those related to the bishop making the request. These matters from the Philippines docketed by the Council this spring were not referred to me. I have no idea what concerns the inquiring bishop has other than that multiple suspensions by the college of bishops of the Philippines that he has faced may not be legal. However, the request was not included in the memorandum. The last I knew, the suspensions continue and the central conference is left to figure out what to do about election to replace that bishop or, as the South Central Jurisdiction has done in bishop Bledsoe’s case, leave an opening until the matter is resolved.
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