WELCOME!

Associates in Advocacy now has two sites on the internet. Our primary help site is at http://www.aiateam.org/. There AIA seeks to offer aid to troubled pastors, mainly those who face complaints and whose careers are on the line.

Help is also available to their advocates, their caregivers, Cabinets, and others trying to work in that context.

This site will be a blog. On it we will address issues and events that come up.

We have a point of view about ministry, personnel work, and authority. We intend to take the following very seriously:

THE GOLDEN RULE
THE GENERAL RULES
GOING ONTO PERFECTION

Some of our denomination's personnel practices have real merit. Some are deeply flawed. To tell the difference, we go to these criteria to help us know the difference.

We also have a vision of what constitutes healthy leadership and authority. We believe it is in line with Scripture, up-to-date managerial practice, and law.

To our great sadness, some pastors who become part of the hierarchy of the church, particularly the Cabinet, have a vision based on their being in control as "kings of the hill," not accountable to anyone and not responsible to follow the Discipline or our faith and practice. They do not see that THE GOLDEN RULE applies to what they do.

If you are reading this, the chances are you are not that way. We hope what we say and do exemplify our own best vision and will help you fulfill yours. But we cannot just leave arrogance, incompetence, and ignorance to flourish. All of us have the responsibility to minimize those in our system.

We join you in fulfilling our individual vow of expecting to be perfect in love in this life and applying that vow to our corporate life in the United Methodist Church.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you have any questions or suggestions, direct them to Rev. Jerry Eckert. His e-mail address is aj_eckert@hotmail.com. His phone number is 941 743 0518. His address is 20487 Albury Drive, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.

Thank you.

(9/26/07)


Thursday, June 6, 2013

JCD 1236


http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1358&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1201&EN=1240

NO JURISDICTION

At the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, there was a discussion of a resolution in support of the LGBT community and someone challenged whether that discussion was in order.  The bishop ruled it out of order, though this decision is not clear why or even which side of the issue’s statements were turned back by her ruling.  When the resolution was passed, the one against it again rose and asked about its appropriateness under the Discipline.  Somewhere along the line the bishop realized there was nothing in writing about the challenge and was not able to get it until after conference had ended.

The Discipline is clear.  Referrals of questions to the Judicial Council have to be in writing during conference.  That apparently did not happen.  The Council could not take jurisdiction to rule on the question.

Because the bishop tried to get the process right, the Council might have considered overlooking the technicalities in this docket item . . . .  
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