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)


Sunday, November 10, 2013

JCM 1241

 http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263&JDID=1363&JDMOD=VWD&SN=1201&EN=1259

RECONSIDERATION OF JCD 1238

This memorandum deals with the decision made last spring (JCD 1238) where the Council ruled on three items, accountability for use of funds contributed by Western Pennsylvania Conference; accountability for passing along a specific payment to a particular pastor; and accountability for handling of a complaint.  

The Council ruled that there was no way they could determine who was telling the truth about a breakdown in communications between the African bishop and the American group in Western Pennsylvania, something they might have been able to handle had the funds gone through either the Board of Global Ministries or General Council on Finance and Administration where accounting is more tightly handled.

The Council ruled that the pastor should be paid and would follow up on that.

The Council felt it was in no position to deal with the complaint issue because it had no way to determine the truth where the two parties differed about what happened to the process.

See the posting on this blog about JCD 1238 of last spring.

This memorandum states the Council will not go beyond its previous decision.  The concurring opinion, signed by a minority of the Council, states the Council will continue to take responsibility for the second and third issues which supports the call for payment to the pastor and adds a little more assurance that the complaint will be dealt with.

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