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)


Tuesday, July 20, 2021

JCM 1418

ee.umc.org/decisions/81543

 

“Administrative Appeal Withdrawn”

 

There were two personnel cases before the Council, JCM 1400 and this one, that I participated in.  Ordinarily, I hold off commenting on such cases, which I did not do in the former.  In this case, I really have no choice.  The parties at interest refused to discuss the matter.  

 

I will say this: The probability is that everyone is under a gag order on whatever agreement was reached which settled the case to the appellant’s satisfaction.  If the agreement had been forced, it would not likely have been accepted, and the appeal would most likely have gone forward and not been withdrawn.

 

Beyond that “I know nothingk,” as Sergeant Shultz famously said in the “Hogan’s Heroes” TV show.

 

I must add that I hope the Council and the bishops (who also “know nothingk”) will learn from these two administrative appeals settled by this session of the Council.  ¶2718.3-.4 are indeed in effect, including the necessity of Judicial Council action prior to any annual conference action on the status of the appealing pastor.  Bishops, Cabinets, the various related committees, and Boards of Ordained Ministries can no longer use unfair techniques for interviews, hearings, and votes to run a pastor out of ministry.  The Council has spoken.

 

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