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)


Friday, November 24, 2017

JCM 1345



No Reconsideration

There were a number of requests for reconsideration of JCD 1341 which the Council denied.

JCD 1341 was about what might be included as evidence in a self-avowal of homosexual activity which would be contrary to church law and the rights of a person elected to the episcopacy, specifically the Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto, bishop of two conferences in the Rocky Mountain region of the Western Jurisdiction.

The key provision of JCD 1341 is to provide fair process rights when accusations of being a practicing self-avowed homosexual arise.  Another provision added public records such as marriage licenses as possible evidence.  A trial court would have to decide whether or not that was sufficient proof.

Denial of reconsideration leaves JCD 1341 intact.  And that denial says that the Council will not be the venue for any form of hearing to determine whether or not the nomination, election, and administration of Bishop Oliveto could be overturned.  That could only be done by the jurisdiction under the rule of law within the Book of Discipline.

As of this posting, no complaints against the bishop have been concluded.  By unwritten policy of the denomination, nearly all complaint procedures are rarely tracked in detail while they are in process so it is unlikely that anyone will know anything until the conclusion of the judicial processes.  That can take two or more years in complex and difficult cases.

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