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

JCD 1415

ee.umc.org/decisions/81538

 

May the Annual Conference Vote to Affirm a Statement by the Bishop or Board of Ordained Ministry Made During the course of the Conference?

 

Several more questions of law were placed before the bishop of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference related to the authority of the annual conference to affirm or dissent from things that were said by the bishop and a conference board.

 

The bishop ruled the conference had no such authority.  Because that was at issue rather than what the bishop and board allegedly said, the Council could only deal with that question and affirmed the bishop’s response.

 

Again, a dissenting opinion brings additional light to the ruling.  Pointed out in the dissent is that the annual conference has again and again offered its opinion on matters brought before its plenary.  


Dozens of Council rulings have affirmed the right of the conference as a democratic institution to affirm or dissent.  Aspirational resolutions illustrate that right and have been affirmed by the Council many times.


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