Judicial Council Decisions

Decisions: 401-500

401. Ruling of Bishop Jack M. Tuell in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Regarding the Reporting of Pensions and Benefits in the Conference Journal and the Designating of Payments Within Ministerial Support.

402. Petition from the Commission on the General Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Question:

403. Petition from the Commission on the General Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to Whether Paragraphs 603 and 648 of the Discipline Which Limit the Voting Rights, Privileges an Traveling Expenses of "Delegates" from Provisional Annual Conferences Overseas Are in Contradiction to Paragraphs 39 and 40 of the Constitution

404. The Power of an Annual Conference to Grant Full Membership to a Person Earlier Denied Such Membership When the Conference Deems the Earlier Action to Have Involved Injustice and Inequity, and the Retroactive Granting of Ministerial Status.

405. Petition from the Louisiana Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to the Right of an Annual Conference to Make a Decision Relative to Ministerial Classifications Without a Recommendation from the Board of the Ministry.

406. Ruling of Bishop John B. Warman in the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference on Whether or Not There Is a Principle of Confidentiality Which Would Permit an Annual Conference Board of the Ministry to Withhold Information Requested by Members of an Executive Session of the Annual Conference Bearing on the Moral Character or Spiritual Dicsiplines of Candidates for the Ministry.

407. Petition from Cornelio M. Ferrer for a Reconsideration of Judicial Council Decision No. 392.

408. Request by the Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision to Determine Whether Paragraph 21 of the Constitution Will Remain in Force for the General Conference of 1980.

409. Petition from the General Board of Global Ministries for a Declaratory Decision on the Validity of Paragraph 665.1 of the 1972 Discipline.

410. Request by the College of Bishops of the Central Conference of theMethodist Church in Southern Asia for a Reconsideration of Decision No. 350 and Memoranda Nos. 355, 369, and 374.

411. Request of General Conference for a Declara- tory Decision as to the Constitutionality of Calen- dar Item No. 251, Paragraph 705.1

412. Ruling of Bishop James M. Ault in the Wyoming Annual Conference on the Validity of an Action by a District Committee on the Ministry Dealing with a Request for the Renewal of a License to Preach

413. Request of the General Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to the Constitutionality of Legislation Fixing a Retirement Age for Bishops Which Is Different from the Retirement Age Fixed for Other Ordained Elders of the Church.

414. Petition from the Iowa Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Legality of the Last Sentence in Paragraph 657 of the 1972 Discipline.

415. Ruling of Bishop Jack M. Tuell in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference on the Constitutionality of an Annual Conference Placing Lay Observers on the Board of Ordained Ministry.

416. Effective Date for the Eight Year Limitation on Assignment of a Bishop to the Same Residence, and the Legality of Assignment of a Bishop to an Area Where He Has Had Prior But Not Consecutive Service.

417. Request of General Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to the Constitutionality of Calendar Item No. 251, Paragraph 705.1.

418. South Carolina Annual Conference Structure Based on Paragraph 705.1 of the Discipline.

419. Request for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of Paragraph 451.3 of the Discipline.

420. The Nomination and Amenability of Trustees of John Street Church.

421. Application for Rehearing with Respect to Decision No. 420 Regarding the Nomination and Amenability of Trustees of John Street Church.

422. Petition from the Philippines Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision Regarding the Constitutionality of its Action in Reducing the Number of Districts within the Annual Conference from Two to One.

423. A Petition from the General Council on Ministries for a Declaratory Decision on the following: "Does General Council on Ministries Have the Power and Authority to Add Voting Persons to Its Membership Beyond Those Designated by Paragraph 1006 of the 1976 Discipline?"

424. Petition of the General Council on Ministries for a Declaratory Decision on the Apparent Conflict between the 1976 General Conference actions in Calendar Items 191and 527 Regarding the Study Committee on Native American Ministries, and as to the Authority of the General Council on Ministries to Establish such a Committee.

425. Petition from the General Council on Ministries for a Declaratory Decision as to the Specific Status of the National Youth Ministry Organization, its Lines of Relationship with the Board of Discipleship and/or General Council on Ministries and to Whom it is Accountable and Amenable.

426. A Petiton from the General Board of Global Ministries for a Declaratory Decision as to the Constitutionality, Meaning,Application and Effect of the Requirement that "Executive Staffs of all General Boards and Agencies shall be Members of The United Methodist Church" as found in Paragraph 809.1 of the 1976 Discipline.

427. Request of General Conference for a Declaratory Decision Relating to the Constitutionality of Paragraph 451.3. Second Hearing (Judicial Council Memorandum 419).

428. Request of General Board of Pensions for a Declaratory Decision on the Meaning and Application of Paragraph 1706.4(i) of The Discipline, Dealing with Pension Schedules for Ministers who take Early Retirement under 434.5.

429. Constitutionality of Action by Executive Committee of Board of Church and Society in Reinstatement of Section 10 of the "Health Care" Statement which was Deleted by the 1976 General Conference.

430. A Ruling of Bishop Cannon in the Philippines Central Conference on Procedures adopted by the Conference for the Election of Bishops.

431. A Ruling of Bishop Cannon in the Philippines Central Conference on Question of the Number of Delegates from the Southwest Philippines Provisional Annual Conference to the 1976 Session of the Central Conference.

432. An Appeal from The Central Pennsylvania Conference on a Bishop's Ruling that a Conference Rule Requiring Church-Owned Parsonages is Contrary to the Discipline.

433. Unconstitutionality of Paragraphs 451.2 and 934.6 because of Discrimination with Respect to Appointment, Minimum Salary and Pension Rights of Clergy Couples.

434. Request of the Detroit Annual Conference for a Ruling on theConstitutionality of an Annual Conference Withholding Conference Funds from a Local Congregation in an Effort to Control the Ministry of the Church to Groups the Conference Wishes Excluded from the Use of such Facilities.

435. Request from the Florida Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of Its Election Procedures for Electing Delegates to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences.

436. Request of the Wyoming Conference for Declaratory Decision Concerning the "Eight-Year Rule" of Limitation on Service of a "Local Pastor" as Provided by Discipline. Paragraphs 408, 409

437. Request of the Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision as to the Right of Missionary Conferences to Ordain Ministers.

438. A Ruling of Bishop Cannon in the Philippines Central Conference on Question of the Number of Delegates from the Southwest Philippines Provisional Annual Conference to the 1976 Session of the Central Conference.

439. Editorial Clarification of Decision No. 436.

440. A Request from the College of Bishops of the Southeastern Jurisdiction for a Declaratory Decision on the Legality of an Annual Conference Requiring More than One Year Under Episcopal Appointment and Formal Supervision by a District Superintendent for Eligibility for Full Conference Membership and Elders Orders, in Light of the Provisions of Discipline Paragraphs 421 and 702.3.

441. Requests for a Ruling on Discipline Paragraph 705.3 as it Relates to the Limitations in Paragraph 706 Concerning the Maximum Number of Persons Who May Be Elected to a Conference Council on Finance and Administration.

442. Constitutionality of Subparagraph 1706.4(a)(2) of

443. Request from the Virginia Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of its Plan for Electing Jurisdictional and General Conference Delegates.

444. Request from the Louisville Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to the Application of Discipline Par. 413.1 to Fully Ordained, Credentialed Ministers from Other Churches, and Whether Par. 426.2 Provides for Recognition of Elders Orders or their Equivalent Counterpart in Other Christian Churches Simultaneous with Reception of Such Candidates into Probationary or Associate Membership in the Annual Conference.

445. Request from the Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of Discipline Par. 1316.5, in the Light of Section II, Article IV.6 of the Constitution (Par. 15).

446. The Constitutionality of the Disciplinary Requirements for One-Third Laywomen, One-Third Laymen, and One-Third Clergy Representation on Annual Conference and General Church Agencies.

447. The Authority of the Jurisdictional Conference to Cause Union, Merger, Division or Dissolution of an Annual Conference Without Consent of Each Annual Conference Affected by Such Action.

448. Right of Missionary Conferences to Ordain Ministers and forms of Ministerial Membership of Missionary Conferences.

449. Untitled

450. Application of Par. 433 (Leave of Absence) to Probationary Members of the Annual Conference.

451. Constitutionality of Discipline Par. 804.1 as it Relates to the Number of Basic Members of the General Boards Elected by Each Jurisdiction.

452. Request of the General Council on Ministries for a Ruling on the Constitutionality of Pars. 632.1 and 620.1 of the Discipline Regarding Election of the Jurisdictional Committees on Episcopacy and the Interjurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy in View of Par. 55 of the Constitution.

453. Apparent Conflict Between Discipline Par. 2201 and Report 28 of the 1976 Daily Christian Advocate as to the Timing of the Implementation of the Report of the Study Committee on Native American Ministries.

454. Request of the Council of Bishops for a Declaratory Decision Regarding the Procedure by which an Autonomous or Affiliated Autonomous Church can Become Part of The United Methodist Church.

455. The Right of an Annual Conference to Include in the Ministerial Support Apportionment Items not Specified in Pars. 929 and 930 of the Discipline.

456. Financial Responsibility of an Annual Conference for Unpaid Pastoral Salary and Unpaid Benevolence Apportionments When a Congregation is Discontinued as a United Methodist Church.

457. untitled

458. AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO REPRESENT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN LITIGATION.

459. Leave of Absence Under Par. 433.

460. Request from the North Carolina Conference for a Declaratory Decision Relative to the Meaning of Par. 248, the Discipline, with Respect to the Qualifications of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of a Local Church and the Powers of a District Superintendent in Calling a Special Session of a Charge Conference to Deal with Items Related to Pars. 518, 519 and 522.

461. Constitutionality of a Proposal for the Establishment of A Basic and Uniform Salary Plan by an Annual Conference in Light of Par. 934.8 of the Discipline.

462. Eligibility of a Full Member of an Annual Conference for Appointment to a Charge.

463. Request of an Annual Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Constitutionality of the Action Taken by Several General Boards and Agencies Not to Hold Meetings in States That Have Not Ratified the Equal Rights Amendment.

464. Whether a Diaconal Minister (Par. 303-311,Discipline) may Serve as a Lay Member of an Annual Conference According to Par. 307.

465. Whether the Requirement of Disclosure of Remuneration, Discipline Par. 937, Prevails over Institutional Policies which Prohibit such Disclosures.

466. The Membership Status of a Missionary Who is a Ministerial Member of a Provisional Annual Conference Serving Under Assignment by the Board of Global Ministries.

467. Nomination by the Annual Conferences of Basic Members of the Program Boards Under Par. 804.

468. Invalidity of 1972 Amendment of General Rules by General Conference Without Required Vote of the Annual Conferences, and Modification of Decision No. 358.

469. Unconstitutionality of an Annual Conference Action That Requires All Local, District and Conference Officers and Central and General Conference Delegates From an Annual Conference to Make a Covenant to Tithe in Order to Qualify for These Positions.

470. The Right of the Puerto Rico Annual Conference to Become an Affiliated Autonomous Church, According to an Action of the 1972 General Conference; or to Become a Central Conference under Par. 650 of the 1976 Discipline.

471. The Meaning and Application of Pars. 734.4 and 1701.1, Including a Reduction of Pension of the Pastor Serving a Church Which Fails to Pay its Apportionment for the Minister's Share of the Health Insurance Plan of the Annual Conference.

472. Election of Jurisdictional Conference Committees on Episcopacy and the Constitutionality of Pars. 632.1 and 620.1 of the 1976 Discipline.

473. Eligibility of Ministerial Members of the Annual Conference on Leave to Participate in the Election of Delegates, or Be Elected, to General or Jurisdictional Conferences.

474. Request for a Declaratory Decision Relative to a Number of Questions Relating to Actions Taken at a Local Church Charge Conference.

475. Accountability of Bishops and the Constitutionality of Par. 525.3 of the Discipline.

476. Constitutionality of an Annual Conference voting to include parts of the Discipline in its own Standing Rules.

477. Constitutionality of Making Local Pastors, under Full Time Appointment to a Pastoral Charge, Ministerial Members of the Annual Conference with Limited Voting Rights.

478. Constitutional Authority of the General Conference to Amend Ministerial Education Fund Legislation.

479. Equalization of Lay and Ministerial Membership of the Annual Conference.

480. Legal Status or Effect of Footnotes in the Discipline.

481. Constitutionality of the Ministerial Pension Plan, the Comprehensive Protection Plan and Related Legislation.

482. Legality of Proposed Mandatory Prior Consultation of Advance Committee with Annual Conference Board or Agency Responsible for Missions.

483. Method of Amendment of Constitution.

484. Untitled

485. dministrative Location-Validity of Discipline Par. 449.2.

486. Request of the General Conference for a Declaratory Decision as to the Constitutionality of Discipline Par. 2623.3(c), Dealing with Suspension by a Bishop of a Local Pastor or Ministerial Member of an Annual Conference Pending Investigation.

487. Request of the General Conference for a Declaratory Decision on the Application of General Conference Rule 35 to the Committee on Administrative Order's Report Calendar Item No. 535 in view of the Committee Chairman's Statement to the Conference. (DCA, page 938, column 1-2)

488. Consideration of an Application for Rehearing of Decision No. 474.

489. Constitutionality of Equitable Salary Plan Provision Dealing With a Refusal by a Full Time Pastor of a Ministerial Appointment Above the Equitable Salary Level.

490. Request of General Conference for a Ruling on the Constitutionality of a Study Document on Human Sexuality.

491. Right of an Annual Conference to Create a Task Force to Study Homophobia.

492. Right of a Ministerial Member in Good Standing of an Annual Conference to an Appointment and Financial Responsibility for Failure to Appoint.

493. Constitutionality of Par. 810.5 (1980 Discipline) Which Makes any VotingMember of a General Agency a Voting Member of the Corresponding Annual Conference Agency, in Light of its Apparent Conflict with Par. 706 of the 1976 Discipline. (708.2, 1980 Discipline)

494. Obligation of Annual Conference that has Amended its Budget to Resubmit its Apportionments to the Local Churches.

495. Unconstitutionality of Restrictions Placed by an Annual Conference on Eligibility for Election of Lay Members of Annual Conference.

496. The Program Agency Status of the Standing General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and its Amenability, Accountability and Relationship.

497. Appeal of Joseph C. Evers

498. Constitutionality of Temporary Suspension of an Elder from Ministerial Responsibilities,Pending Trial, Upon Recommendation of Committee on Investigation, under Par. 2623.3(e).

499. Re-hearing of Decision No. 496 Pertaining to the Election of its General Secretary by the Standing General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (COCUIC).

500. Limitations of the Pastor's Ex-officio Status as Defined in Discipline Par. 253.

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