Decision Number 637

Petition from the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference for a Decision as to the Meaning of Par.505 and its Effect on a Proposed Recommendation to a Special Session of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

Digest

The action of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church is constitutional with the exception that ¶ 510.3 of the 1988 Discipline does not provide for the appointment of a retired bishop to serve as a resident bishop in such a situation.

Statement of Facts

A special session of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference was held on July 14, 1990.

The purpose of the special session was to create a tenth episcopal area to be entitled the Albany area and that a retired bishop be named to preside over the Albany Area in accordance with the recommendation of the College of Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction and the approval of the Council of Bishops. The action was adopted.

The action was based on a proposal to the Northeastern Jurisdiction from the College of Bishops. In addition, a document so recommending entitled "Visions of the Office of Bishop in the Year 2000: Northeastern Jurisdiction, United Methodist Church", had been presented at the regular session in 1988 and distributed to the Jurisdictional Conference to be used by the College of Bishops in reference to the presentation of the special session.

Prior to the holding of the special session a resolution was adopted by the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference with the following key provisions:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference request a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council, pursuant to Par. 2615.2(j) of the Discipline, as to the meaning and effect of Par. 505 of the Discipline and whether Par. 505 supports a two-step division and reorganization of Episcopal Areas which could not legally be accomplished in a single step; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that should the Judicial Council decline to entertain the above-mentioned petition for failure of jurisdiction, and should the Northeastern Jurisdiction Conference approve the recommendation, the Northern New Jersey Annual Conference shall appeal the question of the legality of such action to the Judicial Council pursuant to Par. 2610 of the Discipline, unless such an appeal is taken by the Jurisdictional Conference;...

A formal request was made for a special session of the Judicial Council and denied.

Jurisdiction

The Judicial Council has jurisdiction under Par. 2615 of the 1988 Discipline. 

Decision

The action of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church is constitutional with the exception of the fact that ¶ 510.3 of the 1988 Discipline does not provide for the appointment of a retired member to serve as a resident bishop in such a situation.

October 25, 1990