Decision Number 185
SUBJECT TO FINAL EDITING
Petition from the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference on Eligibility of Candidates for Conference Treasurer
Digest
An Annual Conference is limited in its election of a conference treasurer to nominees of its Commission on World Service and Finance.
Statement of Facts
At a meeting of the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference held March 1, 1961, it was voted as certified by the secretary of the conference that the conference petition the Judicial Council to give a declaratory decision whether a member nominated from the floor of the Annual Conference (not a nomination of its Commission on World Service and Finance) can be elected conference treasurer and to explain further the interpretation of the first sentence of Paragraph 803 of the 1960 Discipline of The Methodist Church.
Jurisdiction
Under Paragraph 914 (8) of the 1960 Discipline this matter is properly before the Judicial Council.
Analysis and Rationale
Paragraph 791 of the 1960 Discipline provides in part: "Each AnnualConference shall elect at its session next succeeding the General Conference a Commission on World Service and Finance, --."
Paragraph 803 of the 1960 Discipline states: "Each Annual Conference, onnomination of its Commission on World Service and Finance, shall at the first session of the conference after the General Conference, elect a conference treasurer. He shall serve for the quadrennium or until his successor shall be elected and qualify. If a vacancy should occur during the quadrennium, the commission shall fill the vacancy until the next session of the Annual Conference. The commission shall have authority and supervision over the treasurer. After consultation with the bishop in charge, it may remove him from office for cause, and fill the vacancy until the next session of the conference. The commission shall have the accounts of the conference treasurer for the conference year preceding audited by a certified public accountant within ninety days after the close of each session of the Annual Conference."
From the above it is clear that a nomination by the Commission on World Service and Finance is a prerequisite to the election of a conference treasurer. Throughout the paragraph emphasis is given to the authority of the Commission on World Service and Finance, not only in its power of nomination, but also in providing that the commission shall fill any vacancy. It has authority and supervision over the treasurer and may under certain circumstances remove him from office. It also shall provide for auditing of the conference treasurer's accounts.
Decision
In electing a conference treasurer the Annual Conference is limited in its choice to persons who have been nominated by the Commission on World Service and Finance.