Memorandum Number 695
SUBJECT TO FINAL EDITING
Review of Bishop's Decision of Law in the Florida Conference Concerning Administrative Location Procedures.
Digest
Proceedings for administrative location must be carried out with careful attention to both Pars. 454 and 2622. The decision of the bishop is not affirmed.
Statement of Facts
During the 1993 session of the Florida Annual Conference Bishop H. Hasbrouck Hughes, Jr. was presented with a list of 21 questions regarding the process of administrative location of a pastor in the Florida Conference. Some of the questions were not questions of law, and that was noted by Bishop Hughes in his written response. The questions all related to the fairness of the procedure followed by the Florida Conference in the administrative location process.
The decision of Bishop Hughes is not affirmed.
A recommendation for administrative location must be made with due attention to fair process as well as efforts for reconciliation. It is apparent from the record that many attempts for reconciliation were made; however, fair process as required by Par. 2622 was not followed in this instance. No timely hearing following the dictates of Pars. 454 and 2622 was afforded to the pastor prior to the formulation of the original recommendation for administrative location.
The pastor, while currently on disability, was not legally placed on administrative location. If and when he comes off disability, he will not be on administrative location. Any future proceedings for administrative location must be carried out with careful attention to both Pars. 454 and 2622. (See Decisions 691 and 698 for further discussion of the meaning of Pars. 454 and 2622.)