FALL 2013 DOCKET FOR JUDICIAL COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 23‐26, 2013 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

 DOCKET 1013‐1
IN RE: Review of Revised Standing Rules of the North Texas Conference in Light of
Judicial Council Decisions 1198 and 1225
Digest of Decision 1225: The case is remanded to the North Texas Annual Conference for
revision and completion of the plan and to fulfill disciplinary requirements of paragraph 604
and to comply with Decision 1198. This plan is to be returned to the Secretary of the Judicial
Council 30 days after the close of the 2013 annual conference. (See Docket 1012‐9)

DOCKET 1013‐2
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the North Carolina Annual
Conference Regarding Report of the Transition Team in Light of Judicial Council
Decision 1224
Digest of Decision 1224: The Judicial Council remands this docket Item back to the Secretary of
the North Carolina Annual Conference with instructions to provide the Judicial Council with the
following: minutes from the 2011 Annual Conference, 2011‐2012 minutes from the district
conferences and a document that locates all districts within the bounds of the annual
conference. Furthermore, the North Carolina Annual Conference is instructed to also submit
evidence that the roles of the District Superintendent and the role of the Assistant to the
District Superintendents have been clearly defined. Submissions must reach the desk of the
Secretary of the Judicial Council no later than 30 days after the close of the 2013 annual
conference. (See Docket 1012‐7)

DOCKET 1013‐3
IN RE: Review of the Conference Plan of Structure of the South Carolina Annual
Conference in Light of Judicial Council Decisions 1204 and 1222
Digest of Decision 1222: We find partial compliance with Decision 1204, but cannot waive full
adherence to mandates of the Discipline. We remand anew to the South Carolina Annual
Conference to follow fully ¶ 614.3 on line item budget of commission on archives and history
for benevolences and ¶ 633.3 on membership of the secretary of global ministries in the
Annual Conference Board of Global Ministries and to report to us within 30 days from the last
day of the 2013 Annual Session. Our continuing jurisdiction is maintained. (See Docket 1012‐9)

DOCKET 1013‐4
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Congo Central Conference
Regarding Mandatory Retirement Age for Bishops in Light of ¶¶ 50, 408, and
543.3 and Judicial Council Decision 1240
Decision 1240: A decision is deferred until the Secretary of the Congo Central Conference
provides minutes of the relevant session. The Judicial Council retains jurisdiction. (See Docket
0413‐4)

DOCKET 1013‐5
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Philippines Central Conference
Regarding the Legality of Proposed Rules for the Election of Bishops
Motion: I move that the presiding Bishop make a ruling on Page 9, Line 229 the whole section
on Committee on Elections.
Specifically, the request was whether Article 2, Part E, Sections 18‐20 and Article 5, Part A,
Section 1‐9 of the Committee on Plan of Organization and Rules of Order (CPBRO) Proposal "are
in conflict with Par. 405 of the 2008 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church and with
Sec. III, Part A.3 of the Philippines Central Conference Plan of Organization and Rules of Order as
printed in the 2012 Handbook for Delegates, page 85."

DOCKET 1013‐6
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law at the Western Jurisdictional
Conference Regarding the Relationship Between ¶ 2711.2 and the Resolution “The
Sense of the 2012 Western Jurisdictional Conference in Light of Judicial Council
Decision 1237
The Bishop’s decision that the question is moot is not affirmed. The matter is remanded
to the Bishop for a substantive ruling on the question of law within thirty days, and the Judicial
Council retains jurisdiction. (See Docket 0413‐2)

DOCKET 1013‐7
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Texas Annual Conference
Regarding the Appointment of a Pastor in Light of ¶¶ 420, 421, 430, 431, 432, 433,
362, and 2703
Was the appointment process used in moving Rev. Michael Caldwell from Rusk to Lissie
(December 2009‐June 2010) in keeping with p. 363, par. 420, par. 421.1‐3, par 430.1, par 431,
par. 432, par. 433.1‐5a, and with the understanding of fairness in par. 2703.2, par. 362b‐e
within and of The Discipline of the United Methodist Church?
Question of Law asked by a clergy member of the Texas Conference during the Texas
Conference’s Annual Conference Meeting (May 2013).
DOCKET 1013‐8
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Texas Annual Conference
Regarding the “Clergy Triad Process” in Light of ¶¶ 361, 363, and 604
“Is our triad process in keeping with paragraph 361.1(b), par. 604 and par. 363 of The
Discipline?”
This question of law is asked by a clergy member of the Texas Conference during its Annual
Conference meeting (May 2013)

DOCKET 1013‐9
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the New England Annual Conference
Regarding Setting the Agenda for an Annual Conference in Light of Judicial Council
Decisions 367 and 876 and ¶ 605.2
Bishop Devadhar, pursuant to paragraph 51 and 2609.6 in the Book of Discipline, I am
requesting a ruling of law.
Judicial Council Decisions 367 and 876 state in part, “Any organizational structure in an Annual
Conference dealing with legislative matters must protect: the rights of the Annual Conference
to receive and act on all proposals brought to it…and the rights of individual members of the
conference to be informed on and to participate fully in all legislative decisions.”;
In addition, Paragraphs 605.4 and 605.5, direct that “the business of annual conference shall
include receiving and acting upon reports…”that come from a variety of sources.
Before this body, we have 33 action items, including#101‐120, 201‐209, and 301‐304.
Paragraph 605.2 authorizes the Annual Conference to adopt an agenda in order to expedite the
transaction of its business.
My questions are this:
1) When setting the agenda pursuant to paragraph 605.2, and in light of the principles
expressed in Judicial Council Decision 367 and 876,do action items, specifically including
resolutions focused on social issues such as #207 and #208, have the same standing as business
items as reports do under paragraphs 605.4 and 605.5?
2) As business/action items, must they thus be given precedence, along with other business
items mandated in paragraph 605, over other agenda items during the Annual Conference
session that are not covered under paragraph 605 and thus are not mandatory"

DOCKET 1013‐10
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the North Carolina Annual
Conference Regarding the Application of ¶ 613.19 to the Conference Budget
During the 2013 session of the North Carolina Annual Conference a clergy member asked the following
question:
Under the Annual Conference Section:
1613.20. To ensure that no annual conference board, agency, committee,
commission, or council shall give United Methodist funds to any gay caucus or group, or
otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality or violate the
expressed commitment of the UMC "not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and
friends"(11161.F). The council shall have the right to stop such expenditures. This restriction
shall not limit the Church's ministry in response to the HIV epidemic, nor shall it preclude
funding for dialogs or educational events where the Church's official position is fairly and
equally represented.
Line item 54 in our budget outlines an amount to be sent to the
North Carolina Council of Churches. Does this line item violate ¶613.20?
I have looked at the activities of the North Carolina Council of
churches and have found that their treatment on this issue is decidedly one‐sided and
appears to "promote the acceptance of homosexuality by:
1) Electing a self avowed practicing homosexual as president‐elect of its body in 2011.
2) Advocating for the legalization of homosexual marriage.
3) Admitting into its membership denominations that ordain self avowed
homosexuals and conduct same sex marriages or unions.
4) Providing worship resources that encourage acceptance of homosexuality.
Upon extensive research into the North Carolina Council of Churches position, I could
find nothing that provides the position that the practice of homosexuality is a sin or a call to
repentance. Quite the opposite‐all the literature, position papers, etc., sound the call that the
practice of homosexuality is to be accepted as a normal lifestyle.
Regardless of one's position on the issue of homosexuality and how it relates to the
church I am confident that any reasonable person would admit that the practices outlined
above to "promote the acceptance of homosexuality" the only issue is whether one is
supportive of advancing the acceptance of homosexuality or not.
Docket 1013‐11
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Southwest Texas Annual
Conference Regarding the Meaning, Effect, and Application of ¶¶ 313 and 635.2 in
Regards to the Discontinuance of a Certified Candidate
A clergy member of the Southwest Texas Annual Conference made the following request “I request a ruling
of law as to whether a Board of Ordained Ministry can discontinue the candidacy of a certified candidate for
ordained ministry who has been appropriately recommended by district committee on ordained ministry
without an interview and examination by that Board of Ordained Ministry?"

Docket 1013‐12
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the New York Annual Conference
Regarding the Application of ¶¶ 304.3, 341.6, and 2702 and Judicial Council
Decisions 886, 1111, and 1115 to Petition Entitled “Commendation of Those Who
Have Taken a Stand for Justice”
I request A Ruling Of Law by the Bishop on whether Item 3015, Petition #2013‐310,
"Commendation Of Those Who Have Taken A Stand For Justice," adopted by the New York
Annual Conference on June 7, 2013 violates The Book Of Discipline Paragraphs 304.3, 341.6 and
2702 and Judicial Council Decisions 886, 1111, and 1115 and is therefore void.
Petition #2013‐310 — Commendation of Those Who Have Taken a Stand for Justice
WHEREAS the New York Annual Conference has taken a consistent stand for more than thirty years calling
for the inclusion of God's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender children in the full life of The
United Methodist Church. It has affirmed that "sexuality is God's good gift to all persons" and that
the diversity of that gift should bar no one from answering the call to ministry, from recognition of
her or his covenantal relationships, or from membership in the church community39, and
WHEREAS the New York Annual Conference has supported same‐sex couples' right to full equality in
civil society (2003 and 2007), has opposed The United Methodist Church's prohibition against samesex
marriages (1999 and 2010), and has supported the recognition that the "sanctity of marriage"
applies equally to same‐sex couples (2007), and
WHEREAS the jurisdiction of the New York Annual Conference includes parts of both the state of
New York and the state of Connecticut, states where civil marriage is legal for same‐sex couples,
presenting a crisis for our churches and clergy who need to provide pastoral care for members and
families who are part of our congregations, and
WHEREAS the New York Annual Conference declared in 2012 that "clergy, lay persons and
congregations encountering institutional discrimination that inhibits equal access to the means of grace
for all persons may feel bound by conscience to offer the ministries and sacraments of the church to all
persons on an equal basis" and that "Those who so act according to conscience do so in a way that is
consistent with the long‐standing principled declarations of this annual conference," and
WHEREAS there have been many prophetic and pastoral individuals and congregations within The
United Methodist Church who have taken actions that are aligned with the New York Annual Conference
and our longstanding efforts towards the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in the
life and ministry in the church.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the Rev. Jimmy Creech
for officiating at the covenant services of same‐sex couples in 1997 and in 1999, subsequently
enduring two church trials in the Nebraska Annual Conference and losing his ministerial credentials,
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the Rev. Gregory Dell for
providing pastoral care to same‐sex couples in his congregation, Broadway United Methodist Church,
in Chicago, Illinois, who endured a church trial in 2000 and was suspended from ministry for a year,
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the Rev. Donald Fado and
the 67 additional clergy members of the Cal‐Nevada Annual Conference who co‐officiated at the
blessing of a Holy Union in Sacramento in 2000, and the Committee on Investigation of that
annual conference, who refused to bring charges against those clergy, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto
for her pastoral care to eight couples who were seeking to be married during a one‐month period in 2004
when same‐sex marriages were briefly legal in San Francisco, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the Rev. Amy
DeLong for herpastoral ministry to a same‐sex couple in the Wisconsin Annual Conference in 2009
and enduring a church trial for this pastoral act of ministry in 2011, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the 208 clergy,
869 laity, and 6 congregations within our own annual conference who have pledged to offer
pastoral ministry to same‐sex couples seeking services of marriage, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend the more than
1,100 clergy across the connection who have pledged that they will also officiate at services
for same‐sex couples, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend Bishop Melvin
Talbert and his call for United Methodists to ignore the prohibitions against GLBT people that
are found in The Book of Discipline and saying "I declare to you that the derogatory language
and restrictive laws in The Book of Discipline are immoral, and unjust and no longer
deserve our loyalty and obedience," a call which has made him the target of opponents of
the LGBT people in The UMC, who have called for his censure, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New York Annual Conference commend all of those
unnamed clergy, laity, and congregations whose bold actions and courageous statements
help to provide for the pastoral needs of same‐sex couples within The United Methodist
Church.

Docket 1013‐13
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the California‐Pacific Annual
Conference Regarding the Legality of a Resolution Urging Bishops, Clergy, Local
Churches, and Ministry Settings “to Operate as if the Statement in ¶ 161f Does
Not Exist.”
On June 15, 2013, those present and voting in the official session of the California‐
Pacific Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted Resolution 13‐16,
Biblical Obedience, which states as follows:
"WHEREAS, the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church at it July 2012
meeting overwhelmingly passed a resolution entitled, "A Statement of Biblical
Obedience,"
WHEREAS the Christian Church, throughout its history, has changed practice and opinion
based on a fuller understanding of how God is at work and through the influence of the
Holy Spirit,
WHEREAS the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
continues to work toward inclusion and justice for all God's people,
LET IT BE RESOLVED that the California Pacific Annual Conference supports the action taken
by the Western Jurisdiction as outlined in the following statement adopted by the
Jurisdictional Conference
A Statement of Biblical Obedience
In response to our common belief that God's grace and love is available to all
persons, the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church states our belief
that the United Methodist Church is in error on the subject of "homosexuality's
incompatibility with Christian teaching."
We commend to our bishops, clergy, local churches and ministry
settings, the challenge to operate as if the statement in Para. 161F does
not exist, creating a church where all people are truly welcome.
The secretary of the Western Jurisdictional Conference will submit this statement
of Gospel Obedience to the Jurisdictional College of Bishops, each Annual
Conference, and chairpersons of Boards of Ordained Ministry for discussion and
implementation.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the California Pacific Annual Conference will encourage
Conference Leadership, The Cabinet, and the Board of Ordained Ministry to consider
this resolution as a guideline should any disciplinary actions result in living out this call to
be an inclusive church."
Appeal
After the adoption of Resolution 13‐16, Biblical Obedience, a clergy member
requested "for an appeal for a ruling of law under ¶2609.6 on the following
question: Is it legal for an annual conference to take an action urging the church 'to
act as if ¶161F of The Book of Discipline does not exist' as in Resolution 13‐16?"
(taken from the Annual Conference's official Motion From the Floor.)

DOCKET 1013‐14
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual
Conference Regarding a Resolution That Authorizes the Council on Finance and
Administration, the Primary Task Team and Its Executive Committee, the
Personnel Committee, and the Bishop to Take Certain Actions Between Sessions of
Annual Conference.
May the Annual Conference as the Basic Body in the Church
1. Approve a resolution to adopt the Strategic Ministry Plan, Greater New Jersey Annual
Conference, Pre‐Conference Journal, p. 29, lines 5‐7, and authorize the Conference Council on
Finance and Administration and Primary Task Team between sessions of the Annual Conference
to “review and organize the conference budget in alignment with the plan and
allocate/negotiate any necessary shifts within the budget to carry out the plan?” (Pre‐
Conference Journal, p. 45, lines 10‐12);
2. May it authorize the Personnel Committee, the Council on Finance and Administration,
and the Primary Task Team, between sessions of the Annual Conference, to “review present
staffing and organization and change as necessary...to implement the plan? (Pre‐Conference
Journal, p. 45, lines 10‐12);
3. May it authorize the Primary Task Team Executive Committee and Bishop, between
sessions of the Annual Conference to “assign staff to the plan so that each goal and strategy has
a staff person assigned?” (Pre‐Conference Journal, p. 45, lines 13‐14)

DOCKET 1013‐15
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual
Conference Regarding the Authority of the Primary Task Team Between Sessions
of the Annual Conference to Approve and Implement a Disaster Response Plan and
Budget, to Approve and Implement “A Future with Hope” Corporation, and to
Elect a Board of Directors for “A Future with Hope”
A clergy member of the Greater New Jersey Conference submitted the following questions in
writing during the 2013 Annual Conference Session:
Does the Primary Task Team have authority between sessions of the Annual Conference to
1. Approve and implement a disaster‐response plan and budget to respond to the
devastation from Superstorm Sandy,
2. Approve and implement the establishment of “A Future with Hope” corporation, and
3. Elect a Board of Directors for “A Future with Hope”?
(Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, Pre‐conference Journal, pp. 133 line 33 – 134, line 19)

DOCKET 1013‐16
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual
Conference Regarding the Relationship Between the Annual Conference and “A
Future with Hope”
Is the proposal on page 98, lines 28‐30 of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Pre‐
Conference Journal, that The Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United
Methodist Church, the 580 United Methodist Congregations will serve as the organization the
(sic) underwrites the administrative overhead for A Future with Hope and provides
volunteers and loans administrative staff to a Future of Hope a form of category budgeting
that prevents the Annual Conference from its duty as the basic body in the church to present
and approve specific line item allocations for its proposed annual budget?
Does this provision in the Future with Hope legislation not establish a formal link between the
Annual Conference and the Future with Hope non‐profit corporation that makes the Annual
Conference a guarantor of any failed obligations that may accrue from its (the Future with
Hope’s) administrative and program activities?

DOCKET 1013‐17
IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Greater New Jersey Annual
Conference Regarding the Relationship of the President of the Council on Finance
and Administration with the Future with Hope Corporation, in light of ¶ 612.2b
Does the service performed simultaneously by Mr. John Bishop as President of the Board of
Directors of the Future with Hope Corporation, an entity requesting permission to conduct a
mission fund campaign to raise 12 million dollars from the churches in the annual
conference, and as President of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, the
entity responsible for reviewing and recommending the request to the Annual Conference,
conflict with ¶612.2.b), the 2012 Book of Discipline, which reads in part: “No...director of
any agency or institution participating in the funds of any conference budget shall be eligible
for voting membership on the council.”?

UMC SOUTHERN NIGERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ELECTS NEW DIVISIONS OFFICIALS

The United Methodist Church Southern Nigeria Annual Conferences has taken a good initiative for peace, unity, and transformation in the church despite the challenges facing it. The church for the past ten years has being experiencing different challenges within and out the church. Within, the church has being facing the challenge of tribalism and sectionalism which has affected effective leadership in the church; while outside, the church has being facing the challenge of a deadly waves of Islamic extremism known as Boko Haram, which has mount a target of killing and destroying churches in Northern Nigeria; a region where the church has it headquarters. We thank God for the new leadership of bishop John Wesley Yohanna, who has taken a stand to mend the broken relationships that has exist in the Church for the past ten years. And has taken an initiative to bring both Muslims and Christians together on one table of dialogue and religious tolerance.

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. Women Division

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. Men Division

 This weekend the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference various divisions/Singing groups  in the church  gathered to elect it new officials for the next quadrennium . This is in respond to the resolution of the 31st session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference meeting held at the United Methodist Church No.1 Bali July 11-14, 2013. This weekend over 150 representative of the various divisions/singing groups in the church gathered at the United Methodist Church TSBS Mile 6 to elect new officials for their groups for the next quadrennium. During the meeting Rev. Luka C. Kiki in his brief exhortation admonished all the representatives to be good ambassadors of Christ in their respective groups, and encourages peace, love, forgiveness and unity  in the Church. The Rev. Luka, also encourages them to give their maximum support for those whom God will choose among them to lead them. At the gathering, prayers were also offered for bishop Yohanna, the Church, and the State.

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf.  Youth&Young Adult

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. Young Female Network

 The representative were very happy and pledge their support for the Bishop by promising to put in their best in working for peace and unity among their respective groups. The elections were conducted peacefully and the official will soon be sworn into office by the bishop.

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria has over 900, 000 church members within it three Annual Conferences; the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference, the Central Nigeria Annual Conference, and the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference. These Conference made up the Episcopal Area under one bishop i.e. Bishop John Wesley Yohanna.   Please keep praying for these new group officials.

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conference Choir

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. Nazarin Littafi da Wakoki

The United Methodist Church is one global Church. We have in the discipline of the Church what we called Connectionalism; this is a channel in which all UM Churches and ministries are chained together to live by the mission and vision of the church, which is to "make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." UM Church in Nigeria, Africa, Asia, Europe North and South America, all over the world is one United Methodist Church. We in Nigeria and Africa as a whole are very appreciative of what our partners in America and Europe are doing to promote ministries that are life changing throughout Africa, ministries that rendered social services to both Christians and non Christians. Our prayer is that, the United Methodist Church will continue to be one United Church and continue in it life changing ministry throughout the world.

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. Sunday School Committee

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. Boys/Girls Brigade 

The roguish statement going round some UM  churches in Nigeria (specifically in the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference) that, the UM Churches in America or Europe is trying to divide the UM Church in Nigeria is not only untrue but fallacious statement that aims at preparing a fertile ground for the few individuals who wants to break out of the UMC Southern Nigeria Annual Conference just because they were not able to have their ways in the last bishop's election.  And using the debate over human sexuality in UMC around the globe as a scapegoat to achieve their egocentric desire.

Elected Officials of UMCN Southern Conf. New Life for All Singers

 Zanchen nan na auren mace da mace ko miji da miji daddaden zanche ne wadda tafi shekaru harba'in a ekklesiyar UMC ta America ko Europe. Kai ba ma ekklesiyar UMC kadai ba!! Eklessiyar ta UMC tana da matsayi mai kyau game da wanna zanche "Ekklesiyar mu ta ce, bada yanchi ga mace da mace ko miji da miji su yi aure ya tsaba (karya) wa koyaswan littafi Mai Tsarki." Don haka ta hana fastocin ta yin haka kuma ta hana yin amfani da masukunin ta domin yin haka. 

Mu a Afrika muna da ala'adu masu kyau wadda basu saba wa koyaswar Littafi Mai Tsarki ba, daya daga cikin waddan nan ala'adu shine aure tsakanin Miji da Mace tare da haifan yaya da renon iyali. Mu bamu yarda da wannan batun aure tsakanin Mace da Mace ko Miji da Miji ba, wannan ba koyarwar littafi Mai tsarki ba. Kada wasu su rika amfani da wanna batu a ekklesiyar UMC na Nigeria domin su sami mutane da zasu barge da su zuwa wata ekklesiya. Ekklesiyar UMC a Nigeria  na samun cigaba sosai a Nigeria duk da kalubalai da take fuskanta.

UMC JUDICIAL COUNCIL DOCKET FOR APRIL 2013

Docket 0413 With All Documents

Docket 0413

‐1

IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Desert Southwest Annual

Conference Regarding the Resolution Entitled “Inclusiveness Resolution”

Request for a Ruling of Law

Statement of Facts

The Desert Southwest Annual Conference, held at Glendale, Arizona on June 24, 2012,

adopted the following resolution: 21.30 Inclusiveness Resolution.

During the discussion of the above mentioned resolution Rev. Duane Combs asked for a

ruling of law on the resolution. As presiding officer, I, Bishop Minerva G. Carcalio ruled

Rev. Combs out of order since no decision had thus far been made by the body. I further

stated that I would be willing to consider Rev. Combs' request for a ruling of law once a

decision was made.

The 21.30 Inclusiveness Resolution was passed by the annual conference by an

overwhelming majority. It states as follows:

Inclusiveness Resolution 21.30

WHEREAS the 2012 General

Conference of the United Methodist Church retained

language in the Book of Discipline which continues to discriminate against Lesbian,

Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons; and

WHEREAS, No

other marginalized group has been singled out in the Book of Discipline

for discrimination or special exclusionary treatment. We believe this is in conflict

with our traditional and historic emphasis on God's grace being available to all. The

discriminatory language is itself in conflict with the inclusive language in other parts of the

Book of Discipline, including the Constitution of our denomination.

WHEREAS

we believe that LGBT persons should be embraced as members of the body of

Christ, as United Methodists in full standing, and as gifted children of God entitled equally

to all of the ministries, ceremonies, and sacraments of the United Methodist

Church; and

2

WHEREAS,

in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an

inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever

affects one directly, affects all indirectly"; and

WHEREAS,

the nonviolent Civil Rights movement fought for justice and equality in civil

and

religious life in the United States with compassion and courage. Yet injustice

continues to threaten us, in the United States and in the United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS,

the recognition of the full humanity, sacred worth and equal rights of LGBT

people is crucial to the civil rights struggle of our time. LGBT and straight United

Methodist laity and clergy are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, and

WHEREAS,

the continuing denial of full access to all the rights and privileges of

church membership in the United Methodist Church is causing deep spiritual harm

to our LGBT brothers and sisters and is a threat to us all; and

WHEREAS,

when asked which commandment in the law is the greatest, Jesus said,

"'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with

all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it:

'you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37

‐39): and

WHEREAS,

in his sermons "The New Birth" and "The Catholic Spirit," John Wesley taught

that as long as we hold in common the essential elements of our faith, and as long as we

unite in love, meaning that we love one another, that we commend each other to

God in prayer, that we provoke each other to love and to good works, that we love

each other not only in word but in deed and in truth, then our hearts are right and we

should walk together hand in hand. Wesley further taught that differences of opinion

ought not to tear this union of hearts asunder; and

WHEREAS,

our membership vows call us "to resist evil, injustice and oppression in

whatever forms they present themselves"; and

WHEREAS,

the first of Wesley's General Rules is to Do No Harm, and

WHEREAS,

the United Methodists Church claims to be a church of open hearts, open

minds and open doors and to be a church that practices radical hospitality,

WHEREAS

the Desert Southwest Conference, being part of the Western Jurisdiction

has affirmed the

We Will Not Be Silent statement adopted by the United Methodist

Western Jurisdictional Conference in 2000; and

WHEREAS,

the Desert Southwest Conference, took the bold and courageous stand in

2009, and voted as an Annual Conference to become a Welcoming and Reconciling

Conference; therefore let it be

3

RESOLVED

that the Desert Southwest Conference reaffirm its commitment to and work

for the full civil and ecclesiastical rights and privileges of all persons including LGBT

persons, and declares its opposition to continued restrictions of church law on the

participation of LGBT people in The United Methodist Church; and be it further

RESOLVED,

that we acknowledge when following the Book of Discipline it requires us

to do harm and injustice by discriminating against, diminishing, or demeaning our LGBT

brothers and sisters, and that we are placed in an impossible situation as to be

guided by our Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience or by the Book of

Discipline; and be it further

RESOLVED,

that the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church

work together to build a fully inclusive church. We commit to be in ministry with

all people, regardless of their economic status, race, age, ethnicity, gender,

sexuality, disability, or immigration status.

Sometime later in the plenary Rev. Combs again asked for a ruling of law on 21.30

Inclusiveness Resolution. I received the request for a ruling of law stating that I

understood I had a few days to respond and would do so.

At the conclusion of the annual conference session I requested the Combs' written

request for a ruling of law. Rev. Combs had failed to submit a written request. In an effort

to be responsive to Rev. Combs concern, I asked the conference secretary of the Desert

Southwest Conference, Rev. Louie Lyons, to attempt to obtain a written request for a

ruling of law from Rev. Combs. Rev. Combs submitted his request for a ruling of law on

July 3, 2012 by email (attached).

Rev. Combs' request for a ruling of law asks:

1.

Were the comments of the presenter acceptable?

2.

Does this resolution give the people of the Desert Southwest Conference

and the World the impression that we can pick and choose the parts of our

church law that we like or dislike and will follow?

3.

Does 21.30 meet the requirements of our Church law?

I would submit that:

1.

That the comments of the presenter were acceptable. The presenter

articulated in summary form the points of the resolution.

2.

This question is hypothetical and therefore moot. There is no way for I or

4

anyone else to determine how others will receive or respond to this

resolution.

3.

Resolution 21.30 does not ask pastors or lay persons to disobey the Book of

Discipline of The UMC.

Rather it expresses an opinion about the perceived

impact of the restrictions of church law and the frustration and pain that some

experience when following these restrictions. It encourages ministry to and with

all people in the spirit of the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church.

I would further submit that 21.30 Inclusiveness Resolution adopted by the Desert

Southwest Conference is not in violation of the

Book of Discipline of The United Methodist

Church.

Submitted by Bishop Minerva Carca

ǹo, July 25, 2012

Docket 0413

‐2

IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law at the Western Jurisdictional

Conference Regarding the Relationship Between ¶ 2711.2 and the Resolution “The

Sense of the 2012 Western Jurisdictional Conference”

Bishop's Report To The Judicial Council

Of The United Methodist Church

Addendum of Relevant Information

Report of an Episcopal decision made by Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata during the session of the Western

Jurisdiction Conference, meeting at San Diego, California on July 12, 2012.

Subject: Response to a question of law

On July 12, 2012, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Western Jurisdiction Conference meeting

in San Diego, California, a motion to adopt the petition entitled "The Sense of the Western

Jurisdiction of, the United Methodist Church" was duly presented to the body. Following discussion

and a vote, the motion was adopted. Mr. Lonnie Brooks, a layperson from the Alaska United

Methodist Conference, presented a question of law in response to the affirmative vote by the

Jurisdictional Conference on the petition submitted by the Oregon

‐Idaho Annual Conference.

The text of the question of law as presented is:

5

In the light of Par. 2711.2 of the 2008

Book of Discipline, which says, in relevant part, "The trial

court shall determine the penalty," what is the force in law on the penalty phase of any trial

conducted within the bounds of the jurisdiction of the resolution entitled "The Sense of the

Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church," adopted by the 2012 Western

Jurisdictional Conference.

THE DECISION

: The petition is flawed in that the paragraph cited (Par. 2711.2) has no language to support

the pretense of the question. The question of law Is therefore declared moot.

PETITION TO THE WESTERN JURSIDICTIONAL CONFERENCE 2012

Submitted by Laura Jaquith Bartle OR

‐ID Conference Secretary

Title: The Sense of the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, Paragraph 304.3

Sponsors: Oregon

‐Idaho Reconciling United Methodists

Oregon

‐Idaho MFSA

Jeanne Knepper (OR

‐ID clergy member)

The Oregon

‐Idaho Annual Conference wishes to submit to the 2012 Jurisdictional Conference the

following resolution:

The Sense of the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, Paragraph 304.3

Whereas the Constitution of The United Methodist Church reserves to the clergy members of each Annual

Conference the exclusive right to vote "on all matters relating to the character and conference

relations of its clergy members," [The Constitution, 133, 2008 Book of Discipline, p. 31);

And whereas The United Methodist Church reserves to the clergy members of each Jurisdiction the

exclusive right to sit on a trial court if a bishop from that jurisdiction Is charged and tried for a violation of a

disciplinary provision [12712, 2008 Book of Discipline, p. 773);

And whereas The Book of Discipline establishes among the laws of the Church that "... self

‐avowed

practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to

serve in The United Methodist Church' [2008 Book of Discipline, ¶ 304.3, p. 206];

And whereas the Western Jurisdiction has adopted resolutions and statements that are specifically

welcoming of people regardless of sexual orientation or gender Identity;

Be it hereby resolved that the sense of the Western Jurisdiction is that If any bishop of the Western

Jurisdiction be charged with ordaining or appointing a self

‐avowed practicing homosexual, and after due

Disciplinary process is tried and convicted of such an offense, that an appropriate penalty to assign

6

would be the suspension of said convicted bishop from the exercise of episcopal office [2008 Book of

Discipline, ¶ 2712.6, p. 774] for a period of 24 consecutive hours.

Docket 0413

‐3

IN RE: Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law at the Northeastern Jurisdictional

Conference Regarding Rescission of Resignation from the Episcopal Office

Report of an episcopal decision made by Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton and the Northeastern

Jurisdictional College of Bishops during the session of the Northeastern Jurisdictional

Conference, meeting at Charleston, West Virginia on Wednesday, July 18, 2012.

Subject:

During the NEJ Episcopacy Committee report to the Northeastern Jurisdictional

Conference, Rev. Joseph DiPaolo (Eastern Pennsylvania) requested, “as a question of law,

that a determination be made as to the disposition of Bishop Hae Jong Kim’s case, including

the rescission (in 2007) of his earlier letter of resignation from the episcopacy to ensure that

his case has been handled in accord with the due process requirements outlined in the Book

of Discipline.” This action took place at the opening session of the Jurisdictional Conference

on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 with Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton presiding.

Ruling on Question of Law Regarding Hae

‐Jong Kim

Submitted at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference

Charleston, West Virginia

July 19, 2012

Question of Law Regarding Hae

‐Jong Kim

I ask for a ruling from the presiding bishop, that a determination be made as to whether the

handling of the case of Bishop Hae

‐Jong Kim was in accordance with the due process

requirements outlined in the

Book of Discipline, with special attention to the following

concerns:

1) Bishop Kim’s letter to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee (dated Feb.

12, 2007, and copied to Bishop Jane Middleton) rescinding his earlier letter of

resignation was never acted upon.

The official letter from Hae

‐Jong Kim requesting the rescinding of his resignation was

addressed to the President of the Council of Bishops, Janice R. Huie (dated January 11,

2007), not the NEJ Episcopacy Committee. The letter to the NEJ Episcopacy

Committee, dated February 12, 2007, requested that the Episcopacy Committee

7

consider providing “corporate wisdom and consideration” along with the possibility of

setting up an “ad

‐hoc committee to help the process.”

At the time this letter was received, Hae

‐Jong Kim was a retired Elder of the New

Jersey Annual Conference having resigned from the episcopacy sixteen months earlier

on September 1, 2005.

The Council of Bishops, through its Executive Committee, consulted with the general

Counsel for the Church (COB Executive Committee Meeting, January 16

‐17, 2007,

Atlanta, GA, Docket item 07E

‐351) and determined that they had no jurisdiction in the

consideration of this request.

The Book of Discipline does not provide any provision for the rescinding of a

resignation. As a result, there is no procedure outlined in the Book of Discipline to act

upon such a request. As such, the request in paragraph 1 is moot and hypothetical.

2) The Council of Bishops never took any final action on his 2005 letter of resignation,

specifically, by failing to issue a “certificate of resignation” as required by para. 408.4 of

the

Book of Discipline (2008).

After extensive research it has been determined that there is no official “certificate”

which designates one as resigned from the episcopacy. The purpose of such

certification is to “entitle him or her to membership as a traveling elder in the annual

conference (or its successor) in which membership was last held.” (¶408.4, 2008 Book

of Discipline)

In the Press Release announcing Hae

‐Jong Kim’s resignation, Bishop Peter D. Weaver

(President of the Council of Bishops) states: “Bishop Kim has resigned from the

episcopacy for personal reasons, effective September 1, 2005. At that time, his clergy

membership will return to the Greater New Jersey Conference of The United

Methodist Church.”

In addition, Hae

‐Jong Kim has been listed as a “Retired Elder” in the Journal of the

Greater New Jersey Annual Conference since that time and has been listed in the

Appointment Listing of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference as the “Retired

Elder” appointed to The Alpine Community United Methodist Church since 2008.

As such, these statements “certify” that Hae

‐Jong Kim is “a traveling elder in the

annual conference (or its successor) in which membership was last held” thus fulfilling

the mandates of ¶408.4 of the 2008 Book of Discipline.

8

3) The Northeast Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee took no action and made no report or

recommendation in its 2008 report.

The 2008 Book of Discipline requires the Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee to

report to the Jurisdictional Conference the following items:

¶50 Article VI: “The committee shall review the work of the bishops, pass on their

character and official administration, and report to the jurisdictional conference its

findings for such action as the conference may deem appropriate within its

constitutional warrant of power. (pg. 37)

¶413.4: “Any actions of the jurisdictional or central conference committee taken on a

complaint shall be reported to the next session of the jurisdictional or central

conference. (pg. 309)

¶524.3a: “Review and evaluate the work of the bishops, pass on their character and

official administration, and report such evaluations and other findings to the

jurisdictional conference for such action as the conference may deem appropriate

within its constitutional warrant of power. (pg. 336)

¶524.3h: “Prepare a report of its decisions, activities, and recommendations to be

transmitted to its successor through the office of the secretary of the jurisdictional

conference prior to the jurisdictional conference. The report shall be made available

to delegates of the jurisdictional conference prior to the jurisdictional conference.”

(pg. 336

‐337)

In January 2005 a written complaint concerning retired Bishop Hae

‐Jong Kim was

received and processed in accordance with the provisions of the 2004 Book of

Discipline. This complaint was sent to the Jurisdictional Committee on Investigation as

a judicial complaint (¶413.3). Before the matter was considered by this committee,

Hae

‐Jong Kim informed the committee that he was choosing to resign from the

episcopacy. Hae

‐Jong Kim resigned from the episcopacy on September 1, 2005, thus

ending the complaint procedure. This matter appropriately did not come before the

Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee. As such, the Jurisdictional Episcopacy

Committee was under no obligation to report this matter to the Jurisdictional

Conference.

The official letter from Hae

‐Jong Kim requesting the rescinding of his resignation was

addressed to the President of the Council of Bishops, Janice R. Huie (dated January 11,

2007), not the NEJ Episcopacy Committee. The letter to the NEJ Episcopacy

Committee, dated February 12, 2007, requested that the Episcopacy Committee

consider providing “corporate wisdom and consideration” along with the possibility of

setting up an “ad

‐hoc committee to help the process.” The NEJ Episcopacy Committee

chose to not act upon this recommended action and was under no obligation to do so

9

since Hae

‐Jong Kim had resigned and there are no provisions in the Book of Discipline

to act upon a request to rescind a resignation. As such, the Jurisdictional Episcopacy

Committee was under no obligation to act on this request or to formally report this

matter to the Jurisdictional Conference.

4) In its 2012 report, the NEJ Episcopacy Committee again made no mention of Bishop

Kim’s case. Upon my inquiry on the floor of the 2012 NEJ Conference, the chair of the

Episcopacy Committee indicated no knowledge whatsoever of Bishop Kim’s resignation,

rescission of the resignation, or any matters connected with the handling of this case.

Hae

‐Jong Kim’s resignation, request for rescission of the resignation, or any matters

connected with the handling of this case were not under consideration by the NEJ

Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee. No matters were referred to the Committee for

consideration. As such, the request in paragraph 4 is hypothetical and not proper.

5) An investigation by the Commission on Religion and Race discovered procedural errors

in the due process requirements of handling the original complaint, as outlined in a

letter from the commission chair.

The investigation by the Commission on Religion and Race related to the events

surrounding the complaint filed against Hae

‐Jong Kim in January, 2005. Before the

complaint reached the Jurisdictional Committee on Investigation, Hae

‐Jong Kim

resigned from the episcopacy, thus bringing closure to the Judicial Process in which he

was the respondent.

The Commission on Religion and Race has no jurisdiction in the matter of the

confidential agreements reached which resulted in the resignation of Hae

‐Jong Kim

from the episcopacy. As such, the request in paragraph 5 is hypothetical and not

proper.

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton

President

Northeastern Jurisdictional College of Bishops

Docket 0413

‐4

Review of a Bishop’s Decision of Law in the Congo Central Conference Regarding

Mandatory Retirement Age for Bishops in Light of ¶¶ 50, 408, and 543.3

ARequestforDecisionof Law

10

As a member of the Congo Central Conference and in conformity with paragraph #2609.6 of the Book of Discipline,

I request that the presiding Bishop make a decision of law concerning the following questions:

Did the 2012 General Conference in it's legislative actions regarding paragraph #408 of the Book of Discipline

authorize the extension of Episcopal tenures in the DR Congo beyond the mandatory retirement age of 68 years?

1.

Do the paragraphs #50 of the Constitution and # 543.3 of the Book of Discipline constitute an authorization of

the Central Conference to extend Episcopal terms beyond the mandatory retirement age of 68 years?

2.

In the absence of the above mentioned authorizations, can the Bishops extend their Episcopal terms

themselves?

Decision of Law

Introduction:

At the Congo Central Conference, during the session for the election of a new Bishop for the

new Episcopal area of Congo East, presided by the official delegate from the Council of

Bishops, Bishop Patrick Streiff, a member of the Congo central conference, C

ȇsaire Ilunga

Mushiya, submitted a request for a decision of law during the session of Tuesday, August 21,

late morning.

Bishop Patrick Streiff gave an oral response in the beginning of the session in the afternoon

of Tuesday, Auguset 21, adding that he will put it in writing and hand it to the secretary of

the central conference and send a copy to the Judicial Council of the United Methodist

Church. The oral response was in four points and a final conclusion, as followed in writing:

Decision of Law:

1. Concerning the retirement age of bishops, the reference should not be made to the

Book of Discipline of the central conference, published in 1990 (based on the

Book of

Discipline 1988

). The reference has to be to the Book of Discipline established by

General Conference.

2. At general conference 2008, the mandatory retirement age for all clergy was changed

from age 70 to age 72 (

BOD 2008, par. 358.1). BOD 2008, par. 50 and par. 543.3

speak about the power given to central conferences to fix the tenure of its bishops.

However, the ministry of a bishop is not a third order which would not be subject to

the rule for mandatory retirement age of clergy; see the reference made to par.

358.1 in

BOD 2008, par. 408.1c, last part.

3. The

Book of Discipline 2008 includes a specific regulation for bishops in jurisdictions in

the United States. This regulation mentions as mandatory retirement age if a bishop has

reached his/her 68

th birthday before July 1st of the year in which is held the session of

the jurisdictional conference; see

BOD 2008, par. 408.1a. The Book of Discipline 2008

does not mention a similar regulation concerning bishops in central conferences.

4. General Conference 2012 wanted to clarify this question for bishops in central

conferences through a petition (petition 20416; calendar item 372). This petition was

amended in the Legislative Committee on Superintendency, based on a recommendation

from the Standing Committee for Central Conference Matters, for adjusting to the

different dates of the sessions of central conferences (they have to be held within a year

following the general conference, see

BOD 2008, par. 30), and this added a new par.

11

408.1b for the central conferences, but still mentioned a clear indication that it would

become effective immediately. In the discussion on the floor of general conference,

amendments on the effective date were proposed. In the final vote, it was approved by

general conference that the amended petition in the episcopal areas of Central Congo

(for one speaker) and of South Congo (for another speaker).

Conclusion

General Conference 2012 voted the effective date in full knowledge of the implications

for the two episcopal areas in the Congo and thus allowing its bishops who have passed the

age of 68 to continue in active service beyond the session of the central conference in 2012.

For the bishops in the Congo central conference who will continue in active ministry

beyond their 68

th anniversary, the mandatory retirement age remains at their 72nd birthday.

At the time of their mandatory retirement during the quadrennium 2012 – 2016, the central

conference (through its executive committee) may either call for an extraordinary session

for the election of a successor, or ask the Council of Bishops to name a bishop for overseeing

the episcopal area under consideration until a successor has been elected at the ordinary

session of the central conference in 2016.

Bishop Patrick Streiff

August 23

rd 2012

Docket 4012

‐5

IN RE: Request from the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference for a Ruling on

the Legality of Certain Financial Actions and the Complaint Process Regarding the

East Africa Annual Conference in Light of ¶¶ 258.4f, 413, and 613.13

Substitute motion by Robert Zilhaver: Approved.

I move that the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference petition the Judicial Council to

hear and determine the legality of the following actions in regard to Petition 106 in accordance

with ¶2609.5 of the 2008

Book of Discipline.

1) Were the funds given by the Pittsburgh East District of the Western Pennsylvania

Conference to the East African Annual Conference used in accordance with ¶258.4.f?

2) Were the funds given by members of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference in

the payment of Isaac Sebit in compliance with ¶ 258.4.f and ¶613.13?

3) Was the complaint filed by one member of the Western Pennsylvania Annual

Conference (Nancy Denardo) properly dealt with in accordance with ¶413 of the 2008

Book of

Discipline

?

Docket 0413

‐6

IN RE: Request for a Declaratory Decision by the Northern Nigeria Annual

Conference and the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference as to the Meaning,

12

Effect, and Application of ¶ 405 in the Election Process of the West Africa Central

Conference

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALL SESSION BETWEEN THE NORTHERN AND

SOUTHERN NIGERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCES OF THE NIGERIA EPISCOPAL AREA

HELD AT UMC LANKAVIRI, EUGENE WESLEY DISTRICT OF THE

SOUTHERN NIGERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON THE 10/10/2012.

AGENDA

1. To discuss the purported election of Rev. Johnwesley Yohanna as a bishop of Nigeria Area

by WACC held in Sierra Leone on the 6

th October, 2012, against the will of the majority

delegates (clergy and lay) of the Nigeria UMC.

2. Report from delegation that was sent by Southern and Northern Nigeria Annual

Conferences to tender our complaint to WACC held in Sierra Leone.

3. AOB

OPENING PRAYER.

Rev. Daniel Y. Korot the Superintendent of the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference said the

opening prayers after a service of choruses led by Rev. Philip Micah Dopah, Director

Connectional Ministries of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference.

EXHORTATION

: Rev. Abbo Z. Wakili, the Conference Chaplain gave the exhortation from II

Corinthians 6: 1ff

ELECTION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER:

As a routine procedure of the church (BOD Par. 603(6), 2008, whenever a Bishop is not around,

any travelling elder nominated to preside over the meeting pro

‐tempo. Nominations were done

as follows: Rev. Philip Micah Dopah got 321 votes; Rev. Abbo Z. Wakili got 112 votes, Rev.

Abainatus Akila, got 59 votes while Rev. Liatu J. Kane had 47 votes. 42 delegates abstained

from voting. Rev. Philip Micah Dopah was then to preside.

INTRODUCTION OF DIGNITARIES

:

The Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Philip Micah Dopah who is also the presiding

officer, welcomed and introduced the VIPs and the delegation that was sent to WACC to

forward our complaints.

REGRETS:

The presiding officer announced that the following people sent their regrets for being

unavoidably absent; District Superintendent of Taraba West, Rev. Jonah T. Madugu, Rev. John

Kwanneri, Rev. Jonah Jagampo and Women president of the Northern Nigeria Annual

Conference.

13

WELCOME ADDRESS

The presiding officer thanked the delegates for the privilege accorded him to be the presiding

officer. He welcomed all delegates to the special call session. He said this has become necessary

in view of WACC’s inconsiderate action to have gone ahead to purportedly elect Rev.

Johnwesley Yohanna as a bishop of Nigeria Area even after we had collectively written series of

complaints to Bishop Kulah and Bishop John G. Innis, being the President of WACC. He said

delegates were aware that, nomination was not done in Nigeria, and our delegates to WACC

who were to go for election in Sierra Leone did not go because it was our collective decision

since we sensed that the discipline was about to be circumvented, which it has. He told the

delegates to give constructive suggestions that will address the issue at hand. He also told the

house that a 4

‐man delegation that was sent to Sierra Leone to carry our petition to the floor of

WACC will brief the house on what transpired on the floor of WACC. The presiding officer also

encouraged Pastors and members to stand by the truth as the truth shall set them free (John

8:32).

REPORT FROM THE SIERRA LEONE DELEGATION

The delegation comprised of one(1) clergy Rev. Wilson Gana from the Northern Nigeria Annual

Conference and three(3) Lay persons

‐ Dr David Ishaya, Mr. Solomon Olusiyi and Mrs. Emily

Godwin Nyame from the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference. Dr. David Ishaya on behalf of

the others told the house that they were able to submit the petition to the WACC’s Committee

on Petitions and Resolutions. That they were also able to address the committee on the

complaints written earlier to the president of the West Africa College of Bishops (WACOB),

which he replied earlier that Bishop Kulah should address the issue but he refused. He said after

the committee on petitions has invited them for hearing, they later on told them that, they

have met with the WACOB and that they have directed them not to listen to them again until

they meet at the plenary. In the plenary the committee on petitions and resolution while giving

her report said, there was a write up from Nigeria which is neither a petition nor complaint,

because the heading did not capture the word “complaint”. All attempts to explain to the

conference not to throw out the complaint on the basis of technicalities but to look at the

substance of the complaint was denied by the presiding Bishop, Bishop John K. Yambasu. He

said the complaint was based on the fact that there was no nomination by the Nigeria Area and

that the conference was requested not to go ahead with the elections. The delegation later

thanked the delegates for the privilege accorded them to serve the church in that capacity.

RESOLUTIONS

.

After series of discussions on the delegation’s report, the house arrived at the following:

‐

14

1. WHEREAS the rules guiding the identification exercise by Bishop Kulah was violated in the

Central Nigeria Annual Conference and nomination was subsequently not done in Nigeria,

election ought not to have taken place at WACC held in Sierra Leone.

2. WHEREAS the election of the Bishop was not done in accordance with constitution of the

Church (BOD) paragraph 405(2008) , the house agreed as follows:

3. That our members from the North and Southern Annual Conferences will continue to be

members of the UMC

‐Nigeria but will seek redress for justice at the Judicial Council of the

UMC.

4. That we will not allegiance Rev. Johnwesley Yohanna because he was not duly elected.

5. That no appointments will be accepted from the new Bishop imposed by West Africa

central conference on us.

6. That we should put away our differences and come together to fight against this injustice

and lack of fairness in a non

‐violent way.

7. That the Bishop will not be recognized by the northern and Southern conferences because

of his moral bankruptcy (he masterminded the escalation of the problems of the UMCN

from initial stage up to 2012).

8. The House also agreed that all the Churches in the northern and Southern Conference be

communicated to be calm, prayerful and avoid any violent tendency throughout this period

of struggle for justice.

9. That the District Superintendents and Pastors from the above conferences should ensure

that there is no breach of law and order in any of our Churches.

10. That security personnel be deployed to the UMCN Cathedral and Bishop Dabale Memorial

Secretariat to avert any breach of law.

11. That the Church should write to both the Judicial Council and the West Africa Central

Conference College of Bishops to express our displeasure for refusing to listen to our

petitions.

12. That the Laity advocacy forum should be co

‐opted in the writings to the above institutions.

The Chairmen Laity advocacy were named as follows:

‐ Dr. James Seni Barka from the

Northern Conference and Mr. Urbanus Yunana from the Southern Conference.

13. The house also agreed that good standing Committees be formed to oversee the affairs of

the Church in the Northern and southern Nigeria Annual Conferences. The offices agreed

upon were as follows:

‐

a. Conference Lay Leaders from South/North

b. Superintendent from the North

c. Director of Connectional Ministries

d. Conference Secretaries from North and South

e. Board of Ordained Ministry Chairs

‐ North and South

f. Men President from South and North

15

g. Women President from South and North

h. Youths President from North and South

i. Youth Directors from South and North

j. Chancellors from North and South

k. Cabinet members

l. Chaplain (s)

m. Episcopal Committee members from North and South.

The above officers were told to ensure that they work diligently for the progress of the

body of Jesus Christ. They were given the mandate to call meeting (s) wherever there is

problem and they should sensitize the entire congregation on all developments.

12. That the report of our delegation sent to the West Africa Central Conference concerning

the election of Bishop be typed and be distributed to the District Superintendents and

Pastors.

13. That the WACC should tell us whether the office of the Bishop is now by act of

appointment instead of election.

14. That letter of appreciation be written to the Taraba State Government her usual

assistance to the Church and also sensitize the government on current developments in

the church and the appointment of some key leaders to take charge of the affairs of the

Church pending the time the issue at hand is resolved.

ADJOURNMENT AND PRAYERS

Motion for adjournment was moved by Mr. Urbanus Yunana from Jalingo District and was

seconded by Matthew Manyazen from Pa’a Yorro District. Closing prayers was said by Rev.

Hannaniya Ntoriko

Rev. Lantoya John Ezekiel

Conference Secretary

Southern Nigeria Annual Conference

This docket has the actual requests for Judicial Council action received by the Judicial Council

inserted. This is done to comply with the amendment of ¶2608.1 by the 2012 General Conference.

For further information contact F. Belton Joyner, Jr., 1821 Hillandale Road, Suite 1B, PMB 334, Durham,

NC 27705 E
‐mail: judicialcouncil@umc.org