Memorandum Number 1073

Review of Bishop's Decision of Law in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Concerning the Constitutionality of the Plan of Organization for the Annual Conference.

During the 2006 session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, the Annual Conference adopted a Plan of Organization. A clergy member requested a decision of law concerning the constitutionality of the Plan of Organization. The Bishop took the request under advisement and reported his decision pursuant to ¶ 2609.6 of the 2004 Book of Discipline. In Memorandum 1066 the Judicial Council retained jurisdiction and deferred further consideration, directing the Conference Secretary to provide a copy of the Plan of Organization as adopted within 30 days. The Judicial Council received and reviewed the Plan of Organization. The Plan complies with the criteria for conference structure change set forth in Decisions 835, 878 and 900.

Digest

The Bishop's decision of law is affirmed and the Plan of Organization for the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference is constitutional.

James W. Holsinger, Jr., Jon R. Gray and Shamwange P. Kyungu were absent. C. Rex Bevins, the first clergy alternate, and Solomon Christian, the first lay alternate, participated in this decision.