Decision Number 822

Decision

The 1996 Discipline, in ¶¶ 611and 612, permits the Annual Conference, on recommendation by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, to define the method or formulas for approved budgeted amounts. Under the Constitution, the Annual Conference is the basic body with such powers. There is no limitation which prohibits the Annual Conference from establishing a single fund apportioned by a determined method or formula for a separate item to fund the past service liability for pensions. There is no disciplinary prohibition on the adopted method, including a means for full funding of the approved budgeted amount. Par. 611.1(d) notes that support for pension funds is not limited to apportionments. There is no authority in the 1996 Discipline for treating specific items placed in the same category of funding as "prior claims."

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