Decision Number 1210

Decision

Under the Constitution, the creation and establishment of general Church boards and agencies, the fixing of their structure, the determination of their functions, duties and responsibilities, and the establishing of Church priorities are legislative functions reserved to the General Conference alone. These legislative functions may not be delegated. The Constitution limits the General Conference in the authority it may delegate to the boards and agencies it creates. This authority is limited to the work of promotion and administration. Such boards and agencies as the General Conference establishes under its constitutional authority may not determine policies of the Church, nor may they determine their own functions except as such action is consistent with actions already taken by the General Conference. These boards and agencies are not free to transfer functions or change internal structures that have been specified in the Discipline through legislative enactments of the General Conference. Plan UMC is unconstitutional.