Memorandum Number 1306

Review of a Bishop's Decision of Law in the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference Regarding the Eligibility of Elders in Full Connection to be Elected to General and Central Conferences

Digest

The Judicial Council has no jurisdiction because there was no request for a decision of law per ¶ 2609 of the 2012 Discipline. 

Beth Capen was absent.

Kabamba Kiboko was absent.

Randall Miller, first lay alternate, participated in this decision.

Timothy K. Bruster, first clergy alternate, participated in this decision. 

Statement of Facts

At the March 7, 2015, session of the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference, the Conference passed a motion "that only registered delegates, after the given extension, are qualified to be selected and elected as delegates to the general and central conference."

The Bishop ruled that "all ordained Elders and Full Members of this Conference can be selected and elected whether they are present or absent because it is their right to be selected and elected as stated in The Book of Discipline ¶¶ 33, 34, and 35."  Subsequently, the Bishop submitted this ruling in a report to the Judicial Council.

The Minutes do not show that there was any request for a decision of law.  The matter was effectively a parliamentary ruling that was not appealed by the body.

Jurisdiction

The Judicial Council has no jurisdiction.