2009 Bishop's Rulings of Law
Ruling of Law - 2009 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Request for a Ruling
The following request for a ruling of law was received during the June 4, 2009 clergy session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
Request for a Ruling of Law: In light of 604 in the 2008 Book of Discipline, which states 'the Annual Conference, for its own government, may adopt rules and regulations not in conflict with the Discipline of the United Methodist Church, provided that in exercise of its powers, each annual conference shall act in all respects in harmony with the policy of the United Methodist Church with respect to elimination of discrimination.'
I stand to request a decision of law.
Is the practice and policy of the Baltimore-Washington Conference as referenced in the role and responsibilities of District Superintendent and Adventure Guides that all such persons employed in the capacity of Adventure Guide be empowered to conduct local church charge conferences whether or not they are an elder in the United Methodist Church, compatible with 246.5 in the 2008 Book of Discipline?"
-Rev. Laura Easto, an Elder of the Baltimore-Washington Conference
Bishop's Ruling
The request for a ruling is moot and hypothetical.
The ruling is grounded in Judicial Council Decisions 33, 396, 651, 746, 747, 762, 763, and 799. These decisions maintain that a question of law must relate to the business, consideration, or discussion of the conference session. There was no legislation, discussion or business concerning church charge conferences during the session.
Ruling of Law - 2009 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Request for a Ruling
The following request for a ruling of law was received during the June 6, 2009 morning session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
Request for a Ruling of Law: I rise to request a ruling of law, whether the resolution on pp. 69-70 [of the pre conference booklet] is in order and properly before us, in that the language of lines 29-32 on p. 69 lacks the qualifying language of Disciplinary 161F on Human Sexuality, and thereby establishes a new and different standard on sexuality from the Discipline. -Rev. Charles Harrell, an elder within the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
[The paragraph in question on pp. 69-70 of the pre conference booklet states: We recognize that sexuality is God's good gift to all persons. We believe persons may be fully human only when that gift is acknowledged and affirmed by themselves, the church, and society. We call all persons to the disciplined, responsible fulfillment of themselves, others, and society in the stewardship of this gift.]
Bishop's Ruling
The resolution is not out of order based on the paragraph questioned in the request for a decision of law.
Rational
This ruling is based on four factors:
1. The request for a ruling does not state specifically the clarifying language to be included and therefore it cannot be determined what other language may have been included.
2. There is nothing in this paragraph that contradicts the Discipline or establishes a new and different standard on sexuality from the Discipline or the teachings and beliefs of the Social Principles.
3. The paragraph in question is a statement of belief:
We recognize that sexuality is God's good gift to all persons. We believe persons may be fully human only when that gift is acknowledged and affirmed by themselves, the church, and society. We call all persons to the disciplined, responsible fulfillment of themselves, others, and society in the stewardship of this gift.
An annual conference may without contradicting the Book of Discipline state what it believes.
4. The Social Principles are not church law and encourages prayerful, studied dialogue. This paragraph was a part of the prayerful studied dialogue of the Church (opening paragraph of 161 G of the 2004 Book of Discipline) and the Baltimore-Washington Conference may continue to use the paragraph in question in their prayerful studied dialogue in keeping with the intent and spirit of the Social Principles.
The preamble of the Social Principles states:
The Social Principles, while not to be considered church law, are a prayerful and thoughtful effort on the part of the General Conference to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation as historically demonstrated in United Methodist traditions. They are a call to faithfulness and are intended to be instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic spirit. The Social Principles are a call to all members of The United Methodist Church to a prayerful, studied dialogue of faith and practice.
