Bishops Decision of Law Index
|
Annual Conference |
Date of Annual Conference Session |
Date of Submission of Decision of Law to Judicial Council |
Judicial Council Docket Number |
Discipline Paragraphs & Judicial Council Decisions Addressed in Decision of Law |
Link to Decision of law |
Primary Issue in Decision of Law |
Status of Review by Judicial Council |
Are Non-Members of the Annual Conference Listed as Interested Parties? |
Have amicus briefs been filed? |
|
Alabama-West Florida |
6/8/21 |
6/23/21 |
1021-08 |
33 |
Ruling by Bishop David W. Graves
|
Whether deed to disaffiliating church and related process was constitutional |
Decision reversed in part and modified in part on 2/9/22 |
No |
No |
|
Alaska |
2/22/20 |
3/16/20 |
0420-16 |
51, 396.6, 507.5, 507.6, 603.5, 2609.6 & Decision 33 |
Ruling by Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky
|
Whether a petition to general conference is timely |
Declared correct at the time decision made but now moot by Decision 1410 on 4/16/21
|
No |
No |
|
Arkansas (1) |
6/3/21 |
6/30/21 |
1021-13 |
507 & Decisions 1401 & 1409 |
Ruling by Bishop Gary E. Mueller
|
Whether petition to General Conference can be considered timely |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Arkansas (2) |
6/4/21 |
6/30/21 |
1021-14 |
604 & 2553 and Decisions 886, 1379 |
Ruling by Bishop Gary E. Mueller
|
Whether annual conference disaffiliation requirements are in violation of Paragraph 2553 |
Decision affirmed on 2/9/22 |
No |
No |
|
Baltimore-Washington |
5/29/19 – 6/1/19 |
6/29/19 |
1019-10 |
33, 324, 325, 330, 335 & Decisions 1341, 1368 |
Ruling by Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
|
Requirements for approval of candidate at clergy session |
Affirmed by Decision 1391 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
California Pacific (1) |
6/15/19 |
7/11/19 |
1019-17 |
20, 50, 51, 362, 363, 2609.6, 2610.2j, 2701-2718 & Decisions 1341 |
Ruling by Bishop Grant J. Hagiya
|
Whether resolution violates principle of legality |
Affirmed by Decision 1398 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
California pacific (2) |
? |
6/19/20 |
1021-17 |
246.10, 419.10, 2718.1, 2718.2 |
Ruling by Bishop Grant J. Hagiya
|
Who can vote on matters related to each charge during joint charge conference |
Pending |
? |
? |
|
Central Texas (1) |
6/12/19 |
7/9/19 |
1019-14 |
51, 56.3, 2609.6 & Decisions 1044, 1283, 1340, 1357 |
Ruling by Bishop J. Michael Lowry
|
Whether annual conference resolution was aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed by Decision 1395 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
Central Texas (2) |
6/12/19 |
7/9/19 |
1019-15 |
51, 56.3, 2609.6 & Decisions 1044, 1283, 1340, 1357 |
Ruling by Bishop J. Michael Lowry
|
Whether annual conference resolution was aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed by Decision 1396 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
Desert Southwest |
6/14/19 |
7/9/19 |
1019-13 |
362.1e(1), 413.3d(i) |
Petition for Declaratory Decision
|
Whether cited paragraph violate the separation of powers and paragraph 49 and 51 |
Judicial Council declined jurisdiction in Memorandum 1394 because question was not germane to work of the annual conference
|
No |
No |
|
Dakotas |
6/11/21 |
Not Provided |
1021-19 |
161G |
Ruling by Bishop Laurie Haller
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violates Discipline |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Eastern Pennsylvania (1) |
Not Provided |
6/26/19 |
1019-5 |
Decisions 1044, 1052, 1111 |
Ruling by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson and Appeal text
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Judicial Council declined jurisdiction in Memorandum 1387 because there was no formal request for a decision of law
|
No |
No |
|
Eastern Pennsylvania (2) |
5/20/21 |
6/15/21 |
1021-07 |
Decisions 22, 799, 1393, 1409 |
Ruling by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson
|
Whether JC Decision 1409 renders the required payment of general church apportionments to be voluntary |
Pending |
? |
? |
|
Greater NJ (1) |
10/26/19 |
11/22/19 |
0420-9 |
Numerous |
Ruling by Bishop John R. Schol
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed by Decision 1416 on 5/5/21
|
No |
No |
|
Greater NJ (2) |
10/26/19 |
11/22/19 |
0420-10 |
33, 304.3, 425-430, 604.3, 613.19, 2702, 2609.6 & Decisions 866, 1044, 1052, 1111, 1120, 1262, 1292, 1340 |
Ruling by Bishop John R. Schol
|
Whether annual conference can adopt legislation regarding option of local churches for governance, etc. |
Affirmed by Decision 1417 on 5/5/21
|
No |
No |
|
Greater NJ (3) |
10/26/19 |
11/22/19 |
0420-11 |
425-430, 2609.6 |
Ruling by Bishop John R. Schol
|
Whether annual conference can make a decision for local churches that negates or violates the Discipline |
Affirmed by Decision 1413 on 5/5/21
|
No |
No |
|
Greater NJ (4) |
10/26/19 |
11/22/19 |
0420-12 |
604, 2609.6 |
Ruling by Bishop John R. Schol
|
Whether provisions of GNJ Way Forward Report can be implemented without vote of delegate |
Affirmed by Decision 1414 on 5/5/21
|
No |
No |
|
Greater NJ (5) |
10/26/19 |
11/22/19 |
0420-13 |
2609.6 |
Ruling by Bishop John R. Schol
|
Whether action of bishop regarding not moving forward with complaints violates the Discipline, etc. |
Affirmed by Decision 1415 on 5/5/21
|
No |
No |
|
Greater NJ (6) |
1/22/21 |
2/18/21 |
1021-05 |
603.5, 605.4, 612.5b, 613.1, 2610 & Decision 1311 |
Ruling by Bishop John R. Schol
|
Whether bishop or board have authority to bring recommendation to the annual conference between sessions without legislative action by annual conference |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Indiana (1) |
10/10/20 |
11/9/20 |
1021-03 |
329.2, 334.1, 604.1 |
Ruling by Bishop Julius C. Trimble
|
Whether rule denying clergy the right to vote in district conference to endorse laity as GC delegates violates the Discipline |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Indiana (2) |
10/10/20 |
11/9/20 |
1021-04 |
32, 36, 249, 602.4 |
Ruling by Bishop Julius C. Trimble
|
Technical question raised by John Lomperis regarding whether rule allowing clergy to vote on “all matters at district conferences” violates the Discipline |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Iowa |
6/11/19 |
7/26/19 |
1019-6 |
613.19 & Decisions 1292, 1340 |
Ruling by Bishop Laurie Haller
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Judicial Council declined jurisdiction in Memorandum 1388 because was not viewed as a decision of law
|
No |
No |
|
Michigan (1) |
6/1/19 |
7/23/19 |
0420-2 |
103, 105, 304,3m 310.2d, 2702, & Decisions 866, 1052, 1120, 1340 |
Ruling by Bishop David Alan Bard
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed in part and reversed in part by Decision 1406 on 4/16/21
|
No |
No |
|
Michigan (2) |
5/30/19 |
7/23/19 |
0420-1 |
403.1e, 403.1f & Decision 1344 |
Ruling by Bishop David Alan Bard
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed in part and reversed in part by Decision 1404 on 4/16/21
|
No |
No |
|
Michigan (3) |
6/5/21 |
7/4/21 |
1021-15 |
161G |
Ruling by Bishop David Alan Bard
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Mississippi |
6/7/19 |
6/28/19 |
0420-5 |
36 |
Ruling by Bishop James E. Swanson
|
Eligibility of delegates |
Reversed by Decision 1405 on 4/16/21
|
No |
No |
|
Mountain Sky |
6/13/15 |
7/11/19 |
1019-18 |
4, 104, 243 & Decisions 358, 1020 |
Ruling by Bishop Karen Oliveto
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed by Decision 1399 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
New England (1) |
6/13/19 |
6/29/19 |
1021-2 |
16, 31, 33, 2553 & Decisions 823, 1379 |
Ruling by Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
|
Whether annual conference additional steps for disaffiliation are valid |
Decision affirmed on 2/9/22
|
No |
No |
|
New England (2) |
6/11/21 |
Not Provided |
1021-12 |
Decisions 98, 1130, 1131, 1252, 1295 |
Ruling by Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
|
Whether it is permissible for a clergy member of the Annual Conference to move the Motion for Disaffiliation of a local congregation? Whether it is permissible for speeches to be made (via video) by persons who are not members of the Conference, where the body has not voted to admit them with voice to the meeting? |
Decision affirmed on 2/9/22 |
? |
? |
|
North Carolina |
6/17/21 |
7/19/21 |
1021-20 |
603.3, 604.1, 605 |
Ruling by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward
|
Can annual conference take an electronic ballot to change rules of order and allow virtual meeting before convening of session? |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
North Georgia (1) |
6/4/21 |
6/30/21 |
1021-10 |
|
Ruling by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson
|
Whether an annual conference resolution asking for the Discipline language around homosexuality to be changed permits a traditional congregation to use the disaffiliation procedure of Paragraph 2553 |
Decision affirmed on 2/9/22 |
Yes |
No |
|
North Georgia (2) |
6/4/21 |
6/30/21 |
1021-11 |
2553, Decision 1379 |
Ruling by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson
|
Whether annual conference has authority to amend a disaffiliation agreement presented to it for approval |
Decision affirmed on 2/9/22 |
No |
No |
|
North Texas (1) |
6/2/19 |
7/2/19 |
1019-11 |
56.3, 2609.6 & Decisions 886, 913, 1021, 1044, 1283, 1292, 1297, 1340 |
Ruling by Bishop Michael McKee
|
Whether annual conference resolution regarding same-gender issues is in order |
Affirmed by Decision 1392 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
North Texas (2) |
6/15/21 |
7/14/21 |
1021-18 |
Decisions 98, 1130, 1131, 1225, 1245, Memoranda 979 and 1295 |
Ruling by Bishop Michael McKee
|
|
|
|
|
|
RIO TEXAS |
6/11/21 |
Not Provided |
1021-16 |
625 |
Ruling by Bishop Robert Schnase
|
Whether the Rio Texas Equitable Compensation Commission is obligated by Discipline to include its recommended policy as a “for conference action” item to the Rio Texas Conference on an annual basis |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Tennessee |
6/14/19 |
7/8/19 |
1019-12 |
51, 2553 & Decisions 33, 799, 1329, 1372 |
Ruling by Bishop William T. McAlilly
|
Whether annual conference resolution regarding same-gender issues is in order |
Affirmed by Decision 1393 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
Upper New York (1) |
6/7/19 |
6/24/19 |
1021-01 |
2609.3, 2702.1b & Decisions 96, 1111, 1120, 1262, 1292 |
Deferred to the next interim session
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Pending |
No |
No |
|
Upper New York (2) |
6/7/19 |
6/24/19 |
1019-8 |
16, 20, 51, 56.3, 2609.6, 2708, 2710, 2716 & Decisions 96, 736, 1111, 1120, 1262, 1292 |
|
Whether annual conference resolution is aspirational or violative of the Discipline |
Affirmed by Decision 1389 on 11/1/19
|
No |
No |
|
West Virginia |
6/5/21 |
6/30/21 |
1021-09 |
32, 602, 604.1 |
Ruling by Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball
|
Rule for equalization of lay and clergy delegates |
Pending |
No |
No |
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