2016 Wesleyan Discipline:General Superintendent Responsibilities toward Judicial Supervision

Judicial Supervision

(40) To carry out judicial responsibilities as set forth in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5209; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5239; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5242; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5245; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5365; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5375.

(41) To receive recommendations from the Education and Clergy Development Division and respective districts and give final approval for recommendation to the General Board that the disciplinary requirements have been met for the restoration of a minister, and to forward such request and certification to the Executive Director of Communication and Administration.

(42) To consult with the Executive Board regarding the discipline of ministers, officers, churches, and districts (General Board Policy on Church Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5245:2).

(43) To consult with the Executive Board before issuing any official ruling on points of Church law and interpretations of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church when properly requested to do so or whenever deemed necessary for the proper administration of the Church:

(a) A request for such a ruling shall be submitted, in writing, by the following for the work under their jurisdiction: the General Board, the Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785), a general official, the governing board of an institution or subsidiary corporation, a district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40) or a district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:27).

(b) A ruling may be appealed to the Board of Review by the party submitting the original request or by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:370; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:2). All appeals must be filed with the Executive Director of Communication and Administration within sixty days after the date the official ruling is published by the General Superintendent. An official ruling that is not upheld by the Board of Review shall be null and void, unless the action of the Board of Review is overruled by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:380).

(44) To rule on the legality of an official action by a district conference, any district board or committee, or a district official as follows: Any three or more members of The Wesleyan Church within a district or provisional district may request such a ruling and shall submit their petition in writing, signed by each petitioner (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:6). The General Superintendent shall decide if the official act in question, in whole or in part, is deemed properly taken according to the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:200-385), or other provisions of The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:155-185), stating reasons for the ruling in writing. If the action is ruled as contravening the Constitution, or other provisions of The Discipline, it shall be null and void. Appeals from the decision of the General Superintendent may be made by the petitioners or the district board of administration to the General Board of Review (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2).

(45) To submit a report of all official rulings on points of law, interpretations of The Discipline or other formal judicial acts to the next session of the General Board or its Executive Board for their information, and to the next session of the General Conference for final review and approval (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:23). Upon approval by the General Conference, such rulings shall become the law of the Church and shall be incorporated into the appropriate section(s) of The Discipline. A record of such rulings shall be inserted in a special appendix of the next issue of The Discipline as follows:

The General Superintendent on (date) officially interpreted (identify item) and the General Conference on (date) sustained (GC- ), thereby authorizing this provision to mean: (insert the ruling).

(46) To request a ruling from the Board of Review on the constitutionality of an act of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:1), the legality of an act of any General Church board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:3), and the legality of any issues arising between a district and the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:6). (Cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:1, 3, 4.)

(47) To canvas, with the Executive Cabinet, the vote taken by the several district conferences on an amendment to the Constitution and the Essentials originating in the General Conference and, when the amendment has received the required majority, to declare it effective as constitutional law (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:2).