Accusation: Proper form and handling

5002

(3) A sincere and reasonable effort shall be made to resolve an accusation or to deal with an offending person in keeping with scriptural admonitions.³

(4) Each accusation and all proceedings shall receive prompt and careful attention by the proper authorities.

5022. Accusations must be in writing, dated, signed by the accuser(s) and handed to the official having jurisdiction over the accused before a hearing can be ordered. Whenever, in the opinion of the accuser(s), proper action has not been taken, appeal may be made to the next higher Church authority. 5206. Jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction over the persons listed in 5200 ordinarily belongs to the district in which their ministerial membership, or for laypersons, their membership, is held. The exceptions are for those who serve as general officers or members of the General Board or who are otherwise employed by the General Board, and district superintendents. These are subject to the jurisdiction of the General Church (Disc. 323:1; 1180:12; GBP-5270).

(1) Jurisdiction shall be exercised on behalf of the district by the district board of administration for any and all charges brought against such persons.

(2) Accusations alleging an offense (5010) against one of the persons in 5200 shall be submitted to the district superintendent (Disc. 1310:31; GBP-5022). The accusation shall then be presented to the district board of administration. The district board of administration shall have authority to order the investigation (5012; 5024) and hearing if necessary. Any charge must be sustained by two or more members or ministers of The Wesleyan Church.

(3) If an accusation alleges an offense committed by a person under the jurisdiction of the district in a district other than that in which the accused holds membership, the district superintendent and the district board of administration of the district in which the offense was allegedly committed shall have jurisdiction over the official investigation (5012). If an accusation is to be drawn up, it shall be submitted through the General Superintendent to the district in which the accused holds membership.