Administrative and Judicial Procedures Handbook

General Information

The Administrative and Judicial Procedures Handbook (2005-2008) is now available on our website for downloading and printing, free of charge!

The Administrative and Judicial Procedures Handbook (2005-2008) is distributed by GCFA. It was developed in partnership with the staff of General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (www.gbhem.org) and JustPeace Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation (www.justpeaceumc.org). We have separated the Handbook into chapters so it will be easier to research and print the sections you need.

The purpose of this handbook is to assist those charged with the implementation and interpretation of the various provisions of The Book of Discipline (2004) that relates to the supervisory, administrative and judicial processes. It is intended to be a guide and not the final word on these matters. Bishops, District Superintendents and others who are charged with the responsibility for interpreting the Discipline, and their interpretations, of course, take priority over any informal comments and suggestions in this Handbook.

You may download and print this handbook free of charge. For those who require a hard copy of the Handbook, there will be a $15 charge per book mailed. For the order form, please click here.

We will be posting periodic updates to the Handbook on this website.

Handbook
Binder Cover (PDF 83 KB)
Title Page and Table of Contents (PDF 217 KB)
Order Form (PDF 57 KB)

Chapter 1 (PDF 279 KB)
Distribution and copying
History of the Handbook
Reflections on Restorative Justice and the Complaint
Process
Restorative Justice: Changes to the Book of Discipline
Reference Citations

Chapter 2 (PDF 99 KB)
Discontinuance of Probationers
Discontinuance of Local Pastors

Chapter 3 (PDF 167 KB)
Leave of Absence
Family Leave
Maternity/Paternity Leave
Maternity/Paternity Leave for Diaconal Ministers
Transitional Leave for Deacons in Full Connections
Incapacity Leave
Disability Leave Diaconal Ministers
Involuntary Retirement
Honorable Location
Withdrawal
Administrative Location
Involuntary Termination of Diaconal Minister

Chapter 4 (PDF 198 KB)
Complaints and Supervision
Supervisory Response
Suspension
Referral of Complaint
Administrative Complaint
Fair Process in Administrative Hearings

Chapter 5 (PDF 81 KB)
Readmission to Probationary Membership
Readmission After Honorable or Administrative Location
Readmission After Leaving the Ordained Ministerial Office
Readmission After Termination by Action of the Annual
Conference
Readmission After Involuntary Retirement

Chapter 6 (PDF 114 KB)
Complaints Against Bishops
The Role of Counsel for the Church
Statute of Limitations
Suspension
Remedial Action - Administrative Complaints
Fair Process in Judicial Proceedings Against Bishops
Jurisdictional/Central Conference Committee on
Investigation
Trial Procedures Involving a Bishop

Chapter 7 (PDF 95 KB)
General
Suggested Steps for Review of Administrative Location

Chapter 8 (PDF 230 KB)
Summary of Just Resolution principles and Processes in
the Complaint Procedure
Discussion of Each Step in the Just Resolution Process

Chapter 9 (PDF 151 KB)
Description Duties and Membership of The Judicial Council
Judicial Council Jurisdiction

Chapter 10 (PDF 215 KB)
Complaints and Supervision
Supervisory Response
Suspension
Referral of Complaint
General
Right to be Heard
Notice
Representative Present
No Ex Parte Communications
Double Jeopardy
Right to See Records Relied Upon
Failure to Respond/Appear
Healing Process
Immunity

Chapter 11 (PDF 158 KB)
General
Chargeable Offenses Added by General Conference
Commentary "Crime" as an Offense
Lay Charges
Statute of Limitations
Relevant and Reliable Evidence
Time of the Offense

Chapter 12 (PDF 268 KB)
General
Referral of the Complaint to Counsel for the Church;
Convening of the Committee; Suspension
Forwarding of the Judicial Complaint and Suspension
The Judicial Complaint
Role of Assistant Counsel
Preliminary Meeting and Hearings
Interviews And Examination
Evidence Issues
Verbatim Transcript
Bill of Charges and Specifications
Framing the Charges
Specifications
Committee Action

Chapter 13 (PDF 293 KB)
General Observations - Church/State Separation
Organization
Procedural Errors and Motions
Venue, Notice and Scheduling
Counsel
Witnesses and Testimony
Amendments
Open and Combined Trials
Convening and Guidelines
Pleas and Process
Record and Evidence
Instructions
Trial Court Process
Penalties
Trial Process

Chapter 14 (PDF 148 KB)
General
Appeal by the Church
Appeal Process
Questions on Appeal
Weight of the Evidence
Errors of Law
Miscellaneous Appeal Issues

Chapter 15 (PDF 64 KB)
Conclusion

Appendix (PDF 678 KB)