Section IV. Jurisdictional Conferences
¶28
What a jurisdictional conference may do. It keeps the power to elect bishops.
- 2024 Discipline
- ¶28
- On the ballot paper
- ¶27
- Article
- V
- Change
- Amended in part
The ballot reproduces only the portions of this paragraph it changes, eliding the rest with an ellipsis. The text on the right is therefore partial; everything not shown is unchanged and stands as printed at ¶28 of the 2024 Discipline, on the left.
Specifically, sub-item(s) 1, 2, 3 are not reproduced.
The ballot reproduces only items 4 to 6. Items 1 to 3 are unchanged, which is why jurisdictions keep the power to elect bishops — a point worth stating plainly, because the reproduced text alone does not show it. Of the three shown: annual conference boundaries falling below the fifty-clergy floor now need the consent of the regional conference rather than General Conference; jurisdictional rule-making is now subject to regional conferences as well as General Conference; and the committee on appeals now hears lay as well as clergy appeals.
Before
Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶28
The jurisdictional conferences shall have the following powers and duties and such others as may be conferred by the General Conferences: 1. To promote the evangelistic, educational, missionary, and benevolent interests of the Church and to provide for interests and institutions within their boundaries. 2. To elect bishops and to cooperate in carrying out such plans for their support as may be determined by the General Conference. 3. To establish and constitute jurisdictional conference boards as auxiliary to the general boards of the Church as the need may appear and to choose their representatives on the general boards in such manner as the General Conference may determine. 4. To determine the boundaries of their annual conferences, provided that there shall be no annual conference with a membership of fewer than fifty clergy in full connection, except by the consent of the General Conference. 5. To make rules and regulations for the administration of the work of the Church within the jurisdiction, subject to such powers as have been or shall be vested in the General Conference. 6. To appoint a committee on appeals to hear and determine the appeal of a traveling preacher of that jurisdiction from the decision of a trial committee.
After
Petition 21039, as ratified (changed portions only)
The jurisdictional conferences shall have the following powers and duties and such others as may be conferred by the General Conferences:
4. To determine the boundaries of their annual conferences, provided that there shall be no annual conference with a membership of fewer than fifty clergy in full connection, except by the consent of the regional conference where jurisdictions exist.
5. To make rules and regulations for the administration of the work of the Church within the jurisdiction, subject to such powers as have been or shall be vested in the General Conference and in the regional conferences.
6. To appoint a committee on appeals to hear and determine the appeal of a clergy or lay member of that jurisdiction from the decision of a trial committee.