| The single most important decision facing the 2008 General Conference (GC) may be the election of Judicial Council members. GC must elect two lay and three clergy for eight-year terms.
Why is this so important? Because some United Methodists see Judicial Council as a possible way to circumvent the will of the GC, especially on the issue of homosexuality. Therefore, it is vitally important that those elected to Judicial Council be "strict constructionists," people who are dedicated to interpreting current United Methodist law rather than making new law. If an activist Judicial Council were to nullify the actions of a GC, our beloved denomination would face a constitutional crisis.
Based on conversations with respected persons across our denomination, I recommend the following candidates as well qualified to serve on the Judicial Council. Though diverse in gender and geography, they are all strict constructionists who affirm our Book of Discipline and have no underlying desire to change it by judicial fiat.
LAYPERSONS:
* MARY A. DAFFIN--incumbent, currently the Vice-President of the Judicial Council; attorney and partner in a Houston, Texas law firm; member of First UMC, Houston, Chairperson of that church's Administrative Board (1994-5).
* RAYMOND MANDE MUTOMBO--from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; earned a Ph.D. in Ango-American Literature; is currently General Secretary of Administration at the University of Lubumbashi; served as Assistant to the Bishop of the United Methodist North-Katanga Conference; speaks seven languages.
CLERGY:
* THE REV. KEITH D. BOYETTE--incumbent, currently the Secretary of the Judicial Council; Senior Pastor, Wilderness Community UMC in Spotsylvania, VA; graduate of Washington and Lee School of Law; served as attorney before attending Asbury Theological Seminary and entering the ministry; recipient of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award for the Virginia Conference.
* THE REV. GLORIA B. BROOKS--was elected as alternate member of Judicial Council in 2004; currently the Senior Pastor of Jerome UMC in the West Ohio Annual Conference; before answering the call to ordained ministry, Rev. Brooks was a first-grade teacher in inner-city Cincinnati, Ohio; she has a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary.
* THE REV. JAMES D. KARBLEE, SR.--has served as pastor and district superintendent in Liberia; currently is Vice-President for Administration of United Methodist University (West Africa Central Conference); graduate of Gammon Theological Center.
ALTERNATES:
* JUDGE RON ENNS--Layperson, District Judge for 69th Judicial District of Texas, United Methodist District Lay Leader, Amarilla District, Northwest Texas Conference.
* THE REV. LARRY BAIRD- District Superintendent, Jamestown, NY, Western New York Conference.
On behalf of the UM Renewal and Reform Coalition, I commend these persons for your careful and prayerful consideration as candidates for Judicial Council.
Please feel free to forward this message to other members of your delegation.
|
