Regarding Proposals Involving Expenditures of Unbudgeted Funds
The General Council on Finance and Administration recommends referral of the following to the Committee on Plan of Organization and Rules of Order:
Amend Plan of Organization IX (Proposals Involving Expenditures of Unbudgeted Funds) by substituting the following for the language of the present Section IX:
A. Petitions submitted to the General Conference and containing proposals which would require funding from general church funds shall be subject to the provisions of ¶608.4.
B. Legislative committee reports recommending concurrence with proposals which would require funding from general church funds shall state whether such funding is already included in budgets being recommended to the General Conference by the General Council on Finance and Administration. When an amendment is proposed to a legislative committee report, if the amendment would require funding from general church funds beyond what is included in budgets being recommended to the General Conference by the General Council on Finance and Administration, the person proposing the amendment shall include in it a statement setting forth the estimated cost of the proposal and a proposed source of funding.
C. If a legislative committee report recommends concurrence with any proposed action which involves expenditure of funds not included in a budget being recommended by the General Council on Finance and Administration, it shall include a statement setting forth the estimated cost of the proposal and a proposed source of funding. General Conference action on such a report shall proceed as follows:
(1) The General Conference shall first take a preliminary action on the report, indicating its approval or disapproval in principle.
(2) If the preliminary action is for approval, the report shall then be referred to the General Council on Finance and Administration or its executive committee for advice and recommendation before final action is taken.
(3) The General Council on Finance and Administration or its executive committee shall report to the General Conference its recommendation for approval or disapproval. Along with its recommendation it shall provide the following information: (a) its estimate of the cost of implementing the proposal; (b) its recommendation as to the source of funding, if the proposal is adopted; and (c) a statement explaining how the adoption of the proposal will affect the general fund budget recommendations previously presented.
(4) The General Conference will then take final action on the report and on the recommendations of the General Council on Finance and Administration.
Request for a Judicial Council Decision
on the Constitutionality of Newly Adopted Legislation
Regarding Adjustments or Revisions in Annual Conference Budgets
The General Council on Finance and Administration has recommended amendments to ¶¶ 710.7, 711, and 716.1a)(2); the purpose of the proposed changes is to establish guidelines and a process whereby annual conferences may take specific actions allowing for adjustments or revisions in conference budgets between annual conference sessions. The Council has also recommended that, if approved, these amendments become effective upon adjournment of the 1996 General Conference.
The Council recommends that, if any of the proposed amendments or similar proposals are adopted, the General Conference seek a Judicial Council decision, under the provisions of ¶¶2609 and 2616, as to their constitutionality, meaning, application or effect, and that, if possible, the Judicial Council report its decision to the 1996 General Conference before its adjournment.
Recommendation Regarding a Proposed Amendment to the
Resolution Submitted by GCSRW entitled "Sexual Abuse Within
the Ministerial Relationship and Sexual Harassment
Within The United Methodist Church"
GCFA recommends the following amendment to the resolution, in the section headed "Policies and Procedures":
(a)(f) A clear statement of ass urance of prompt and equitable fair process, concern for safeguarding the confidential nature of the process, protection of potential victims, and intolerance of retaliation.
Study of Connectional Ministry Funding Patterns
The General Council on Finance and Administration wishes to report to the 1996 General Conference its intention to conduct, during the 1997-2000 quadrennium, a study of a broad range of issues related to the manner in which connectional ministries are funded in The United Methodist Church. Topics to be studied will include, but not necessarilty be limited to: 1) the apportionment system as a funding mechanism, and 2) a general fund structure which can be communicated most effectively.
It is GCFA's intent that the study be conducted by a task force which, in addition to GCFA voting members, will include persons representing local churches and annual conferences, the Council of Bishops, the General Council on Ministries, and United Methodist Communications. In addition, as members are selected, GCFA will assure that there is appropriate representation of racial/ethnic minority persons, lay persons, women, and youth and/or young adults.
Based on the work of the task force, GCFA will report its findings and recommendations to the 2000 General Conference.
GCFA is reporting its plans for such a study as a response to two observations:
1. GCFA is aware that there has been widespread discussion across the denomination regarding the effectiveness and suitability of the apportionment system as presently constituted as a means of securing funds to support the connectional ministry and mission of the Church. 2. It has been suggested that the present general funds structure (consisting of eight apportioned funds, six special Sunday offering funds, general Advance special gifts,
World Service special gifts, the Youth Service Fund, and special appeals) is regarded by some as of such complexity as to inhibit understanding and support for connectional ministries.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21123-FA-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference