Bringing a case before The United Methodist Church’s top court has long required the time and expense of mailing multiple documents, often across oceans.
Now the Judicial Council has launched a new e-filing system that allows United Methodists to submit briefs and other documents online — shortening a process that once took days or even weeks to a matter of seconds.
The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, Judicial Council president, sees the new system as a better way to serve a global denomination and its highest judicial body, whose nine clergy and lay members live in the Philippines, Egypt, Zimbabwe and across the United States.
“It hopefully expedites and makes a smoother system — both for the submission of briefs and reply briefs as well as for the distribution to members of the council,” Henry-Crowe said.
The Judicial Council, whose members are volunteers elected by General Conference, typically holds two sessions a year in the spring and fall. The church court adjudicates three kinds of cases:
- Appeals of a judicial or administrative decision, often regarding a clergy member.
- Requests for a declaratory decision on the interpretation, application and constitutionality of a church law or, in some cases, a proposed church law.
- Reviews of decisions of law made by bishops during annual conferences and other decision-making meetings where they preside.
E-Filing Helps Covers Costs of Submissions
Only certain United Methodist bodies and individuals have standing to bring a case before the Judicial Council. However, any interested party or other individual can file an amicus brief on a docket item.
In the past, making a submission required mailing multiple copies of documents and records by parcel post to the assistant to the Judicial Council secretary, who in turn mailed documents to the Judicial Council members around the world.
The move to an e-filing system will allow Judicial Council members to receive the submissions instantaneously and save hundreds of dollars in postage, said Bill Waddell, the Judicial Council’s vice president.
He added that the new forms for online submission are similar to previous paper forms to keep them familiar.
The church court plans to offer training for bishops, conference secretaries and other United Methodist leaders. The Judicial Council also plans to post a tutorial video on its website.
Your Generosity Can Continue the Work
By supporting the General Administration Fund apportionment you help support the implementation and administrative oversight for all General Conference sessions. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the General Administration Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
excerpt Heather Hahn, assistant news editor for UM News.
This story shows the impact of the General Administration Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to maintain the structures that keep the Church connected, transparent, and accountable. Your church’s support enables the coordination of General Conference, the Judicial Council, and other systems that ensure integrity and stewardship in our shared mission.
When your church supports the General Administration Fund, you help the Church steward its resources wisely and live out its mission with integrity.
