Who sets policy for the UMC

Clergy Sexual Misconduct 8/1/2002 Who sets policy for the United Methodist Church? Only the General Conference can speak officially for the United Methodist Church. Every four years, delegates at each conference revise the Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions. The Social Principles, in both books, are described as a "prayerful and thoughtful effort on the part of the General Conference to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation as historically demonstrated in United Methodist traditions." The Book of Resolutions is not legally binding but serves as a guide for the church for reference, encouragement, study and support. CLERGY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (Posted 8/02) The United Methodist Church has firm rules against clergy sexual misconduct, and church leaders are trained to respond swiftly to complaints.  The denomination's highest legislative body has called on each of its regional administrative units, called annual conferences, to establish written policies and procedures aimed at preventing sexual abuse by paid and volunteer church leaders, and for handling complaints that might arise about sexual misconduct. The policies are revised regularly. The denomination uses the term "clergy misconduct of a sexual nature" when boundaries and relationships sacred to the clergy office and authority are violated through sexual behavior. Whether suggestive remarks, unwelcome touching, sexual harassment, rape or other actions, such misconduct is an abuse of power. Sexual misconduct is a form of disobedience to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church because it violates the sacred trust held by clergy. Some forms of misconduct may lead to a church trial and possible loss of ministerial orders. Some offenses are also crimes, and allegations of such a nature are to be reported to law enforcement authorities in accordance with relevant state laws.  In church law, chargeable offenses in instances of clergy sexual misconduct may come under categories outlined in the denomination's Book of Discipline (Paragraph 2702) that include immorality, crime, disobedience to the church's order and discipline, relationships or behaviors that undermine the ministry of the pastor, child abuse, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct or sexual harassment.  The Book of Discipline's statute of limitations does not apply to sexual abuse or child abuse allegedly committed after 1992. That year, the church's legislative body removed those offenses from the statute of limitations. The church's supreme court, the Judicial Council, in decisions 691, 704 and 723, ruled that this change was not retroactive. The church makes clear its opposition to sexual misconduct in a resolution adopted by General Conference in 1996 and revised in 2000, "Sexual Ethics Within Ministerial Relationships." "The United Methodist Church renews its stand in opposition to the sin of sexual misconduct and abuse within the church," the resolution states. "The wisest investment, of course, is in the prevention and training of anyone and everyone who may find themselves in paid or volunteer roles of ministerial leadership." The denomination's Commission on the Status and Role of Women provides resources and leadership related to the church on this issue. According to the commission, "Sexual abuse is a sexual invasion of the body by force. Sexual abuse may be rape, sexual assault, incest, indecent exposure, statutory rape, involuntary or voluntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, promotion of prostitution, pornography with children, indecent assault, a deliberate violation of emotional integrity, a hostile, degrading act of violence." An executive with the commission adds that the list of examples is not comprehensive.