Associates in Advocacy, laity and clergy who walk through the disciplinary process with clergy accused of violating church law, will hold its 2020 Seminar online on Monday, Nov. 9 beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

Associates in Advocacy started in the civil rights era when clergy were often accused of violations of church law in order to stop their civil rights work.  Today the organization works in a variety of areas assisting those caught in unfamiliar disciplinary processes. The Nov. 9 session offers three sessions:

 

 Fixing the Administrative Process 
11a.m. - 1p.m. ET

Judicial Decision 1383 found administrative process leading to involuntary leave of absence (¶ 354), involuntary retirement (¶ 357.3), administrative location (¶ 359), and discontinuance from provisional membership (¶ 327.6) violate the guarantees of a fair and unbiased process in ¶¶ 20 and 58 and are unconstitutional, null and void.  Rev. Meg Lassiat of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and Rev. Robert Zilhaver of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference will explore the history leading up to Judicial Decision 1383 and its effect currently.  They will also examine possible solutions to resolve the legal issues raised in Judicial Decision 1383 and restore the administrative processes for clergy and bishops in our church.

Racial Justice Issues 
 2 - 4 p.m. ET

The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery have brought into sharp focus racial injustice and the need for The United Methodist Church to respond. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, the newly elected president of the General Commission on Religion and Race, reflects on anti-racism efforts by The United Methodist Church and resources within the church to deal with racism and racial harassment.  There will also be time to address how the church can use its processes to hold individuals and groups within the church accountable for racist behaviors.

Prevention and Response to Sexual Misconduct        
  4:15 - 6 p.m. ET

We live in a world where sexual misconduct is a reality in The United Methodist Church, from the Boy Scout bankruptcy settlement to the United Methodist News Service coverage of a clergyman’s sexual misconduct against four women. Prominent in interfaith work, the United Methodist clergyman ultimately surrendered his credentials.