When a minister is accused of conduct unbecoming a minister, and shall admit to guilt, or shall confess to guilt prior to being brought before a Board of Discipline, the District Advisory Board may assess any of the disciplines provided for in 605.5. (538.6–538.8)
Index: duties
606
Following a decision by a Board of Discipline, the accused, the District Advisory Board, or those who sign the charges shall be entitled to appeal the decision to the General Court of Appeals for those in the United States and Canada, or to the Regional Court of Appeals in other global regions. The appeal shall be begun within 30 days after such decision, and the court shall review the entire record of the case and all steps that have been taken therein. If the court discovers any substantial error prejudicial to the right of any person, it shall correct such error by ordering a new hearing to be conducted in a manner capable of giving relief to that person affected adversely by previous proceedings or decision.
607.2
Appeals to the General Court of Appeals may be made by the accused or the Board of Discipline from decisions of a Regional Court of Appeals. Such appeals shall be by the same rules and procedures as other appeals to the General Court of Appeals.
609
Each organized district shall have a District Court of Appeals composed of two laypersons and three assigned ordained ministers, including the district superintendent, elected by the district assembly according to 203.22. This court shall hear appeals of church members concerning any action of local boards of discipline. Notice of appeal must be given in writing within 30 days after such action or after appellant has knowledge thereof. Such notice shall be delivered to the District Court of Appeals or a member thereof, and a copy of such notice shall be delivered to the pastor of the local church and to the secretary of the church board concerned. (203.22)
609.1
The District Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide all appeals of laypersons or churches from the action of a Board of Discipline appointed to discipline a layperson.
610
The General Assembly shall elect five assigned ordained ministers to serve as members of the General Court of Appeals during each ensuing quadrennium, or until their successors are elected and qualified. This court shall have jurisdiction as follows:
610.1
To hear and determine all appeals from the action or decision of any District Board of Discipline or Regional Court of Appeals. When such appeals are so determined by said court, such determination shall be authoritative and final. (305.7)
613
The general secretary shall be custodian of all permanent records and decisions of the General Court of Appeals. (326.4)
614
There shall be a Regional Court of Appeals for each region. Each Regional Court of Appeals shall consist of five or more assigned ordained ministers elected by the Board of General Superintendents following each General Assembly. Vacancies shall be filled by the Board of General Superintendents. The Rules of Procedure shall be the same for the Regional Courts of Appeals as for the General Court of Appeals, in both the church Manual and the Judicial Manual. A quorum of five shall be required for appeals referred to the court.
615.5
A minister or layperson shall not be required to answer charges for any act that occurred more than five years before the filing of such charges, and no evidence will be considered at any hearing for any matter that occurred more than five years before the charges were filed. Provided, however, that if the person aggrieved by any such act was under the age of 18 or found to be mentally incompetent of making an accusation or filing a charge, such five-year limitation periods would not begin to run until the aggrieved person reached age 18 or became mentally competent. In the case of the sexual abuse of a child, no time limit shall apply.
If a minister is convicted of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction, he or she shall surrender his or her credential to the district superintendent. At the request of such minister, and if the Board of Discipline has not previously been involved, the District Advisory Board shall investigate the circumstances of the conviction and may restore the credential if it deems appropriate.