UMNS Photo by Heather Hahn
House and Bledsoe
Episcopacy Committee chairman Don House and Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe confer during the committee's July 16 hearing on Bledsoe's involuntary retirement.
BULLETIN Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
The United Methodist Judicial Council has reinstated Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe to active status after the bishop was involuntarily retired by vote of the South Central Jurisdiction in July.
The unprecedented decision cited "numerous errors of fair process" in the ruling that invalidated the bishop's involuntary retirement, which had been effective Sept. 1.
Bishop Bledsoe's attorney, Jon Gray of Houston, cited numerous paragraphs from the Book of Discipline in his argument that the bishop had been denied "fair process" in the personnel decision despite an evaluation process, a two-day committee hearing and a day-long consideration by the South Central Jurisdiction.
In its Decision 1230, the Judicial Council cited two principles, fair process and timeliness, as part of the rationale for its decision, specifically:
Fair Process and Timeliness
It is a long-standing policy in The United Methodist Church to handle any administrative or judicial process within guidelines of fair process. Fair process can never be presumed, but it must be clearly demonstrated at all times. The concept of fair process is one that has been engrafted upon the constitutional standards of our Church. Fair process includes the right to receive notice of hearing that advises the respondent of the reason for the proposed action with sufficient detail to allow the respondent to prepare a response. This principle is in question in this instant situation.
The council ruling said it found that Bishop Bledsoe was not given sufficient detail by the Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy for the reasons why it found him ineffective, despite an evaluation in which he reportedly scored significantly lower than all other South Central active bishops.
In regard to the issue of fair process, the brief submitted on behalf of the Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy noted:
The announcements did not include detail concerning the reason for the hearing since such detail was discussed during the team interview on March 28, 2012 and the full committee meeting on May 24, 2012.
A 20-page statement detailing specific reasons for the scheduled hearing was delivered to Bishop Bledsoe on June 27, 2012—exactly 20 days before the scheduled hearing.
However, the Judicial Council ruled that verbal notification doesn't take the place of the written notification of details required by the personnel process outlined in the Book of Discipline. While noting that " both parties used parts of the Discipline that are not appropriate in this ... situation," the council ruled that the greater burden to ensure fair process fell on the Jurisdictional C ommittee on the Episcopacy, which the church's high court said " established its own processes and timelines that are not specifically provided by the Discipline."
The Judicial Council has ordered that Bishop Bledsoe be given an immediate assignment withint the South Central Jurisdiction as an active bishop. Although there is a vacancy in the Albuquerque, NM, Episcopal Area, there was no indication that Bishop Bledsoe would be assigned there. Jurisdictional executive, the Rev. David Severe, told media that he expected the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops would meet soon to determine how to implement the Judicial Council ruling.
However, the Judicial Council has retained oversight of the Bledsoe case, saying it wanted to assure that the bishop was treated fairly and that the Council's decision was properly implemented.
Bishop Bledsoe's reinstatement includes back pay and benefits dating from Sept. 1 when his involuntary retirement took effect to the date of the Judicial Council ruling. The council conducted a hearing on the bishop's appeal on Nov. 9 and 10 in Phoenix, AZ.
In remarks to the United Methodist Reporter, Bishop Bledsoe thanked those who had contributed to living expenses for himself and his wife, Leslie, and to the legal costs associated with his appeal.
United Methodist Insight will have additional coverage of this story as it develops.