Methodist Building transfer delayed

The United Methodist General Conference yesterday stalled an attempt by temperance activists to transfer ownership of the Methodist Building on Capitol Hill.

General Conference delegates in Pittsburgh voted 587-307 to delay for at least four years a decision on transferring more than $20 million in D.C.-based assets — including the $9 million Methodist Building near the U.S. Supreme Court — from the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) to a new corporation dedicated to fighting the consumption of alcohol.

“This is a good step, but it’s not enough,” said Jared Thomas, who had petitioned the General Conference for the vote. “Four years lost in this crusade against alcoholism is a setback because people are suffering from addictions right now.”

Activists had sought to dislodge ownership of the Methodist Building from GBCS, saying the corporation had violated a trust agreement because it has used the assets on issues other than those related to temperance.

GBCS officials could not be reached for comment yesterday. They have said they interpret the trust’s language to include a variety of social causes and say they are not in violation of any D.C. laws.

The corporation funds programs for civil and human rights issues, antiwar activities, domestic violence, church-state separation, homosexual rights, addictions, health care and racism.

Ron Enns, a Texas district court judge who was scheduled to present a separate petition on the issue today, said the behavior of the GBCS is a potential embarrassment for the United Methodist Church.

“This is an issue of following U.S. laws, not the laws of the church,” Judge Enns said. “It’s obvious they’re operating outside of the law in ignoring the specific language of the agreement, and that’s going to jeopardize the whole trust fund if this ever reaches court.”

Judge Enns’ petition does not advocate transferring the assets but seeks to enforce the original language of the trust agreement.

The 1965 trust agreement states that all principal and income from the trust’s assets is restricted for “work in the areas of temperance and alcohol problems.”

Early-20th century prohibitionists donated the assets in question, which originally were controlled by the Methodist Board of Temperance. When that corporation dissolved after a merger of Methodist denominations in the 1960s, the General Conference created the GBCS.

According to an internal audit, the GBCS in 2001 controlled about $21.3 million in assets, including two buildings on Capitol Hill.

Thirty percent of delegates to the 2000 General Conference voted to eliminate the GBCS.

The 2004 General Conference began April 27 and concludes tomorrow.