Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

2. To fix the appointments of the preachers for the several circuits, provided he shall not allow any preacher to remain in the same station more than two years successively; except the presiding elders, the editor and general book steward, the assistant editor and general book steward, the supernumerary, superannuated and worn out preachers, missionaries among the Indians, and the presidents, principals, or teachers of seminaries of learning, which are or may be under our superintendance.

3. In the intervals of the conferences, to change, receive, and suspend preachers, as necessity may require, and as the discipline directs.

4. To travel through the connexion at large.

5. To oversee the spiritual and tem poral business of our church.

6. To ordain bishops, elders, and deacons..

Quest. 4. To whom is a bishop ameniable for his conduct?

Answ. To the general conference, who have power to expel him for improper corduct, if they see it necessary.

Quest. 5. What provision shall be made for the trial of a bishop, if he should be accused of immorality in the interval of the general conference?

Ans. If a bishop be accused of immorality, three travelling elders shall call upon him, and examine him on the subject; and if the three elders verily believe that the bishop is guilty of the crime, they shall call to their aid two · presiding elders, from two districts in the neighbourhood of that where the crime was committed, each of which presiding elders shall bring with him two elders, or an elder and a deacon. The above mentioned nine persons shall form a conference, to examine into the charge brought against the bishop and if two thirds of them verily believe him to be guilty of the crime laid to his charge, they shall have authority to suspend the bishop till the ensuing general conference, and the districts shall be regulated in the mean time as is provided in the third and fifth sections; but no accusation shall be received against a bishop, except it be delivered in writing, signed by those who are to prove the crime: and a copy of the accusation shall be given to the accused bishop.

Quest. 6. If a bishop cease from travelling at large among the people, shall he still exercise his episcopal office among us in any degree?

Answ. If he cease from travelling without the consent of the general conference, he shall not thereafter exercise the episcopal office in our church.

SECTION V.

Of the Presiding Elders, and of their duty. Quest. 1. By whom are the presiding elders to be chosen?

Answ. By the bishops.

Quest. 2. What are the duties of a presiding elder?

Answ. 1. To travel through his appointed district.

2. In the absence of the bishop, to take charge of all the elders, and deacons, travelling and local preachers, and exhorters in his district.

3. To change, receive, and suspend preachers in his district during the intervals of the conferences, and in the. absence of the bishop, as the discipline directs.

4. In the absence of a bishop, to preside in the conference, but in case there are two or more presiding elders belong.

ing to one conference, the bishop or bishops may by letter or otherwise appoint the president; but if no appointment be made, or if the presiding elder appointed do not attend, the conference shall in either of these cases elect the president by ballot, without a debate, from among the presiding elders.

5. To be present, as far as practicable, at all the quarterly meetings; and to call together at each quarterly meeting, a quarterly meeting conference, consisting of all the travelling and local preachers, exhorters, stewards, and leaders of the circuit, and none else, to hear complaints, and to receive and try appeals. The quarterly meeting conference shall appoint a secretary to take down the proceedings thereof, in a book kept by one of the stewards of the circuit for that purpose.

6. To oversee the spiritual and temporal business of the church in his district.

7. To take care that every part of our discipline be enforced in his district.

8. To attend the bishops when present in his district; and to give them, when absent, all necessary information, by letter, of the state of his district.

Quest. 3. By whom are the presiding elders to be stationed and changed? Answ. By the bishops.

Quest. 4. How long may the bishops allow an elder to preside in the same district?

Answ. For any term not exceeding four years successively.

Quest. 5. Shall the presiding elder have power to employ a preacher who has been rejected at the previous annual conference?

Answ. He shall not, unless the conference should give him liberty under cer tain conditions.

Quest. 6. How shall the presiding el ders be supported ?

Answ. If there be a surplus of the public money in one or more circuits in his district, he shall receive such surplus; provided, he do not receive more than his annual allowance. In case of a deficiency in his allowance, after such surplus is paid him, or if there be no surplus, he shall share with the preachers of his district in proportion with what they have respectively received, so that he receives no more than the amount of his allowance upon the whole : he shall be accountable to the annual

« AnteriorContinuar »