167. At all times when the General Conference is met it shall take two thirds of the whole number of Ministerial and Lay Delegates to form a quorum for trans. acting business. 168. The Ministerial and Lay Delegates shall sit and deliberate together as one body, but they shall vote separately whenever such separate vote shall be demanded by one third of either order; and in such cases the concurrent vote of both orders shall be necessary to complete an action. 169. One of the General Superintendents shall preside in the General Conference; but in case no General Superintendent be present, the General Conference shall choose a president pro tem. 170. The General Conference shall have full powers to make rules and regulations for our Church, under the following limitations and restrictions, namely: § 1. The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our Articles of Religion, nor establish any new standards or rules of doctrine contrary to our present existing and established standards of doctrine. § 2. They shall not allow of more than one Ministerial Representative for every fourteen members of the Annual Conference, nor allow of a less number than one for every forty-five, nor more than two Lay Delegates for any Annual Conference; provided, nevertheless, that when there shall be in any Annual Conference a fraction of two thirds the number which shall be fixed for the ratio of representation, such Annual Conference shall be entitled to an additional Delegate for such fraction; and provided, also, that no Conference shall be denied the privileg of one Delegate. §3. They shall not change or alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away Episcopacy, or destroy the plan of our itinerant General Superintendency; but may appoint a Missionary Bishop or Superintendent for any of our foreign missions, limiting his jurisdiction to the same respectively. §4. They shall not revoke or change the General Rules of the United Societies. § 5. They shall not do away the privileges of our ministers or preachers, of trial by a Committee, and of an appeal; neither shall they do away the privileges of our members, of trial before the Society, or by a Committee, and of an appeal. § 6. They shall not appropriate the produce of the Book Concern, nor of the Charter Fund, to any purpose other than for the benefit of the traveling, supernumerary, superannuated, and wornout preachers, their wives, widows, and children. 171. Provided, nevertheless, that upon the concurrent recommendation of three fourths of all the members of the several Annual Conferences who shall be present and vote on such recommendation, then a majority of two thirds of the General Conference succeeding shall suffice to alter any of the above restrictions, excepting the First Article; and also, whenever such aiteration or alterations shall have been first recommended by two thirds of the General Conference, so soon as three fourths of the members of all the Annual Conferences shall have concurred as aforesaid, such alteration or alterations shall take effect. The Annual Conferences. 172. There shall be eighty-nine An nual Conferences in the year, and these shall severally become bodies corporate, wherever practicable, under the authority of the laws of the States and Territories within whose bounds they are located. 173. All the Traveling Preachers, both those who are in full connection and those who are on trial, shall attend the Annual Conferences. 74. The Bishops shall appoint the times of holding the Annual Conferences; but they shall allow each Annual Conference to sit a week at least. 175. Each Annual Conference shall appoint the place of its own sitting; but should it become necessary, from any unforeseen cause, to change the place of its sitting after it has been fixed by the Conference, the Preacher or Preachers in Charge in the place where the Confererce was to have been held, and the Presiuing Elder of the District, shall have power to make such change. But this authority shall not be exercised without first consulting the other Presiding Eld. ers of the Conference so far as practicable. 76. A Bishop shall preside in the Annual Conferences. In case no Bishop be present, a member of the Conference, appointed by the Bishop, shall preside. But if no appointment be made, or the person appointed do not attend, the Conference shall elect a President by ballot from among the Elders without debate. T 77. The business of the Annual Conference is, to inquire, 1. Have any entered this Conference by Transfer or Re-admission? 2. Who are admitted on Trial? 3. Who remain on Trial? 4. Who are admitted into Full Connection? 5. Who are the Deacons of the First Class ? 6. Who are the Deacons of the Second Class? 7. Who have been elected and ordained Elders ? 8. Who are Preachers? the Supernumerary 9. Who are the Superannuated Preacn ers ? 10. Was the character of each Preacher examined? 11. Have any Located? |