CHAPTER VII.

CHURCH CONFERENCES

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning Church Conferences?

Ans. 1. All the members of the Church, and resident members of the Annual Conference shall come together once a month, or on circuits at least every three months, at every appointment, to hold a Church Conference, over which the preacher in charge shall preside. It may be held at any time most convenient for assembling the greatest number of members; but if on the Sabbath, it should not interfere with the morning public worship.

2. A secretary shall be elected annually, at the first meeting after the session of the Annual Conference. He shall make a record of the proceedings, and shall keep in a book, and return to the Quarterly Conference, all statistics which the Discipline requires to be reported to an Annual Conference.

3. The roll of members shall be called at every meeting, unless otherwise ordered, and the Conference may strike off the names of any who, on account of removal or other causes, have been lost sight of for twelve months; =provided=, however, that if such member appears and claims membership, he may be restored by a vote of the meeting.

4. The following is suggested as the general order of business:

1. Receive reports—

(a) From the preachers, of their labors since the last meeting.

(b) From the class leaders.

(c) From the Sunday-schools.

(d) From the stewards and stewardesses of that Church.

2. The Conference shall inquire—

(a) What is the number of the poor of the Church?

(b) Have they been provided for?

(c) Is the church here doing its duty for the cause of missions and other Church enterprises, and for the collections ordered by the Annual Conference?

(d) Is our religious literature circulated and read?

(e) Can the Church extend its work by establishing additional prayer meetings, Sunday-schools or in any other way?

(f) Can anything more be done to strengthen and build up the Church in the community, and to advance the cause of Christ?

5. If the observance of this order of business is likely to protract the session beyond a reasonable limit, the president may, from time to time, select the most important matters and bring them forward.

6. Let the Church Conference be opened and closed with religious service, and conducted in a devout and prayerful spirit.

=PART III.= THE MINISTER