CHAPTER XII.

SUPERNUMERARY AND SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS— PREACHERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES

I. SUPERNUMERARY PREACHERS

Ques. What is a supernumerary preacher?

Ans. 1. A supernumerary preacher is one who is so disabled by affliction as to be unable to preach constantly, but is willing to do any work in the ministry which the Bishop may direct, and he may be able to perform.

2. A supernumerary preacher who refuses to attend to the work assigned him, unless in case of sickness or other unavoidable cause or causes, shall not be allowed to exercise the functions of his office, nor even to preach among us; nevertheless, the final determination of the case shall be with the Annual Conference of which he is a member, which shall have power to acquit, suspend, locate, or expel him, as the case may be.

II. SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS.

Ques. What is a superannuated preacher?

Ans. 1. A superannuated preacher is one who is worn out in the itinerant service.

2. A superannuated preacher, living out of the bounds of the Conference of which he is a member, shall be held responsible to the Annual Conference within whose bounds he may reside, which shall have power to try, acquit, suspend or expel him, in the same manner as if he were a member of said Conference.

III. RECEIVING PREACHERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES

Ques. 1. How shall we receive those ministers who may offer to unite with us from other Christian Churches?

Ans. 1. Ministers of other Churches who may desire to unite with us as local preachers, may be received by a Quarterly Conference, upon giving satisfaction that they are suitable persons; but they shall not exercise the peculiar functions of deacons or elders until their orders are recognized by the Annual Conference:

=Provided=, no one who has been expelled from the ministry and membership of another Church shall be permitted to enter our itinerancy under five years from date of said expulsion.

=Provided=, that the Bishop may, at his discretion, allow ministers thus received to exercise their functions as Deacons or Elders until the session of the Annual Conference.

2. After such reception, and a recommendation by the Quarterly Conference, the Annual Conference, if satisfied of their being in order, and of their agreement with us in doctrine and discipline, and also of their gifts, graces and usefulness, may recognize them accordingly, without the re-imposition of hands, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows. If they cannot attend the Annual Conference, they shall send up a certified subscription to our doctrines and discipline, and to our ordination vows.

3. Ministers of other Churches, duly accredited as Deacons or Elders, who may desire to unite with us as traveling preachers, may be admitted as Deacons or Elders in full connection, after they shall have been members of the Quarterly Conference at least one year, and procuring a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference: =provided=, the Conference is satisfied with their gifts, graces and usefulness, and their agreement with us in doctrine and discipline, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows, without the re-imposition of hands.

4. When a minister has been received and recognized in orders, he shall be furnished with a certificate, signed by one of our Bishops, in the following words, viz:

This is to certify that.............. has been admitted into............... Conference as a traveling preacher (or has been received as a local preacher on........................Circuit), he having been ordained to the office of a deacon, (or elder, as the case may be,) according to the usages of the.................Church, of which he has been a member and minister; and he is hereby authorized to exercise the functions pertaining to his office in the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America so long as his life and conversation are such as become the gospel of Christ.

Given under my hand and seal, at ......this..........day of........in the year of our Lord.........

=PART IV.= LOCAL PREACHERS, EXHORTERS, AND OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH