CHAPTER XIV.

LOCAL PREACHERS AND EXHORTERS

I. LOCAL PREACHERS

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning the licensing of persons to preach?

Ans. 1. The Quarterly Conference shall have authority to license proper persons to preach, and to renew their license annually, when, in its judgment, their gifts, graces and usefulness will warrant it.

2. No person shall be licensed to preach without the recommendation of the Church of which he or she is a member, or of the Leaders' Meeting of the charge to which he or she belongs. Nor shall any one be licensed to preach without first being examined in the Quarterly Conference on the subject of doctrines and discipline, and giving satisfactory evidence of his or her ability to read the word of God; nor shall any license be valid unless signed by the President and Secretary of the Conference.

Ques. 2. What shall be the time of probation of a local preacher for the office of a deacon?

Ans. A local preacher shall be eligible to the office of a deacon after he has preached four years from the time he received a regular license, and has obtained a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference, on a proper examination, signed by the President and Secretary, and after his character has passed, and he has obtained the approbation of the Annual Conference.

Ques. 3. What shall be the time of probation of a local deacon for the office of an elder?

Ans. A local deacon shall be eligible to the office of an elder after he has preached four years from the time he was ordained a deacon, and has obtained a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference, on a proper examination, certifying his qualifications in doctrine, discipline, talents and usefulness, signed by the President and Secretary. He shall present to the Annual Conference such recommendation, with a note certifying his belief in the doctrine and discipline of our Church—the whole being examined by the Annual Conference; and if approved, he may be ordained.

Ques. 4. What further directions are given concerning local preachers?

Ans. 1. It shall be the duty of local preachers to aid the preacher in charge of the circuit, station, or mission to which they belong in supplying the people with the ministry of the word. They shall subscribe annually for the Christian Index, and their license shall not be renewed by the Quarterly Conference until they shall have subscribed for the same. They shall accordingly be applied to by the preacher in charge as soon as he enters his work, to state what amount of service they are able and willing to perform; he may then draw up a plan by which their labors shall be regulated. They shall be authorized to form new congregations, to take a list of the names of all candidates for Church membership, and, if expedient, receive them into the Church; =provided=, that all such congregations, candidates, and members be reported as soon as possible to the preacher in charge, in order that they may be placed immediately under his pastoral care.

2. Every local elder, deacon, and licentiate shall have his name recorded on the Journal of the Quarterly Conference of which he is a member.

3. When any traveling preacher is located he shall be amenable to the Quarterly Conference of the charge last filled by him, until he presents his certificate of location to some other Quarterly Conference.

4. When a local elder, deacon or licentiate removes from one circuit, station or mission, to another, he shall procure from the Presiding Elder of the District or from the Preacher having charge, a certificate of his official standing in the Church at the time of his removal; without which he shall not be received as a local preacher in other places.

II. EXHORTERS

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning the licensing of persons to exhort?

Ans. 1. The Quarterly Conference shall have authority to license proper persons to exhort, and to renew their license annually, when, in its judgment, their gifts, graces and usefulness will warrant it.

2. No person shall be licensed to exhort without the recommendation of the Church of which he is a member, or of the Leaders' Meeting of the charge to which he belongs; nor shall any license be valid unless signed by the President of the Conference.

Ques. 2. What are the duties of an exhorter?

Ans. To hold meetings for prayer and exhortation whenever opportunity is afforded, subject to the direction of the preacher in charge.

Ques. 3. What further directions are given concerning exhorters?

Ans. 1. Let every exhorter diligently exercise the functions of his office without assuming those of a preacher.

2. Every exhorter, by virtue of his office, shall be a member of the Quarterly Conference of the charge to which he belongs; but in all other respects he shall be dealt with as a private member of the Church.

3. When an exhorter removes from one circuit, station or mission to another, he shall not be recognized as such unless he obtains a certificate of his official character from the Presiding Elder of the District, or the preacher to whose charge he belongs at the time of his removal.