CHAPTER XVI.

STEWARDS AND STEWARDESSES

Ques. 1. How are Stewards and Junior Stewards to be appointed?

Ans. The preacher in charge shall have the right of nomination, subject to the confirmation or rejection of the Quarterly Conference.

Ques. 2. What are the regulations concerning Stewards and Junior Stewards?

Ans. 1. Let them be men of solid piety, who both know and love the Methodist doctrine and discipline, and of good natural and acquired ability to transact temporal business of the Church.

2. It shall be the duty of the Stewards to make estimates of expenses and provision for the support of the gospel; to take an exact account of all moneys collected or other provisions made for the support of the ministry; expenditure of money, whether for the support of the ministry or the relief of the sick, or the poor; to seek the needy and distressed in order to relieve and comfort them; to inform the preachers of any sick or disorderly persons; to tell the preachers what they think wrong in them; to attend the official meetings and the quarterly meetings; to give advice, if asked, in planning the circuit; to attend committees for the application of money to churches; to give counsel in matters of arbitration; to provide elements for the Lord's Supper; to appoint some one, whenever necessary, to receive contributions for the support of the ministry and other purposes, and to obtain from each collector thus appointed the money received by him, that it may be reported to the Quarterly Conference; to take up collections quarterly in every congregation, if it be necessary, and to write circular letters to the societies to be more liberal, if need be; and to let them know, when occasion requires, the financial state of the Church, as reported at the Quarterly Conference. They shall elect their own chairman, secretary and treasurer.

3. The Stewards of each circuit and station shall be a standing committee (where there is no parsonage) to provide houses for the families of married preachers, or to assist the preachers to obtain houses for themselves when they are appointed to labor among them.

Ques. 3. To whom are Stewards accountable for the faithful performance of their duties?

Ans. To the Quarterly Conference, which shall have power to remove them from office.

Ques. 4. What shall be the number of Stewards in each circuit or station?

Ans. 1. Every pastoral charge shall be entitled to one Steward for every thirty members, to be elected annually: =provided=, nevertheless, that each society in a circuit shall have one Steward, and each circuit or station may have at least seven.

2. When two or more circuits or stations are united, the Stewards shall hold office till the first Quarterly Conference elects a new Board.

Ques. 5. What directions are given concerning Junior Stewards?

Ans. They shall be auxiliary to Stewards and their number and manner of election shall be the same.

Ques. 6. What are the duties of a Recording Steward?

Ans. To preserve the records of the Quarterly Conference, and to report to the Joint Board of Finance of the Annual Conference a full account of the acts of his Board of Stewards the preceding year.

Ques. 7. What are the regulations concerning Stewardesses and Junior Stewardesses?

Ans. There shall be a Board of Stewardesses and Junior Stewardesses in each circuit, station or mission, whose number and mode of election shall be the same as Stewards.

2. Junior Stewardesses shall be auxiliary to Stewardesses.

3. It shall be the duty of the Stewardesses to serve the table of the Lord, the table of the poor, and the table of the ministry; to assist in the collection of the General Funds, Presiding Elder's and Pastor's salary, and to do any other work that may be assigned to them by the pastor in charge or Board of Stewards of the Church.