CHAPTER XXIV.

TRIAL OF A TRAVELING PREACHER

Ques. 1. To whom is a traveling preacher amenable for his conduct?

Ans. To the Annual Conference, which shall have power to try, acquit, or expel him.

Ques. 2. What shall be done when a traveling preacher is accused of immorality?

Ans. 1. When a traveling elder or deacon is under report of being guilty of some crime expressly forbidden in the Word of God, if it be in the interval of the Annual Conference, let the Presiding Elder, in the absence of the Bishop, call as many traveling preachers as he shall think fit—at least three—and, if possible, bring the accused and the accuser face to face. If the accused be clearly convicted, he shall be suspended till the ensuing Annual Conference. The Presiding Elder shall cause an exact record of the investigation, signed by the President and Secretary, to be transmitted to the Annual Conference, by which his case shall be fully considered and determined.

If the accused be a Presiding Elder, any three traveling Elders or Deacons of his District may inquire into the case, and if they judge it necessary report to the Bishop, who shall appoint a committee of at least three Elders, from within the bounds of the Annual Conference of which the accused is a member; he shall also preside at the investigation, or some traveling Elder appointed by him; and the accused, if guilty, shall be suspended.

If the accused and the accuser cannot be brought face to face, but the supposed delinquent evades an investigation, it shall be received as a presumptive proof of guilt; and out of the mouth of two or three witnesses he shall be condemned, and be accordingly suspended. Nevertheless, even in that case, the Annual Conference shall consider and determine the whole matter.

2. When the accusation is preferred during the session of the Annual Conference, it shall first be referred to a committee of three traveling Elders for investigation, who shall report to the Conference whether or not they judge a trial necessary. If the Conference differ in judgment from the committee, a new committee may be appointed to inquire into the facts and report.

The committee of investigation reporting a case for trial, shall bring forward the bill of charges in proper form and appoint one or more of their number to prosecute it.

Every case to be tried shall be referred to a committee of not less than nine, nor more than thirteen, who, in the presence of a Bishop or a chairman, whom the President of the Conference shall appoint, and one or more of the Secretaries of the Conference, shall have full power to try the case, and their decision shall be final, save as to the right of appeal: =provided=, that the accused shall, upon good grounds alleged, be allowed to challenge five in a committee of nine, or seven in a committee of thirteen, and in the same ratio for any other number. And the said committee shall make a faithful report to the Conference, in writing, and deliver up to the Secretary the whole record of the case, with the decision rendered.

Ques. 3. What shall be done in cases of improper tempers, words, or actions?

Ans. The person so offending shall be reprehended by his senior in office. Should a second transgression take place, one, two, or three ministers or preachers are to be taken as witnesses. If he be not then cured, accusation shall be preferred at the next Annual Conference, and the accused shall be dealt with as in a case of immorality.

Ques. 4. What shall be done with those ministers or preachers who hold and disseminate, publicly or privately doctrines which are contrary to our Articles of Religion?

Ans. Let the same process be observed as in case of immorality; but if the minister or preacher so offending do solemnly engage not to disseminate such erroneous doctrines in public or in private, he shall be borne with till his case be laid before the next Annual Conference, which shall determine the matter.

Ques. 5. What shall be done when a traveling preacher is complained of as being so unacceptable, inefficient, or secular, as to be no longer useful in his work?

Ans. 1. The Conference to which he belongs shall investigate the case, and if it appears that the complaint is well founded, and he does not give the Conference satisfaction that he will amend or voluntarily retire, it may locate him without his consent.

2. He shall be at liberty to defend himself before the Conference in person, or by his representative; and if he be located in his absence, without having been previously notified of an intention thus to proceed against him, he may apply to the Conference, at its next session, to be heard in his defense, and the matter shall be reconsidered for that purpose.

Ques. 6. What shall be done in the case of a preacher who refuses to attend to the work assigned him?

Ans. No Deacon or Elder who ceases to travel without the consent of the Annual Conference, certified under the hand of the President of the Conference, except in case of sickness, debility or other unavoidable circumstances, shall, on any account, exercise the peculiar functions of his office, or even be allowed to preach among us; but the final determination in all such cases is with the Annual Conference.

Nevertheless, in all the above mentioned cases of trial and conviction, an appeal to the Ministerial Court of Appeals shall be allowed, if the condemned person signifies to the President or the Secretary of the Conference his intention to appeal at the time of his condemnation; or at any time within two months thereafter.