CHAPTER XXV.

TRIAL OF PROBATIONERS AND LOCAL PREACHERS.

I. TRIAL OF A PROBATIONER

Ques. What shall be done with a preacher on trial who is accused of immorality?

Ans. He shall be accountable to the Quarterly Conference of the circuit on which he travels. The Presiding Elder shall call a committee of investigation, and the course of Discipline shall be pursued that is made and provided for a Local Preacher under a like accusation.

II. TRIAL OF A LOCAL PREACHER

Ques. 1. To whom is a Local Preacher amenable for his conduct?

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

Ques. 2. What shall be done when a Local Preacher is accused of immorality?

Ans. 1. When a Local Preacher is under report of being guilty of some crime expressly forbidden in the Word of God, the preacher in charge shall appoint a committee of three Local Preachers to investigate the report; and if they judge a trial to be necessary, they shall appoint one or more of their number to prepare a bill of charges and specifications, and present it before the ensuing Quarterly Conference.

2. The Committee of Investigation shall, in every case, make a report to the Quarterly Conference; and if the Conference differs in judgment, a new committee may be appointed to inquire into the facts and to report.

3. A Local Preacher who has been notified by the Presiding Elder, or preacher in charge, of a bill of charges and specifications thus found against him, shall not be allowed to exercise the functions of his office until the case has been presented to, and determined by, the Quarterly Conference.

4. The President of the Quarterly Conference, shall at the commencement of the trial, appoint a Secretary, who shall take down regular minutes of the evidence and proceedings. The minutes, when read and approved, shall be signed by the President, and also by the members who are present, or a majority of them, and the sentence of the Quarterly Conference shall be pronounced by the President.

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

Ans. The person so offending shall be reprehended by the preacher having charge. Should a second transgression take place, one, two, or three faithful friends are to be taken as witnesses. If he be not then cured, he shall be dealt with as in a case of immorality; and if found guilty and impenitent, he shall be expelled from the Church.

Ques. 4. What shall be done with those Local 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 a case of immorality.

Ques. 5. What shall be done when a Local Elder or Deacon is complained of as being so unacceptable or inefficient as to be no longer useful in his work, and the Quarterly Conference refuses to pass his character on that ground?

Ans. The Quarterly Conference next succeeding shall proceed to 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, the Conference may depose him from the ministry. He shall be at liberty to defend himself before the Conference in person, or by his representative. The President of the Quarterly Conference shall have regular minutes of the investigation taken which on being read and approved, shall be signed by himself and a majority of the members of the Conference.

Nevertheless, in all the above mentioned cases of trial and conviction, an appeal to the ensuing Annual Conference shall be allowed, if the condemned person signifies his intention to appeal at the time of his condemnation, or at any time thereafter when he is informed thereof.