The Doctrines and Discipline of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church Revised Edition 1918

CHAPTER XXX.

Chapter 39238 wordsPublic domain

APPEAL OF A MEMBER.

1. If there be a murmur or complaint from any excluded person, that justice has not been done in the trial before the Church or committee, he shall be allowed an appeal to the next Quarterly Conference.

2. The appeal being made and allowed, the preacher in charge shall present the minutes of the trial to the Quarterly Conference, from which minutes the case shall finally be determined.

3. No member of the committee for trial shall vote on the appeal.

4. The appellant shall state, either personally or by his representative, (who shall be a member of the church) the grounds of his appeal, showing cause why he appeals, and he shall be permitted to make his defense, without interruption. After which the representatives of the society or committee from whose decision the appeal is made, shall be permitted to respond in presence of the appellant, who shall have privilege of replying, which shall close the pleadings on both sides. This done, the appellant shall withdraw, and the majority of the members of the Quarterly Conference present shall finally determine the case.

5. No member, after such form of trial and expulsion, shall be restored to the communion of the Church without giving satisfactory evidence of repentance, unless the Quarterly Conference shall become convinced that he was innocent of the crime for which he was expelled; in which case he may be restored.