CHURCH CONFERENCES
Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning Church Conferences?
Ans. 1. All the members of the Church, and resident members of the
Annual Conference shall come together once a month, or on circuits at
least every three months, at every appointment, to hold a Church
Conference, over which the preacher in charge shall preside. It may be
held at any time most convenient for assembling the greatest number of
members; but if on the Sabbath, it should not interfere with the morning
public worship.
2. A secretary shall be elected annually, at the first meeting after the
session of the Annual Conference. He shall make a record of the
proceedings, and shall keep in a book, and return to the Quarterly
Conference, all statistics which the Discipline requires to be reported
to an Annual Conference.
3. The roll of members shall be called at every meeting, unless
otherwise ordered, and the Conference may strike off the names of any
who, on account of removal or other causes, have been lost sight of for
twelve months; =provided=, however, that if such member appears and
claims membership, he may be restored by a vote of the meeting.
4. The following is suggested as the general order of business:
1. Receive reports—
(a) From the preachers, of their labors since the last meeting.
(b) From the class leaders.
(c) From the Sunday-schools.
(d) From the stewards and stewardesses of that Church.
2. The Conference shall inquire—
(a) What is the number of the poor of the Church?
(b) Have they been provided for?
(c) Is the church here doing its duty for the cause of missions and
other Church enterprises, and for the collections ordered by the Annual
Conference?
(d) Is our religious literature circulated and read?
(e) Can the Church extend its work by establishing additional prayer
meetings, Sunday-schools or in any other way?
(f) Can anything more be done to strengthen and build up the Church in
the community, and to advance the cause of Christ?
5. If the observance of this order of business is likely to protract the
session beyond a reasonable limit, the president may, from time to time,
select the most important matters and bring them forward.
6. Let the Church Conference be opened and closed with religious
service, and conducted in a devout and prayerful spirit.
=PART III.=
THE MINISTER