LOCAL PREACHERS AND EXHORTERS
I. LOCAL PREACHERS
Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning the licensing of persons
to preach?
Ans. 1. The Quarterly Conference shall have authority to license proper
persons to preach, and to renew their license annually, when, in its
judgment, their gifts, graces and usefulness will warrant it.
2. No person shall be licensed to preach without the recommendation of
the Church of which he or she is a member, or of the Leaders' Meeting of
the charge to which he or she belongs. Nor shall any one be licensed to
preach without first being examined in the Quarterly Conference on the
subject of doctrines and discipline, and giving satisfactory evidence of
his or her ability to read the word of God; nor shall any license be
valid unless signed by the President and Secretary of the Conference.
Ques. 2. What shall be the time of probation of a local preacher for the
office of a deacon?
Ans. A local preacher shall be eligible to the office of a deacon after
he has preached four years from the time he received a regular license,
and has obtained a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference, on a
proper examination, signed by the President and Secretary, and after his
character has passed, and he has obtained the approbation of the Annual
Conference.
Ques. 3. What shall be the time of probation of a local deacon for the
office of an elder?
Ans. A local deacon shall be eligible to the office of an elder after he
has preached four years from the time he was ordained a deacon, and has
obtained a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference, on a proper
examination, certifying his qualifications in doctrine, discipline,
talents and usefulness, signed by the President and Secretary. He shall
present to the Annual Conference such recommendation, with a note
certifying his belief in the doctrine and discipline of our Church—the
whole being examined by the Annual Conference; and if approved, he may
be ordained.
Ques. 4. What further directions are given concerning local preachers?
Ans. 1. It shall be the duty of local preachers to aid the preacher in
charge of the circuit, station, or mission to which they belong in
supplying the people with the ministry of the word. They shall subscribe
annually for the Christian Index, and their license shall not be renewed
by the Quarterly Conference until they shall have subscribed for the
same. They shall accordingly be applied to by the preacher in charge as
soon as he enters his work, to state what amount of service they are
able and willing to perform; he may then draw up a plan by which their
labors shall be regulated. They shall be authorized to form new
congregations, to take a list of the names of all candidates for Church
membership, and, if expedient, receive them into the Church;
=provided=, that all such congregations, candidates, and members be
reported as soon as possible to the preacher in charge, in order that
they may be placed immediately under his pastoral care.
2. Every local elder, deacon, and licentiate shall have his name
recorded on the Journal of the Quarterly Conference of which he is a
member.
3. When any traveling preacher is located he shall be amenable to the
Quarterly Conference of the charge last filled by him, until he presents
his certificate of location to some other Quarterly Conference.
4. When a local elder, deacon or licentiate removes from one circuit,
station or mission, to another, he shall procure from the Presiding
Elder of the District or from the Preacher having charge, a certificate
of his official standing in the Church at the time of his removal;
without which he shall not be received as a local preacher in other
places.
II. EXHORTERS
Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning the licensing of persons
to exhort?
Ans. 1. The Quarterly Conference shall have authority to license proper
persons to exhort, and to renew their license annually, when, in its
judgment, their gifts, graces and usefulness will warrant it.
2. No person shall be licensed to exhort without the recommendation of
the Church of which he is a member, or of the Leaders' Meeting of the
charge to which he belongs; nor shall any license be valid unless signed
by the President of the Conference.
Ques. 2. What are the duties of an exhorter?
Ans. To hold meetings for prayer and exhortation whenever opportunity is
afforded, subject to the direction of the preacher in charge.
Ques. 3. What further directions are given concerning exhorters?
Ans. 1. Let every exhorter diligently exercise the functions of his
office without assuming those of a preacher.
2. Every exhorter, by virtue of his office, shall be a member of the
Quarterly Conference of the charge to which he belongs; but in all other
respects he shall be dealt with as a private member of the Church.
3. When an exhorter removes from one circuit, station or mission to
another, he shall not be recognized as such unless he obtains a
certificate of his official character from the Presiding Elder of the
District, or the preacher to whose charge he belongs at the time of his
removal.