THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT
Art. 1. (1) There shall be and is a Publishing Department of the C. M.
E. Church in America.
2. The Publishing House shall be located in Nashville, Tenn.
3. The Publishing Department was established for the object and purpose
of spreading the Christian religion by the publication, sale and
dissemination of moral and religious literature, the promotion of
Christian education, and for publishing books, book-making, book selling
and for the transaction of such other business as is legitimately
connected with a Publishing Department.
4. This department shall publish weekly the Christian Index, as the
Official Organ of the church, and shall supervise the publication of the
Eastern Index and the Western Index, which shall also be published
weekly. Subscription to the Christian Index shall be $1.50 per year; of
the Eastern Index and the Western Index, $1.00 each, per year.
5. The interests of the Publishing Department and the publication of the
Christian Index shall be under the management of the Book Agent, who,
with the Editor, shall be elected by the General Conference.
6. The editors of the Eastern Index and Western Index shall be elected
by the General Conference and shall co-operate with the Agent in
furthering the interests of the Publishing House.
Article II. (1) The Publishing Board shall have general supervision and
direction of all the publishing interests of the church.
2. The officers of the Board shall be a chairman, who shall be one of
the Bishops of the Church, a secretary and such other officers as may be
necessary.
3. The annual meeting of the Publishing Board shall be held on the first
Wednesday in May of each year, or at such other times and places as the
Board may appoint or as the chairman may direct. At all meetings of the
Board, a majority shall, constitute a quorum.
4. The Publishing Board shall keep a correct record of all its
proceedings and shall examine carefully into the affairs of the
Publishing Department.
Article III. (1) There shall be an Auditing Committee elected by the
General Conference consisting of three members, one of whom shall be a
layman, and two clerical (members), who shall live in proximity to the
Publishing Department. The auditors shall meet annually, at least a week
before the regular meeting of the Board, to audit the accounts of the
Agent, inspect the entire business of the Publishing Department, and to
see that all complaints about the management of the Book House in
neglecting to fill orders for publications, including the Index are
properly adjusted. The expenses of said committee shall be borne by the
Publishing Department.
2. The General Conference shall elect quadrennially a Book Agent who
under the direction of the Publishing Board, shall have authority to
regulate the production and distribution of our publications and to
conduct the affairs of the Publishing Department.
3. It shall be the duty of the Book Agent to publish, purchase, sell and
distribute such books, periodicals and publications as are authorized by
the General Conference or the Publishing Board.
4. The Book Agent shall keep the account of the Publishing Department by
such uniform system as he may think best or as directed by the Auditing
Committee.
5. The Book Agent shall receive all General Funds, keep an itemized
account of the same, and report to the Publishing Board the whole amount
of General Funds received from each Annual Conference, and finally at
the General Conference report all moneys received during the
quadrennium.
6. He shall pay the Bishops their salaries and traveling expenses
quarterly, and shall give his entire time to promote the success of the
Publishing Department and faithfully perform all duties which properly
belong to his office.
Article V. (1) The editor of the Christian Index shall faithfully
perform all duties which properly belong to the editorial office and
co-operate with the Agent in doing whatever he can to build up the
interests of the Publishing Department.
2. The salary of the Book Agent shall be fifteen hundred ($1500.00)
dollars per annum and the salary of the editor of the Christian Index
shall be fifteen hundred ($1500.00) dollars per annum.
3. The editors of the Eastern and Western Index shall receive $600 per
annum each to be applied to publication of the respective papers and in
part payment on salary. They shall serve a charge for balance of
support.
3. The Publishing Board by a two-third vote shall have power to suspend
the Agent or Editor for immoral conduct or inefficiency in office during
the interval of the General Conference. In such cases, if an
investigation is found necessary, the accused shall be given due notice,
and one of the Bishops shall be appointed to preside at the
investigation. If the accused shall be judged guilty, he shall be
suspended from office, and the Annual Conference to which he belongs
shall proceed to try him as provided by the book of Discipline.
Article VI. (1) The proceeds of the Publishing House after a sufficient
amount with which to carry on its affairs has been retained, shall be
regularly applied to the benefit of the traveling, supernumerary and
retired preachers, their widows and children.
2. All laws in conflict with this constitution are hereby repealed.