THE GENERAL MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.
Art. 1. There shall be a Mission Board of the Colored Methodist
Episcopal Church, chartered according to the laws of the State of
Tennessee. The Mission Board shall have general supervision of all
Missionary operations of the church.
Art. 2. The members of this Board shall be a Bishop, who shall be
President, the Secretary of Missions, and one representative from each
Episcopal District. The Secretary of Missions and the members from
Episcopal Districts, shall be elected by the =General Conference=.
Art. 3. The Mission Board shall regulate its own operations, appropriate
money for its expenses, provide for Missions not provided for by Annual
Conferences, and contribute to the support of preachers in Mission
Fields. It shall assist in building houses of worship, provide such
literature as may be necessary for the advancement of the work and
co-operate with other Methodist Bodies in similar work, whenever it may
be necessary and mutually agreeable.
Art. 4. (1) The revenue of the Mission Board shall be derived from
collections on General Missionary Day, Sunday Schools, Epworth Leagues,
Sunday School Conventions, District and Annual Conferences, collections
taken by the Secretary and the Bishops, 50 per cent. of the Mission
money accruing from the General Funds, and 20 per cent. of all money
raised by the Missionary Societies of Annual Conferences.
2. Twenty per cent. of all money raised by the Annual Conference Board
of Missions, shall be directed to the Secretary of Missions and his
receipt taken for same. The Bishops shall present the receipt of the
Secretary with their reports, to the Mission Board.
Art. 5. (1) The Second Sunday in August of each year shall be General
Missionary Day. This day shall be strictly observed by all Presiding
Elders, pastors and congregations throughout the connection. Presiding
Elders and pastors will preach at one service, on the subject of
Missions, and may provide a program bearing on the same subject for
another service. Care and study shall be given to teach the people the
place and importance of Missionary work in the church.
2. Each member of the church is requested to pay five cents for Missions
on General Missionary Day, and each congregation will be expected to
report a sum equal to five cents per capita at the Annual Conference.
3. Each pastor will forward the amount raised on General Missionary Day
at once to his Presiding Elder, and the Presiding Elder will remit the
same at once to the Secretary of Missions and take his receipt, which
receipt will be counted in the settlement of the District at the Annual
Conference.
Art. VI. (1) The Secretary shall be a minister of the Gospel, but may be
a member of any Annual Conference. He shall keep a permanent record of
the operations of the Department, publish a synopsis of his work
quarterly in one of the papers of the church, attend to all legal
business relating to the work, travel throughout the church in interest
of the work, and report annually, to the Board, or as often as they deem
it necessary.
2. The Secretary of Missions shall devise plans and co-operate with all
Annual Conference Missionaries in holding such institutes, conventions,
and Missionary Meetings, as will advance the interest of the church. In
all cases, the Missionary Department shall share in the money raised by
such devices and meetings.
3. The Secretary shall distribute literature for all Missionaries
throughout the Church, which literature, shall be uniform.
4. The Secretary of Missions is authorized to organize Missionary
Societies wherever he finds it necessary, and to publish a Missionary
paper, monthly, provided, it shall not cost the church more than $200
per annum.
5. The salary and traveling expenses of the Secretary shall be $1500 per
annum, to be paid quarterly by the Book Agent from the Mission fund.
Art. 7. The Bishops shall report annually to the Mission Board, the
number of Missionaries employed, the amount of support allowed each, the
number of Missions established, the number of members, and the cost of
maintaining each point. Their reports shall be written and shall embrace
a statement of the condition and prospect of each Mission.
Art. 8. The funds of the Mission Board shall be deposited in bank in the
name of the Board of Missions of the C. M. E. Church, subject to checks
drawn by the Secretary and signed by the President.
Art. 9. Any Annual or District Conference, church, Sunday School,
Epworth League Chapter, or individual, may assume in part or in whole,
the support of a Missionary, Mission, or Mission School, which may be
established or approved by the Mission Board, provided, that in all
cases, the money be sent to the Mission Board For application.
Art. 10. Presiding Elders shall see that each pastor organize a
Missionary Society or Societies, in his charge encourage the idea and
spirit of Missions among the people, see that each society is supplied
with literature, and preach a sermon on Missions in every charge in his
District at least once a year.
Art. 11. The Mission Board shall form an auditing committee from its own
membership, which committee shall audit the books of the Secretary and
see that they are properly kept.
Art. 12. All laws in conflict herewith, are repealed.