has preached four years from the time he received a regular license, and has obtained a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference, after a proper examination on a Course of Study to be prescribed by the Bishops as a preparation for deacon's orders, signed by the President and the Secretary, and after his character has passed in examination before, and he has obtained the approbation of, the Annual Conference: provided, that if he has been a local preacher three years successively, and on trial in the traveling ministry for one year next following, he shall be eligible to the office of a deacon on obtaining the approbation of the Annual Conference. 80. 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 eligi 864038 ble 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, after a proper examination on a Course of Study to be prescribed by the Bishops as a preparation for elder's orders; and the fact of passing an approved examination on this course shall be stated in the recommendation, which shall be signed by the President and Secretary of the Conference. 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: provided, that if he has been a local deacon for three years successively, and on trial in the traveling ministry one year next following, he shall be eligible to the office of an elder on obtaining the approbation of the Annual Conference, 81. 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 accordingly be applied to by the preacher in charge, as soon as he enters on 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; and 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; and they shall report in writing the extent and result of their labors to the fourth Quarterly Conference. Ans. 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. Ans. 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. Ans. 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. Ans. 5. A preacher receiving a certificate of location or of official standing, and failing to present the same to some Quarterly Conference within the period of six months from the date of said certificate, shall not be recognized as a local preacher in our Church, unless he satisfy the Quarterly Conference to which he may apply that the failure to do so was unavoidable. |