A trial is considered the last resort in the settlement of disputes between an individual clergy person and the church.
Trials are uncommon in the church.
No statistics are kept on the number of church trials in the denomination, but they are rare. Most cases are settled before a trial is scheduled. The format of a church trial is much like that in the public courts with certain significant differences. The jury consists of 13 people, all clergy members from the conference where the defendant has membership. One significant difference between a church and public trial is the number of votes needed for conviction.