Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-06-11
LAY DELEGATION IN THE NJ. e.
CHURCH.

Hear 1t
LAY DELEGATION IN THE VI. E.
CHURCH.
The General Conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. held in Chicago
ia May, 1868, submitted to a vote, OF
the churches the following plan of lay
representation which, if adopted, will
become a part of the Discipline or Ec-
clesiasticaI Law of the Church:
The General Confsrences shall be COM
posed of minis. erial and Iay delegates.
The ministerial delegates shall consist
of one member for every thirty (30)
members of each Annual Conference,
TO be appointed either by seniority or
choice, at the discretion of such Annual
Confer ence, yet so that such TepI esen-
tatiYe shall have Travelled al least four
full calendar years from the time they
were received on trial by an annual
Conferences, and are in full connection
at the tune OF holding the Conference.
The lay delegates shall consist of two
layman for each Annual Conference,
except such Conferences as have but
one minisi eral delegate, which Confer
eDces shall be entitled to one lay dele
gate each.
The lay delegates shall be chosen by
an Electoral Conference of laymen,
which shall assemble for the purpose
un the third day of the session of the
Annual Conference, at the place of its
meeting, at its session immediately
preceding the General Conference.
The Electoral Conference shall be
composed of one laYman from pach CIR
cult or station within the bounds of the
Annual Conference, and on assembling
the Electoral Conference shall organize
al, IN,
of their own number; such laymen 10
BE- chosen by he last Quarterly Confer
ence preceding the time of its assem-
bling; provided that no IaYman shall be
chosen delegate either to the ElecI or
al Conference or TO the General Con-
ference who shall be under twenty-five
years of age, or who shall not have been
mem Der of the Church in full connac-
ton for five consecutive years preceding
the election.
AT all times when the General Con-
ference is met, it shall take twO-i hirds
of the whole mum Der of mIsisteriai and
lay delegates TO form a quorum for
transacting business. ~
The ministerial and lay delegates
shall sit and deliberate together as one
body, but they shall vote separately
whenever such separate vote shall be
demanded by une-tbird of either order,
aud in such cases the concurrent vote
Of both orders shall be necessary to
complete an action.
This plan or amendment, it Will be
observed, simply proposes to add to the
General Conference delegation of lay
men who shall participate in the delib-
erations of that body. Only that and
nothing more,
It makes no provision for lay repre-
.
nor doesit chang in any respect the rep
resentation of clergymen in the Gem
eral Conference. According to its terms,
there shall assemb bic every four years,
concurrentIy with the Annual Confer
ence, but independently of it, an Elee-
toral Conference of Iaymen, composed
of one layIuan from each circuit or sta
rion. Each of these Electoral Confer
euces shall CHOOSE two lay delegates to
the General Conference, excepting
where there is but one ministerial dele
gate, when but one lay delegate shall
be CHOSEN.
The two classes of delegates are to sit
and deliberate together in the General
/ Conference but whenever one-tnird OF
either class shalt demand, the two
classes shall vote separately, and in
such case no measure can pass without
/ the concurrence of both bodies.
These changes if adopted, will, to a
very limited extent, introduce the re-
publican principle into the present sys-
temo of the church government which is
now essentially unrepublican. Yet So
mild and temperate are the innovations
propose that but for their value as a
beginning or as an entering wedge
which may prepare the way for still
further changes in church polity, they
can scarcely be regarded as of much
importance.
The clergy will still have entire con-
trolsOf the Annual Conferences, which
The new arrangement vii in no wise
affect. Tney will also practically re-
tain control of the General Conference
as without their concurrence no meas
ure can pass that body. Any farther
innovations will therefore still be held
in allegiance to their option.
However, great moral advantage
for the laity will he gained. If compe-
tent TO assist in legislaIing for the
whole church, why not equally cOmpe-
tent to participate in her minor affairs
if qualified TO hold seats in her n atom
al Congress, why not qualifed d also fol
| places in her State Legislatures? Adi
init Iaymen to the General Conference
and they will not long remain "dis.
franchised" or TAXED without repre-
sentatiOn'' in the Annual Conferences
and the republican principle once
acknowledged in the Chambers o.
Peers will very soon lead to its ac
knowledgedment in the Chambers o.
Commons.
The following are the provisions made
for submitting the lay delegation plan
for approval or rejection by the church.
es, the most noteworthy feature being
that all members twenty-one years o.
age, including females are entitled tC
vote
ResolUed, 2 That during the month
of June, 1869, on any day except the
Sabbath, the time to be determiu,d d By
the Pastor and two laymen appointed
by the Quarterly Conference, here
inafter provided there shall be held d
general election in the several places o.
worship of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, at which all members in full
c1nuection. and not less than twenty,
one wears of age, shail be invited {,
vuIe by ballot "For Lay Delegation
or Against Lay Delegation" Thi,
election shall be held under the direc,
Iion of the Preacher in charge and two
lHymens nsappointtd for the purpose by
the Quarterly Conference, who shall
at least twenty days before the election
and who shall supeTintend all the d..
, tails of the election. Tney shall report
the result within ten days after the elec
tion TO the Presiding Elder of the dis
Irici, who shall report the same to the
Blshop presiding at the ensninw An.