Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-06-03
PLAN OF LAY REPRESENTATION.

WApreas, The General Conference
of 1860 expressed its willingness to
admit lay delegates to the General
Conference whenever the people should
desire it; and whereas, the General
Conference of 1864 concurred in that
action; therefore,
/. Resolusd, That we also concur
in the same, and recommend the follow
ing plan to the goGly consideration of
our ministers aud people. (Adopted
by 225 yeas to 3 nays.
Change the Discipline, page As, Part
II, Chapter |, Section /, so that it
shall read as follows:
Question. Who shall compose the
General Conference, and what are the
regulations and powers belonging to
it?
Answer 1. The General Conference
shall be composed of ministerial and
lay delegates. The ministerial dele
gates shall consist of one member for
every thirty members of each Annual
Conference, to be appointed either by
seniority or choice, at the discretion of
suchAnnual Conference, yet so that
such representatives shall have trav-
eled at least four full calendar years
from the time that they were received
on trial by an Annual Conference. and
are in full connection at the time of
holding the Conference. The lay del
egates shall consist of two laymen for
each Annual Conference, except such
Conferences as have but one ministerial
delegate, which Conferences shall be
entitled to one lay delegate each.
The lay delegates shall be chosen by
an Electoral Conference of laymen,
which shall assemble for the purpose
on the third day of the session of the
Annual Conference at the place of its
meeting, at its session Immediately pre-
ceding the General Conference. The
Electoral Conference shall be COM
posed of one layman from each circuit
or station within the bounds of the An
nual Conference, and on assembling-the
Electoral Conference shall organize by
electing a Chairman and Secretary of
their own number, such layman to be
chosen by the last quarterly conference
preceding the time Of its assembling;
provided that no layman shall be chos-
en- delegate either to the Electoral
Conference or to the General Confer
ence who shall be under twenty five
years of age, or who shall not have
been a member of the Church in full
connection for the five consecutive
years preceding the election. adopt
ed by 2l9 yeas to 8 nays,)
Alter answer 8 as follows, page 46:
Ansaoer 8. At all times when the
General Conference is met it shall take
two-thirds of the whole number OF
ministerial 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 whenev-
er such separate vote shall be demand
ed by one-third of either order, and in
such cases the concurrent vote of both
bodies shall be necessary to complete
an action. (Adopted by 92o yeas to
nays.)
2. Resolved. That during the month
of June, 1869, on any day except the
Sabbath, the time to be appointed by
the pastor and two laymen appointed
by the quarterly conference, as here
matter provided, there shall be held
a general election in the several places
of worship of the Methodist Episco-
pal |. Church, at which all members in
full connection, and not less than twen-
ty-one years of age, shall be invited
to vote by ballot, '.for lag delegation, .
or "against lay delegation" sfa
This election shall be held under the
direction of the preacher in charge,
and two laymen appointed for the pur-
pose, by the quarterly conference, who
shall see that due notice is given there
Of, for at least twenty days before the