The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-10-12
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METHODIST MINISTER'S Q
AND HOW SELECTED Q
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against him. Out of 10000 appoint
ments there will hardly be one who
will refuse to go to the place selected
for him
The presiding elders district may
have in It thirty or more circuits and
stations which he is obliged to visit
every three months. From these Wis
its he SECURES all the information re-
gardng the work of the pastor from
the members Of the quarterly confer
ence and is thus able to know the
needs of each charge. He learns from
.th emembers of the church whether or
not the pastor suits the congregation
and when the annual conference con
.yenes the presiding elder is thus thor
Ioughly prepared to present to the
bishop all the Information which the
bishop needs in the making of ap-
pointments. In the selection OF the
pastors, each district is considered
separately. OF course every presiding
elder is desirous Of securing the best
men for his district.
The first requirement from a young
man desirous of entering the ministry
is a recommendation from the quar-
terly or district conference for admis-
sion into a travelling connection. Then,
whether he is a college graduate, or
not, he is required to pass an examina
tion before a board OF examiners APP
pointed by the annual conference. He
then goes before the committee on
conference relations at the annual
conference. That committee ascer-
talns all it can about his age, habits
his religious experience, his success in
preaching. the size of his family. and
IL, IN their judgment. he is thought ca
pable of entering upon the duties of a
minister the committee recommends
his admission to the conference on
trial After that the candidate comes
before the annual conference. The
board of examiners and the committee
on conference relations make their re-
port to the general conference After
the presiding elder represents the case
TO the conference vote is taken as
TO whether or not the candidate will
be admitted on trial He Is then SIM
ply a probationer If admitted he is
given an appointment II ne does his
work well in the next two years aud
brings up the conference course OF
study and nothing is against him. and
he proves eniclnent in his work. he
is received into into full connection
with the church and is ordained a dea-
con. He serves two years longer, be.
ing given an appointment each year
and II he stiA proves efficient he is
elected TO elders orders and ordained
an elder
A presiding elder serves only six
years When a presiding elder is to
be appointed the bishop asks the pre-,
siding elders to write the names OF
from three to FIVE ministers in the
conference upon slips of paper, In or
der that their choice of who in their
1 Judgment would be best fitted for the
place as presiding elder may be known
10 the bishop and their names are
/ presented 10 him. During the confer
enoo these men. one of whom win
doubtless be made a presiding elder,
are under the watohfuI eye of the
bishop After serving the allotted six
years the presiding elder gees back
10 a pastoral charge,
The system with which appoint
ments are made is one which the
preacher sacrifices his right TO select
the place TO which he is desirous Of be
ing sent and a congregation OF choos
ing its pastor.