Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1910-05-05
GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF Nj. E. CHURCH SOUTH
MANY CHANGES WILL BE
CONSIDERED.
Change in Tenure Of Episcopacy
if Favored by Some Ministers
Time Limit of Pastorates and
Lay Representation of Women
of Church, Change in Manner
of Appointing Presidinfi Elders
Other Live Issues.

Ot0ST Lave 4SSuSS.
Asheyille, N. c., May 4.-ln-
terest in Methodist church circles
all over the jurisdiction of the NJ.
f. Church, South, is now centcred
in the sixteenth general confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal
church, which concerned IN this
city today, the first Wednesday in
May, as provided by law. This is
probably the largest denomina-
tional gathering to be held in the
south this year. The conference
will continue in session for at
least three weeks.
The fact that the general con-
ference meets only quadrenlally
increases the interest attached to
its sessions, and owing to the
many questions Of vital lmpor-
lance to the future Of the church
to come before the meeting for
discussion, it will be more large
ly attended by non-delegates than
any Of it's predecessors.
The membership of the general
conference will number a little
more than 800, the delegates be-
ing composed of an equal number
of ministers and laymen. Each
annual conference in the church Is
entitled to one clerical and one
lay delegate for every forty-eight
ministers that compose the body.
Chief Matters of Interest.
Among the questions that are
being discussed most in the con-
ference organs, and in the general
organ Of the church, in anticipa-
ton Of action by the general con-
ference, are the episcopacy, the
time limit of pastorates, lay repre-
sentation of the women in church,
a change in manner Of appointing
presiding elders, and the order Of
worship.
The bishops in the church are
elected for life, this having been
the custom since the first bishops
were elected in the early days of
the church. The opinion now ex-
lists in the minds Of some of the
ministers and laymen Of the
church that from this time on the
bishops should be elected for only
a certain number of years, while
others favor the abolition Of the
episcopacy in its present form.
There is also a strong sentiment
in favor Of the passing of law
by the general conference by
which the presiding elders Of the
future shall be elected by the an
nual conferences, instead Of being
appointed by the bishop, as is the
ease at present. 1t is not unlike
" that the time limit of the pas
torate will be abolished at this
meeting. Should this be done,
such action will not affect the
meeting of the annual conferences
and the appointment Of pastors
it is probable that they will con-
time to be appointed for one year
ut time, bu: Il the time limit
should be removed the pastors will
not be compelled to move tn an
other pastorate TT the end Of Four
Seara.
Rights of Women Mer.ters'
memorial from the Women $
aosri Of Home Missions VIII De
presented to the general CONFER
,.I.r,re asking that the rights OF the
;aitv be granted to the womeE; OF
The church. This will be the first
renuest OF such nature ever made
3 to The general conference, and
there is a marked and very de-
,;dad diversion Of opinion among
Roth the men and women OF the
church en- the subject.
There are at present seven blSh-
ora n :ne act,.o setvite oi the
church. and the opinion exists
that at least six more VIII De
elected at the general conference
A number of prominent preachers
nf the church are already beng
snoken of for the episcopacy, and
IN 4 or, ..tsnnaf 81