South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-01
LAYMEN DISCUSS
CHURCH FINANCES
indianapolis Pastor Suggests
Change in Duplex System
of Collections.

Short talks by Marvin Campbell Of
this city and Bishop W. F. Mcdowell
and a round table discussion on
church finances. led by f. c. Evans
OF Charlottesville. featured the work
OF the La ymen's association in the
afternoon session at the First Baptist
church Tuesday.
In the discussion Of church finances,
DR. w =. Williamson Of indianapolis
suggested that a change be made
from the system of duplex collections
that is now in use Under the pres
ent system, two different contrbu-
tions are made, one for the pastor and
the other for the church work. In
many cases, one Of them suffers. I'm
der Dr. WilliamsOn's plan, a certain
amount should De set aside for the
pastor and the other used for church
work. one collection being made.
Mr. Campbell said that previous TO
1905 the law of the church passed the
superannuate preacher as upon lists
entitled 10 beneficiary support BY
the law enacted by the general confer
ence in 1908 superannuates were de-
clared TO be entitled 20 ministerial
support
Quotes Discipline.
He explained that this was based
upon paragraph 323 of the discipline
which reads: The claim 10 a COM
Portable support, is Inherent in the
gospel ministry and rightfully innures
10 the benefit of the preacher IN
the Methodist Episcopal church
from the moment ne is admitted to
membership in an annual conference.
such claim Is valid upon his being
retired and in his death passes to a
dependable member of his family"
Mr. Campbell then explained that
in the discipline scheme of the
church for ministerial support it Is
divided into four groups First,
bishop. second. district superintend-
ents: third, pastors; fourth. superan-
nuates Called in church discipline
conference, claimants). He showed
the method by which each group re-
ceived it's appOrtiOnment For the
first group, bishops, the book commit
tee estimates amount needed. This is
reported To the annual conference
then in turn apportiOnment of the
amount made 10 PASTORAL charges.
Support for the second group, dis
triCt superintendent is estimated by
district stewards and appOrtiOned to
pastoral charges For support OF
group three, the pastors, the official
board of the church received pledges
of group four conference claimants
the discipline makes il the duty Of
the annual conference itself 10 esti-
mate what is required to meet the
amount necessary for annuities and
amount necessary for special cases
and after taking into consideration
the incomes from other sources ap-
portions what is needed to pastoral
charges.
COncratuIates Claimants
He explained that while the law
makes the conference claimants en-
titled TO ministerial support which
has been in effect seven years the an
nual conference has never until this
year apportioned the full estimated
needs He congratulated the annual
conference and the conference claim
ants (superannuates) that discipline
being fully computed with He eX-
planned that the right of superannuates
To ministerial support is so fully rec
OgniZed in the discipline that il is re-
Quired that any shortage shall be pro-
rated with the bishop. district super
intendent pastors and conference
claimants in the ratio of their respec-
tive claims. He said that these being
the facts that the spirit of the law, If
full appOrtiOnment could be made TO
meet the estimated needs of group
four then full appointments should
bo made To meet the estimated
needs of bishops, district superintend-
ems and pastors because the spirit
that recognized a pro-rata OF short
age. il any, in payment of pastoral
charges should recognize that the
prO-rata should apply clear back 10
the initial point, that is. the place of
apportionment which is the annual
conference.
He closed by again cOngratulating
the annual conference. the conference
claimants and the church. that tEt1
season had fully recognized the quail
ity and equal rights 10 a fun appor-
classes