Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-07
Of REVISION
IN METHODIST POL|TY
FORMULATE PROPOSAL
Movement to "DemoCratize"
FomS of Government and
CurtaiI Power of Bishops
Launched at Meeting

The group of preachers and laymen
who are behind the movement for revi-
sion of certain forms of government
in the Methodist church held meet
ing last night in the Piedmont hotel
convention hall and definitely formu-
lated their proposals.
They appointed committee of ten
to reduce the proposals to writing and
introduce them one at time on the
floor of the general conference. This
committee is headed by Martin E. Law
son, a prominent layman from Mis-
souri,.
The meeting was held with open doors
John T. Pettyjohn, of Lynchburg, Va,
presided. Something over fifty preach
ers and laymen were present. Some
of the strongest speeches of the meet
ing were made by preachers.
Each of the proposals which had been
circulated in pamphlet form in advance
of the general conference was taken UP
and discussed and passed upon.
These proposals embody what has
been called a movement to "democra-
tie" the forms and procedures of
Methodist church government They
hinge on curtailment of the power Of the
bishops, and increase of lay representa-
ton in the annual conference.
Although the proposal to abolish the
was not among those brought up at
the meeting last night, it has their tacit
Endorsement. It's adoption by the gen
eral conference was predicted by many
of those present. The revision commit
tee of the general conference, at meet
ing yesterday afternoon, voted over
whelmingly to recommend that the pro-
posal be adopted. Some of the 'fnsur-
gent" laymen say the "old guard" has
Il. -,
as a concession.
Proposals Acted On
The proposals acted on at the meet
ing last night were as follows:
l. To amend the discipline of the.
cknrch so as to provide one lay dele
gate in the annual conference from each
pastoral charge, instead of the present
representation of four from each dis
trict. This proposal would multiply
laymen in the annual conference by
about four. 1t was adopted unanimous
ly after considerable debate.
2. To vest the legislative functions
of the church in the general conference
solely, and to vest the judicial functions
of the church in a judicial body to be
created for that purpose by the general
conference. At present the judicial
functions are exercised by the college
of bishops, and it is claimed that the
bishops also exercise legislative func-
tions every now and then, although the
legislative function is supposed to be
vested in the general conference. This
proposal was adopted unanimously
without discussion.
8. To create episcopal districts by
the general conference and to vest the
assignment of bishops to those dis
tricts in the general conference. At
present it is claimed the bishops assign
themselves wherever and for whatever
terms they see fit. This proposal was
unanimously adopted without discus
sion.
To Supsrannuate Bishops
A. To authorize the general confer
ence to relieve a bishop on recommen-
dation of the general conference COM
mittee on episcopacy, and to superan-
nuate all bishops automatically on
reaching the age of rs years. This pro-
posal was unanimously adopted.
5. To elect presiding elders by vote
of the annual conference. This pro-
Posal was tabled.
G. To subject pastors appointments
by bishops to the approval of a major
ity of the presiding elders. This pro-
posal was tabled.
7. To elect the quartely conference,
composed of stewards anu trustees, by
vote of the church conference, instead
of the present system of self-perpetua-
ton. This proposal is now pending be-
eral conference. 1t was approved by a