Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-16
PASTORS PROTEST
BIG STICK TACTICS
Virginia Methodist Conference
Ministers Voice Objections to
General Board Rules.
DEMAND GREATER FREEDOM
Urge They Be Given Legal Voice
in Appointments, and Claim
Progress Restricted.
DEMAND GREATER FREEDOM

Protesting against the "big stick"
methods OF the general board of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in exer-
c!sing its authority over the ministers
OF the church, expressing desire for
Il legal voice in the appointments of
pastors. and asking for greater free
dom in the management OF the az
fairs OF the individual charges, Meth
odist ministers In a special meeting
1T the Virginia Conference yesterday
afternoon adopted resolutions for the
appoint mcnt OF committee OF i've 10
investigate conditions. and make a re-
port to the pastors OF the next annual
conference.
These resolutions were adopted after
arguments which lasted nearly three
hours. some OF them being character
zed with warmth. but the meeting
ending with peaceful conditions pre-
vaillng.
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions adopted by vote OF IS
ir favor and y against. are as fol-
"Resolved, that we. the pastors OF
the Virginia Conference here assem-.
the pastors can be increased, and the
work OF the church extended by a
closer association and cooperation o.
the pastors. and by specific study OF
the work from the pastors viewpoint.
Resolved, further. that committee
OF I'VE he appointed to make plans Tor
Grafton, and study of the work, and
repor; the same to the pastors at the
next session OF the annual conference.
Ministers appointed TO carry out the
terms % the resolution are the Revs.
ID. G. c. Kelly, 7. y. Smoot, j. =. VIM,
Il. T. Waterfeld, and W.. II. Atwell.
.I,l. Nf,tf Inn hAf Ern hA
meeting Dr. j. b. Winn stated that the.
matter had been discussed at re-
cen. neetinE-of ministers In Peters
burg, and that the meeting assembled
yesterday afternoon was the result Of
those discussions
DR.. VIM Leads Fight.
DR.. VIM led the fight for the resoIu-
ton and he was ably supported by
tenary church; the Rev. w. II. Atwell
and the Rev. DR.. Wynne. formerly pas
tor OF the Barton Heights Methodist
included Dr. w. Ashbury Christian,
Or. J. w. Moore and DR.. Boyd L. Hnd-
son.
men,s for the resolutions stated ina,
the pastors OF Virginia always had
focused on them the eagle eye Of the
S worR in the church, in that III. i, did
not give them the opportunity for using
the methods which in their pigments
they had to deal.
Or. Smoot also stated that ministers
who did not live up entirely to the in
structions OF the General Board would
md themselves started for the Junk
pile" To this statement DIR. Christian
took Immediate objection. declaring
that never. in the history of the Vir-
sinia Cor ference had any minister
been 'junkcd."
Don't Want "saups Armor.-
DR.. Atwel in his address favorng
the resolution for freedom for the min
is;ers. and iessening OF the restraint
that the board do not buckle Sau!'s
lrmor on little David
Dr.. Moore in opposing any concerted
action by the ministers stated that
than the growth OF bureaucracy, but
he does not think thai, there les any
and surely in his experience he has
lever had any fear OF the eye OF the
bishop resting, on him" He declared
ions LON ne as possibIe I from the Generai
Soard at Nashville. but those he could
not comply with he put aside.
While DIR. VIM, the leader for the
resolution. was explaining it 20 the
meeting, DR.. Moore asked whether the
idea was 10 form Il union" OF pas
DR.. VIM declared that his question
was not one OF good faith. because
there was no union or combination
contemplated. but merely an assembly
OF ministers. meeting for the purpose of
studying thei R>pa rticular needs in ref
erence to carrying on the work of
Gsd
Three Declarations Made.
In the paper circulated BY the MN
ing held yesterday afternoon, three
declarations were made in summary
First. That before any charges are
made against a minister whether by
layman or minister. such charge is to be
placed in the hands of the minister ac-
'1c quarterly conference. In the event
that such charge are not made to the
quarterly conference and the charges
minister concerned must first be sup
piled with n copy OF tho accusation
and then tho charges are 10 be filed
Second That the pastors Of tho
church be given a legal voice in the
appointments OF the church. n right
winch they are entirely deprived OF
Third. That the plan Of the general
board Of the church will he productive
OF greater tnn r good if tho pastors are given
details Of the work of their charges.
No Reelection Intended.
In making this third declaration the
ministers stated that this in no way
missions or any Organization in the
church or on any personality OF the
general board or in the government OF
the church.
The right Of each minister who has
been the subject Of any accusation to
be heard in mis-, own behalf and be
defense. as asked for in tho first part
of the paper calling the meeting. was
referred to by DIR. VIM in his talk.
and he mentioned that in the morning
session there had been n demonstra,
ton, OF how the present unfairness
works
Rev: W. o. Gordon, Of the Memorial
Church. Petersburg, was tho minister
he had in mind. At tho morning ses-
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