Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-05-14


TO believe that u win probably be
one Of the most spirited sessions
In the history of the church.
While mono of tho six or seven
bishops Of the church attending
the convocation would admit Il.
their actions indicate that most
OF them are Htill displeaaed over
the eight year law that was pass
Cd over their objections at the last
general conference In Chicago In
1862.
The eight year tenure law
makes Il mandatory that the blah-
opa he rotated In their district AZ
algnmentn every eight years.
There are seventeen districts IN
the AME church and the custom
had been, until ia6a 10 send the
two newest bishops TO the districts
In Africa and they would usually
stay there until q vacancy occur
Cd In the United states or until
the illAhopH' council decided 20
punish" one Of ita members and
exile him 10 Africa.
For q number Of years there
had been q growing resentment
by n large section Of the lay Nom.
beers 81 the church and pastors
against that dictatorial and high
handed policies Of the Bishops
council II came 90 q head at the
1909 general conference when the
layrnsn aided by q section Of the
clergy passed the eight year law
which 10 intended 10 curb some Of
the powers Of the Bishops council
II was obvious at the spring
convocation that q section OF the
bishops would like 10 stay In THAR
present districts and are going 10
conduct u campaign 10 atap put
None % the prelatsa stated
what their Intentions were but
they had their lisutenants present
who were very vocal about want
Ing thslr bishop back"
There are a few vacancies In
the blsh0prie Of the church and
thare Will undoubtedly be more
due 10 rstiremsptA before the naxt
general convention.
A prominent lay person In thu
church who did not wish 10 BE-
quoted said that there are at least
nine candidates for. bishop In the
fourth district this district.
which includes Minnesota, 10 COM
priAsd Of the mId.wsHtsrn statea,)
and that the number Of candidates
throughout the country would
probably be around 100.
There IL no question that q
candidate who has the blessings %
his bishop or the Bishops Council
has a lot In his favor and II APP
pearsd that sons OF the candi-
dates for bishop attending thu
conVocatI0n were seeking the en-
doruemsnts Of the bishops present.
Most Of the candidates at the
conyocntIon Indicated that they
were opposed 10 the eight year
law and q few remained neutral
on this subject.
The great mystery Of the convo-
cation was WHISTLER or not Arch
bald Carey of Chicago. was go
ing 10 be q candidate for bishop
or not. Carey In probably the best
known personality In the AMn
church and one Of its most infiu-
entail cIsrgymen.
Carey has remained silent ~ 10
what his intentions are or who he
would support and n In generally
accepted IN church circles that hs
could be- elevated 10 ths blshOpric
u he desired.
One of the plums AZ stake At the
1853 general conference iH the
fourth district. This district 10 one
Of the wealthiest ones IN the
church and IL now presided over
Bishop George W. BabsT who lives
In Detroit. who n the eight year
law IL carried out II scheduled 10
70 90 another district.
Mr. Baber didn't say that he
would like 10 stay In the fourth
hut there was q lot Of campaign
ing by his followers that gave
every Indication that he wasn't
going 10 leave without putting up
q fiEht 10 stay.
The reasoning behind the &C.
lions Of the progressive section
In the church II that because Of
ths GutocratIc control Of the Af-
fairs Of the church by the hiah-
Opa. African Msthodlsn hasn't
been able 10 attract enough high