Volume 2 • 2017 - Methodist

1 Volume 2 2017 . The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church THE. CONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE. AND DISCIPLINE. OF THE Methodist CHURCH. Published by Order of The Methodist Conference Methodist PUBLISHING. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher Methodist Publishing. 2017 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes British Library Cataloguing in Publication data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Seventh Edition prepared (at the direction of the Methodist Conference) by the Law and Polity Committee of the Methodist Church First published in 1951. Second Edition 1953. Third Edition 1958. Third Edition with Appendix 1962.

2 Fourth Edition 1964. Fifth Edition 1969. Sixth Edition 1974. Seventh Edition 1988. Volume 2 revised annually this revision 2017 . ISBN 978-1-85852-440-5. Published on behalf of the Methodist Church by Methodist Publishing Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR. Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY. CONTENTS. Volume Page Preface .. 1 iii Preface .. 2 vi Foreword .. 1 vii Book I The Principal Act 1 1. Methodist Church Act 1 3. Book II The Deeds 2 201. Part 1 Deed of 2 203. 2 Model 2 239. Book III Standing Orders 2 261. Part 0 2 263. 1 The 2 311. 2 Methodist Council and Connexional 2 351. 3 The Connexional 2 379. 4 The 2 419. 5 The 2 463. 6 The Local 2 515. 7 Presbyters and Deacons (1) Status and 2 547. 8 Presbyters and Deacons (2) Terms of 2 617. 9 2 631. 10 The Church in 2 673. 11 Complaints and 2 681. Book IV Other Legislation and Constitutional Documents 2 745.

3 A. Other 1 29. Part 1 Methodist Church Act 1 31. 2 Methodist Church Funds Act 1 49. B. Other Constitutional 2 745. Part 3 [deleted]. 4 World Methodist 2 747. 5 Rule of Life of the Methodist Diaconal 2 749. Book V Historic Texts 1 71. Part 1 The Wesleys' Rules of the Society', 1 73. 2 The Twelve Rules of a Helper', 1 77. 3 The Liverpool Minutes', 1 79. 4 Methodist Church Union Act, 1 89. 5 Resolutions on Pastoral Work, 2 751. The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 iii Book VI Regulations Adopted by the Conference 2 753. Part 1 Qualification for Appointment under 010(3), and Duty to Obtain 2 755. 2 Model Trusts Consultation 2 758. 3 Criteria for Authorising Persons other than Presbyters to Preside at the Lord's 2 760. 4 The Church and Sex Offenders: Procedures Necessary for Offenders to be Involved in the Church Community .. 2 762.

4 Book VII Guidance 2 767. A. Guidance relating to Ministers 1 Charter for Outgoing and Incoming 2 768. 2 Guidelines on Provision of Adequate Accommodation for 2 771. 3 2 772. 4 Connexional 2 773. 5 Ministers Affected by Impairment: A Guide to Good Practice . 2 775. B. Guidance relating to Church Governance Part 6 Guidelines for the Business of District, Circuit and Local 2 780. 7 Permitted 2 789. C. Guidance relating to Pastoral and Ethical Matters Part 8 Christian Preparation for Marriage: Methodist Church Policy and 2 791. 9 Guidelines for Inter-Faith 2 796. 10 Responding to Requests by Same Sex Couples for Prayers or 2 799. 11 The 1993 Conference Resolutions on Human 2 801. 12 Through a Glass Darkly: Recommendations as to Methodist Practice in Relation to 2 802. 13 Guidance for Reception of Christians of Other Communions into the Membership of the Methodist Church and Joint Confirmations.

5 2 803. 14 Guidelines for Good Practice in Confidentiality and Pastoral 2 806. 15 Homophobia: Definition and 2 812. List of Committees .. 2 813. Comparative Tables .. 1 111. 2 815. Index .. 1,2 [1]. iv The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 . Editor's Notes. (1) Generally in this edition, text in bold italics differs from that of the previous year, and [..] indicates an omission, although changes in the editorial notes in small type are not marked, nor changes in the contents tables at the head of each Book, Part and Section. (2) Users are invited to report any errors or omissions, in relation both to the text of this Volume and to the index, to the Officer for Legal and Constitutional Practice, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR or email The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 v PREFACE.

6 Since 1974 Methodists have become familiar with what has come to be known as the black book'. The loose-leaf ring-book binding in which Constitutional Practice and Discipline was published was designed to make it easier to incorporate amendments by substituting sheets. The format was heavy and cumbersome, however, and it is hoped that the new style of presentation will be lighter and easier to use. Volume 1 contains the fixed texts: the Acts of Parliament and historic documents. Volume 2 comprises the material which Conference is empowered to amend, and this will be reissued annually in order to provide readers with an up to date version. This division also helps to illustrate the legal framework within which the Methodist Church is governed. The authority under which the Conference acts is legally given by the 1976 Methodist Church Act. The next tier' of authority is given by the Model Trusts in the second Schedule of the Act and the Deed of Union.

7 These derive their authority from the Act. They can be amended, but the process is deliberately protracted, to ensure that there is consultation and time for reflection. Thirdly there are the Standing Orders and guidelines adopted by the Conference, which are far more detailed and more easily changed, provided that they are within the limits prescribed by the Act, the Model Trusts and the Deed. The existence of this large body of legislation illustrates one aspect of Methodism's understanding of the church. Each local church is a member of a larger body, subject to a common discipline and pattern of government, sharing in a wider life. The authority of the Conference, legally given by Act of Parliament, has its theological basis in this understanding of the church as a connexion' of local churches, circuits and districts, expressing their fellowship in the Body of Christ by their constitutional ties.

8 The fact that most aspects of constitutional practice and discipline can be amended, and that such amendments occur so frequently is also significant. Changes reflect not only the need for administrative adjustment, but the conviction that the church must not stand still, but must move forward as the Spirit leads, and is always in need of reform. These volumes have been prepared under the direction of the Law and Polity Committee, and the Committee is grateful, as always, especially to Mr John Hicks whose wide sympathies and attention to detail are so generously placed at the service of the Church. Brian E Beck Secretary of the Conference 1988. Westminster vi The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 . BOOK II THE DEEDS. Part Page 1 Deed of 203. 2 Model 239. The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 201.

9 Book II The Deeds 202 The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 . Part 1 Deed of Union Clause Page Section 1 208. 1 Particular 208. 2 General 212. Section 2 Purposes and 213. 3 213. 4 213. 5 Interpretation of 214. Section 3 214. 6 214. 7 Children and Young 214. 8 Admission to 214. 9 Privileges and Duties of 215. 10 Cessation of 215. Section 4 215. 11 The 215. Section 5 Constitution of the 216. 12 216. 13 The 216. 14 The Representative 216. (1) Numbers (2) Membership (3) The Irish Conference and the General Conference of the United Methodist Church (4) Other Conferences, Churches and Christian bodies (5) Conference-elected Representatives (6) Synod Representatives 15 The Presbyteral 218. 16 List of 218. 17 219. Section 6 Powers of the 219. 18 219. 19 Standing 219. 20 The 220. 21 Other Particular 220. The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church 2017 203.

10 Book II The Deeds Section 7 The Sessions of the 221. 22 Functions of the Representative 221. 23 Functions of the Presbyteral 221. 24 Transaction of General 223. 25 Reference of Business and Correction of 224. Section 7A The Conference Diaconal 224. 25A The Conference Diaconal Committee: constitution and 224. 25B Conference Diaconal Committee and Convocation: Required 227. Section 8 Officers of the 227. 26 The 227. 27 The 227. 28 Who presides at the 227. 29 The President and the 228. 29A Exercise of Presidential 228. 30 The 228. 31 Duration of 229. 32 Other 230. Section 9 Proceedings and Records of the 230. 33 230. 34 230. 35 Validation of 230. 36 The 231. 37 232. Section 10 Districts, Circuits and Local 232. 38 The Home 232. 39 The Overseas 232. 40 Church 233. 41 Validation of 233. 42 Chairs of 233. Section 11 Other Conferences and 235. 43 The Irish 235. 44 Other Autonomous 235.