Universalist General Convention Laws of Fellowship, Government and Discipline

From the Manual of the Universalist General Convention: Charter, Constitution, and By-Laws, Laws of Fellowship, Government and Discipline, and Forms Recommended for Adoption by Subordinate Organizations. (New York: Universalist General Convention, 1891.)

I. – CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP.

1. Compliance with the following conditions shall be essential to fellowship with the Universalist General Convention.

i. Assent to the Profession of Faith, to wit:

Art. I. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament contain a revelation of the character of God, and of the duty, interest and final destination of mankind.

Art. II. We believe that there is one God, whose nature is Love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.

Art. III. We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected, and that believers ought to be careful to maintain order and practice good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men.

ii. Assent to the laws of the Convention pertaining to organization and fellowship.

2. Every Clergyman, Parish, or State Convention applying for the fellowship of this Convention shall be understood as thereby agreeing to the Profession of Faith, and pledging due observance to all the laws of the Convention.

II. – ADMISSION TO FELLOWSHIP.

1. Any State Convention organized in accordance with the laws of the General Convention, and applying at any Session, may be admitted to fellowship. Any Parish so organized, applying at any Session of the State Convention having jurisdiction, may be admitted to the fellowship, upon the recommendation of the Committee of Fellowship.†

2. All denominational bodies existing in any State, and all Clergymen resident therein, shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Convention of that State; and the act of any State Convention exercising its powers, with respect to fellowship,‡ shall be considered as granting, refusing, or withdrawing the fellowship of the General Convention, as the case may be; and, unless such act be reversed on appeal to the General Convention, it shall be considered final.

3. Upon the removal of any Clergyman in fellowship from one State to another, the Committee of Fellowship of the former State shall forward to that of the latter State a Letter of Transfer of such Clergyman from the one to the other jurisdiction: of which action advice shall be given him. If the Committee shall be satisfied of the worthiness of the applicant, they shall grant him a Letter of Fellowship; but final action thereon, unless charges are pending, shall not be delayed beyond one year. And such Letter shall not affect a Clergyman’s relations until Fellowship shall have been granted to him by the Committee to whose jurisdiction he has thus been transferred. And the Committee receiving shall notify both Clergyman interested and the Committee transferring of their action.

4. No Letter of Transfer shall be issue if charges have been preferred, or are pending, against such Clergyman, or if the Committee having jurisdiction, or either of them, shall know anything to affect his standing at the time, which to them seems sufficient ground for charges against him. But such Letter of Transfer shall not be withheld for more than one year from the time of removal, unless charges have been preferred in due form.

5. Any ordained Clergyman, never before in Universalist fellowship, desiring admission thereto, shall present his written application, setting forth the above facts, to the Committee of Fellowship of the State in which he resides, who shall take action upon the case as provided in the preceding section. It being provided, that if everything shall prove satisfactory, the candidate may be allowed to enter upon the immediate exercise of his ministerial functions: but shall be admitted unto full fellowship only after a probation of one year.

III. – WITHDRAWAL OF FELLOWSHIP.

1. Fellowship shall be withdrawn or suspended, as the case may require, for violation of, or non-compliance with, the conditions on which it is given, or for the causes following, viz:

i. From a Parish -

a. For settling as Pastor a Clergyman not in fellowship, or who has been refused fellowship, or who has been disfellowshipped.

b. For neglecting for the period of two consecutive years to support regular public worship.

ii. From a Clergyman -

a. For becoming engrossed in secular business unconnected with denominational interests, unless because of ill health or advanced years; or engaged in any occupation incompatible with the profession of a Christian Minister.

b.For entering upon ministerial labor under the auspices of, or into fellowship with, any other denomination.

c. For settling as pastor over a Parish which has been refused fellowship, or from which fellowship has been withdrawn: It being provided, that if, in the judgment of the Committee of Fellowship, the circumstances, in any case, are sufficient to justify such a settlement, they have the power to suspend this rule.

d.For unministerial conduct, of which he shall confess himself guilt, or be duly convicted.

2. Any Clergyman desiring to withdraw from fellowship, and giving written notice thereof to the Committee on Fellowship of the proper State Convention, or of the Trustees of the General Convention, as the case may be,† shall, if no charges be pending or preferred against him, be entitled to a certificate of good standing: provided, that no reason be known by said Committee why such a Letter should be withheld; and notice of such action shall be duly published by the Committee.

IV. – RESTORATION TO FELLOWSHIP.

1. If any Clergyman, after having withdrawn from fellowship, or having been disfellowshipped for any other than reasons affecting his moral character, should desire restoration, he shall make written application to the Committee of Fellowship of the State Convention from which he withdrew, or by which he was disfellowshipped, or to the Trustees of the General Convention, as the case may be, stating his place of residence, and all the facts of the case, and promising compliance with the conditions of fellowship hereinbefore set forth; whereupon the Committee shall proceed, as in hereinbefore provided, Art. II., Sect. 3.

2. Any Clergyman who is out of fellowship for reasons affecting his moral character, may be restored by the following steps: Provided, that not less than three years have elapsed since his fellowship ceased, and that during that whole time he has conformed to the Laws of this Convention, and has maintained a good moral character. He shall make written application to the Committee of Fellowship of the State Convention from which he withdrew, or by which he was disfellowshipped, or the Committee of Fellowship or the Trustees of the General Convention, as the case may be, stating his residence, and the facts of the case. If, upon due inquiry, the Committee shall recommend his restoration, they shall so report to the Board of Trustees of the General Convention; and, if two-thirds of the Board concur, he shall be fully restored to fellowship.

V. – LETTERS OF LICENSE.

1. Letters of License, for the term of one year, subject to revocation, authorizing the holders to preach, but not to administer any Christian ordinance, may be granted by Committees of Fellowship authorized to act in such cases to such candidates as, on due examination, may be deemed worthy and fitly prepared for the ministry, provided they file with the committee their assent to the Profession of Faith.

2. Such Letters of License,† granting the authority specified for three years, subject to revocation, may be issued as above to any layman who may apply therefor as a Lay Preacher: Provided, that the Church of which he is a Member, with its Pastor, if it have a Pastor, or, if it have no Pastor, with the nearest Pastor in good standing, shall unite in a Letter of Request, certifying to his character and qualifications; and provided also, that the Committee shall, by examination, be satisfied of his fitness for the Preacher’s office, and that he shall file as above the required assent to the Profession of Faith.

Licentiates shall be subject to the same rules of discipline as other preachers, and shall be understood equally to pledge a due observance of all the Laws of the General Convention.

3. Licenses under this article shall be issued only to residents of the jurisdiction granting them, and shall cease upon removal therefrom, unless approved by the Committee of Fellowship of the new jurisdiction; and all Licentiates shall, for purposes of representation, be regarded as laymen, and therefore not eligible as clerical delegates.

VI. – ORDINATION.

1. On application, in writing, by any Parish, for the ordination of a Pastor, the Committee of Fellowship of the State Convention, or of the Trustees of the General Convention, as the case may be, shall consider the request; and if they judge the candidate worthy, and he has been a licentiate for at least one year, they shall call an Ordaining Council, at such time and place as shall be most convenient for the requisite examination of the candidate, notice of which shall be given in a Universalist paper, at least one week before the proposed Council.

2. Said Council shall consist of not less than three ordained Clergymen, in fellowship within the jurisdiction of the Convention by whose Committee the Council has been called, and of one lay delegate each from not less than four Parishes in the like fellowship. A majority of the persons called to the Council must concur in order to make a valid decision.

3. The Council shall be organized by the choice of a Moderator and Clerk. After prayer, the call for the Council shall be read, together with the request for ordination. If these steps appear to have been properly taken, the Council shall satisfy itself, by due examination, of the fitness of the candidate for ordination, and express the same definitely by vote. If such decision is affirmative, they shall authorize ordination; but such ordination shall not take place on the same day that the examination is held or the decision reached. The Committee of Fellowship shall appoint some Clergyman to give the Fellowship of the Convention to the candidate at this ordination.

4. It shall be the duty of the Clerk of every Ordaining Council to make immediate report of its doings to the Secretary of the Committee of Fellowship having jurisdiction, who shall notify the candidate of the recommendation, and of the name of the Clergyman appointed to confer the Fellowship of the Convention. The Clergyman so conferring the fellowship shall report the ordination to the Committee, who shall issue to the Clergyman so ordained a certificate of his ordination and fellowship.

5. Committees of Fellowship having jurisdiction may call Ordaining Councils, subject to all the provisions above set forth, to act upon personal applications for ordination. But, in no case, shall ordination be conferred on one who has not been a Licentiate for the full term of one year.

6. In cases where the circumstances do not permit the action of State Committees of Fellowship, the Committee of Fellowship of the General Convention shall have the power to act.

VII. – DISCIPLINE.

1. The discipline of the Ministry shall be vested exclusively in the State Conventions, expect in the cases specially provided for in the Constitution, Article III, Sect. 6, subject to the right of appeal from the decision thereof.

2. Every Clergyman shall be amenable to the ecclesiastical body whose fellowship he bears, and his removal shall not affect its authority over him until he has been formally admitted to fellowship in the jurisdiction of the Convention to which he has removed.

3. No Clergyman shall be installed, or formally recognized, as Pastor of a Parish, except as hereinafter provided, unless he shall have been granted the fellowship of the Convention in which the Parish exists.

4. A Clergyman may be the Pastor of several Parishes in the same State, or in different States; but he must have the fellowship of the Convention within whose jurisdiction he resides.

5. Any Clergyman in fellowship in the State in which he resides, and desiring to take charge of a Parish in an adjoining State, shall be at liberty to do so, provided he shall file with the Secretary of the Committee of Fellowship of the later State a certification of his fellowship and good standing from the Secretary of the Committee of Fellowship with which he is in fellowship.

6. Complaints against a State Convention, and cases of dispute and difficulty between State Conventions, in accordance with the method prescribed by the By-Laws, Article I., Sect. 5.

7. The several Committees of Fellowship are hereby respectively constituted tribunals for the adjudication of all complaints made to them against any Clergyman or Parish within their jurisdiction. After an impartial hearing of the cause, conducted in accordance with the mode of procedure hereinafter provided, it shall be the duty of said Committee to acquit, admonish, suspend, or withdraw fellowship, as in their judgment the merits of the case may demand. Their action shall be final, except as provided in cases of appeal; and they shall make a full report thereupon to the ecclesiastical body under whose authority they act, at its next Session.

8. Bill of Complaint. - All complaints or charges preferred against a Clergyman or Parish shall be made in writing, and entitled the Bill of Complaint. Said Bill shall be divided into distinct paragraphs, consecutively numbered, each paragraph embracing, as far as practicable, a single charge or cause of complaint. The Complainant shall file the Bill of Complaint with the Chairman of the Committee of Fellowship, and shall also serve a copy thereof upon the party defendant.

9. Answer. – The Defendant shall, within thirty days after the date of service upon him of the Bill of Complaint, file with the Chairman of the Committee his Answer thereto in writing, and shall also serve a copy thereof upon the Complainant. Said Answer shall also be divided into distinct paragraphs, and reply to each paragraph of the Bill of Complaint.

10. Hearing. – If the parties do not desire to offer testimony, the cause may be heard upon the Bill and Answer. The Committee shall fix a convenient time and place for the hearing, of which due notice shall be given to the parties Complainant and Defendant, and whereat the said parties, with counsel, if desired, shall appear, and the cause be duly heard. If, however, either or both parties desire to offer testimony, either may give notice thereof to the Committee. Said Committee shall, with as little delay as possible, appoint a competent Examiner to take the testimony, and shall notify the parties of such appointment.

11. Conduct of Hearing by the Examiner. – The Examiner, having arranged with the parties as to a convenient time and place therefor, shall proceed to take the testimony of all the witnesses produced before him, and such examination shall be private. The Complainant shall first produce all his testimony, and when he has closed, the Defendant shall in like manner produce his testimony. After which, the Complainant may, if he desires it, offer testimony in rebuttal; and the Defendant may also offer testimony in surrebuttal. The witnesses shall be examined by the parties or their counsel. All the testimony shall be taken in writing. The depositions shall be signed by the respective witnesses, and be attested by the Examiner. Every document or paper offered in evidence shall be noted by the Examiner, and marked by him for identification , as Exhibit 1, 2, etc. If any evidence offered shall be objected to, the Examiner shall note the objection and the grounds thereof, and rule upon its admissibility. Either party may appeal from his decision to the Committee of Fellowship, and in case of such appeal from the exclusion of evidence, the nature of the proposed evidence and grounds of objection thereto and of the decision of the Examiner, shall be entered by him briefly on the Record.

12. Hearing on Appeal. – Upon the termination of the hearing before the Examiner, he shall fasten together all the depositions and exhibits,a nd forthwith certify and transmit the same to the Secretary of the Committee. The Committee shall fix a time and place for a hearing upon questions raised by appeal from the decision of the Examiner, and if necessary shall remit the case to him for the purpose of taking such testimony excluded by him as the Committee shall deem competent to the issue.

13. Final Hearing. – Upon the completion of the testimony the same shall be transmitted by the Examiner to the Secretary of the Committee, as provided in the previous section. The Committee shall fix a convenient time and place for the final hearing, of which due notice shall be given to the parties, and whereat the said parties, with counsel, if they desire it, shall appear, and the cause be duly heard.

14. Decision. - After the final hearing, the Committee shall proceed to certify in writing what facts they find to be proved, and their decision in the case; a copy of which finding and decision shall be at once transmitted to both the Complainant and Defendant. In case the fellowship of the Defendant be suspended or withdrawn, and no appeal to the General Convention be taken within the time prescribed by the laws regulating Appeals, the Committee shall cause such sentence to be published in at least one denominational paper.

15. In case an appeal be taken to the General Convention, which must be within thirty days after the decision is rendered, the Appellant shall certify the grounds of his appeal to the Secretary of that Convention, at the time of taking his appeal. The said Secretary shall notify the Secretary of the Committee having jurisdiction that such appeal has been taken, and require them to send up the whole record of the case, comprising the Bill of Complaint, the Answer, the testimony, and the finding and decision of the Committee, to be placed before the Board of Appeal.

16. If disputes or difficulties should arise between Parishes or between a Parish and its Pastor, or between Parishes and Clergymen, or between Clergymen, which the parties themselves shall be unable to arrange, the Committee on Fellowship, or a special Committee to be appointed upon request of the parties by the Executive Committee of the Convention, shall have power to inquire into the facts, and endeavor amicably to settle the case. If an amicable adjustment cannot be effected, or the case involves the necessity for censure, or withdrawal or suspension of fellowship, either party may file a Bill of Complaint, or Cross Bills may be filed by both parties, and the cause be proceeded with as hereinbefore provided.

17. In case of rumors unfavorably affecting the reputation of a Clergyman, the Executive Committee of the Convention having jurisdiction, or the Trustees of the General Convention, as the case may be, shall consider their nature, and, if they deem them injurious to the Church, and the proceeding expedient, shall appoint some suitable person or persons to prefer charges and prosecute the same before the Committee of Fellowship in the name of the Convention.

VIII. – APPEALS.

1. Parties aggrieved by any decision, whether in granting, refusing, or withdrawing fellowship, or otherwise, shall be entitled to appeal to the General Convention, according to the provisions of the By-Laws, Art. 1., Sect., 5, touching on the duties of the Board of Trustees, in cases of complaints or appeals.

2. An appeal from the decision of a lower court, to be allowed, must be taken within thirty days of the time at which such decision was rendered, and must be accompanied by a bond, with sufficient sureties, for the payment of the costs of the court, if the appeal be not sustained. Notice of the appeal shall be sent at once by the Secretary to the Secretary of the Committee of Fellowship from whose decision the appeal is taken, which shall have the effect to suspend the sentence pronounced by its court, until reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal.

IX. – OF CLERICAL AND LAY DELEGATES.

1. No Clergyman shall be a delegate to or from any denominational body, or hold any office or appointment in such body, unless he be in fellowship in the jurisdiction in which he resides.

2. No layman shall be a delegate, or hold any office or appointment as above, unless he be a regular contributor to, or a worshipper in, some Parish duly in fellowship.

3. Neither a layman nor a Clergyman shall represent any other denominational body than that within whose jurisdiction he resides. No Clergyman shall serve as a lay delegate, and no layman as a clerical delegate.

4. Any delegate to a State Convention who cannot attend, shall have power to appoint a substitute, subject to the approval of the Standing Committee or Trustees of the Parish of which he is a Member. Vacancies in delegations to the General Convention shall, if possible, be reported to the Secretary of the Convention in whose representation they occur, to be filled by the Executive Committee, but any vacancy not thus reported and filled shall be filled by vote of the delegates present at the Session.

X. – RECORDS.

1. Every Parish shall provide a book or register, to be known as the Church Register, which shall be in the custody of the Pastor, Secretary, or other office as may be found convenient, in which shall be recorded with particularity all Dedications of Children, Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and Funerals performed or attended in the Parish by the Pastor, or other minister; also, a list of Church Members, with the date of admission, transfer, withdrawal, or decease.

2. Every Clergyman not in pastoral charge shall also keep a similar record of like services performed by him.

3. If a Clergyman be engaged in pastoral duties only a part of his time, or be the Pastor of more than one Parish, he shall be careful to see that all services above-named, which may be performed by him as Pastor, are entered upon the Proper records, and that those which he performs outside of such pastoral charge are entered upon his own register, as provided in the preceding section, in order that all such services may be duly reported, and yet not reported twice.

4. Every Parish hall also provide a book or register, to be known as the Parish Register, in which shall be recorded the names of the qualified voters of the Parish, with their residences and the dates of their reception, withdrawal or decease, and also the names of all the families and persons regularly attending upon public worship. And it shall be the duty of every Pastor carefully to continue such record from time to time, for the use of himself and his successors.

XI. – MISCELLANEOUS.

1. Every State Convention shall furnish to the Secretary of the General Convention a copy of its Charter, Constitution, and By-Laws, and thereafter a copy of all amendments thereto.

2. Committees of Fellowship shall notify the Secretary of the General Convention, and shall cause public notice to be given in a Universalist paper of all Letters and Transfers of Fellowship, of Licenses and of withdrawals of Fellowship, granted by them, and of Licenses expired or terminated; and whenever fellowship by virtue of Letter of Transfer is granted by them, they shall certify that fact to the Committee granting the Letter.

3. If in any proceedings instituted under these rules, it should be manifestly improper for any member or members of the Committee of Fellowship to act therein, by reason of relationship to any of the parties concerned, or from any other cause whatsoever, then the remaining members, if a majority, shall have and exercise the powers and duties of the Committee; or the Executive Committee of the State Convention, or the Trustees of the General Convention, as the case may be, shall appoint in place of the person or persons thus ineligible, one or more disinterested persons, as the case may require, who shall, for the purposes of the particular case, act with the remaining members thereof, or in lieu of the regular Committee, if all the members are disqualified as above.

4. In case of the removal of a member or members from one Parish to other territory, it shall be the duty of the Pastor or Parish Clerk to give notice of such removal to the Pastor or Clerk of the Parish into whose territory such removal is made.

5. It shall be the duty of all Clergymen and Parishes to institute and foster Churches, and to establish and maintain Sunday Schools in all practicable cases. And wherever Sunday Schools exist, it shall be the duty of all concerned in their control to seek to make them efficient as Schools of Christian Doctrine, in order that the children baptized into the faith of the Universalist Church, may be educated in the principles and doctrines thereof, and thus be trained and prepared for confirmation and Church membership.

6. In every Church, the Communion of the Lord’s Supper shall be statedly observed at such times as the laws thereof prescribe; and at every such service, all persons present, whether members or not, who may feel it to be a duty or a privilege to do so, shall be invited to participate.

7. Baptism may be administered to adults in such form as they may wish.

Recommendations.

1. It is recommended to every Parish, or other denominational body, to pass a By-Law, providing that, in case of its dissolution, all its estate shall be vested in the Convention of the State wherein it is situated, of the laws of such State will permit, to be held by it in trust for the benefit of a future Universalist Parish in the same neighborhood, or for furthering the cause of Universalism in some other way and to each State Convention to make provision, in the case of its dissolution, for the transfer of its property and funds held in trust or otherwise, to the Universalist General Convention, to be held by it in trust for the purposes for which they were originally set apart or appropriated.

2. It is recommended, as preferable to the preceding, wherever practicable, that every Parish shall deed its property to the State Convention having jurisdiction, if qualified by law to hold and convey real estate, or to the General Convention, receiving back a conveyance with such conditions that the property can never be alienated from the purpose to which it was originally dedicated. [See Appendix.]

3. It is recommended that Christmas Sunday be observed with appropriate services.

4. It is recommended that on Easter Sunday a service of Recognition be held, at which time persons baptized in childhood, and other, may be welcomed by suitable rites to membership of the Church.

5. It is recommended that one Sunday be set apart in each year, to be denominated Children’s Sunday -in all cases where practicable, the second Sunday in June, or as near thereto as possible; as parents and guardians shall be encouraged and invited to bring their children to the altar on that day for baptism or dedication to the service of the Lord.

6. It is recommended that the first Sunday of October in each year be set apart as Memorial Sunday, for commemorating those friends who, during the year, have been taken away by death.

7. It is recommended that the first Sunday of November of each year be set apart as All Souls Sunday, for a special celebration of our distinguishing doctrine, the Scriptural truth that all souls are God’s children, and that finally, by His grace attending them, they will all be saved from the power of sin, and will live and reign with Him forever in holiness and happiness.

8. It is recommended that the third Sunday of May in each year be set apart as Educational Sunday, for the presentation to the people of the educational interests of our Church.

The application of a State Convention for fellowship should be in accordance with a vote of the Convention, duly recorded, a cop of which should accompany the application, certified by the Secretary. It should be forwarded to the Secretary of the General Convention, with the names of the officers and delegates chosen to represent the State Convention.

†The application of a Parish for fellowship should be by the vote of a meeting regularly called, a copy of which should accompany the application, certified by the Clerk. It should be forwarded before the Annual Session of the State Convention to the Secretary of the Committee of Fellowship. The names of delegates should be forwarded to the Secretary of the State Convention.

‡This applies to the action of Committees of Fellowship, who are authorized by the Laws to exercise these powers in behalf of their respective State Conventions. The legislative bodies have no discretion in matters of fellowship or discipline under the Laws, save to choose the persons whose these important matters are entrusted; and they should be careful to select “good men and true,” of judicial minds, of known integrity and fairness. Under our polity, the Committees of Fellowship are the most important of our officers, and they ought not to be selected for compliment, either personal or local.

The powers of the Committees of Fellowship: No action is valid unless concurred in by a major part of the Committee.

1. To receive applications for License of Lay Preachers, and grant or reject the, (Laws, v. 1).

2. To receive applications for Ministerial License, and grant or reject them (Laws, v. 1).

3. To receive applications for Ordination and consider them: if the applicant is deemed worthy to call an Ordaining Council (Laws, vi. 1): if the Council authorizes Ordination to appoint the Clergyman who shall give Fellowship (vi. 3): to issue the certificate in case of Ordination (vi. 4).

4. To grant Letters of Transfer to Clergymen removing to another jurisdiction (Laws, ii. 3, 4).

5. To grant Fellowship upon Letters of Transfer to Clergymen removing into their jurisdiction. (Laws, ii 3, 4).

6. To grant License and final Fellowship to Clergymen coming from other Churches (Laws, ii. 5).

7. To withdraw Fellowship from Parishes or Clergymen under certain specified circumstances, admitted or proved (Laws, iii. 1)

8. To grant Letters of Dismission and Recommendation to Clergymen desiring them (Laws, iii. 2).

9. To readmit to Fellowship Clergymen out of Fellowship for causes not affecting moral character (Laws, iv. 1).

10. To recommend to the Trustees of the General Convention for readmission Clergymen out of Fellowship for reasons affecting moral character. (Laws, iv. 2).

11. To act as a court for the trial of charges of unministerial conduct against clergymen (Laws, vii.1, 7-14).

The following blanks, prepared by the Board of Trustees, shave been provided for the use of Clergymen, Parishes, Councils, and Committees of Fellowship, each Committee being supplied by, and additional copies being obtainable from, the Secretary of the General Convention:

Form No. 1. Application for a Letter of License.

2. Letter of License.

3. Application for License as a Lay Preacher.

4. Letter of License as a Lay Preacher.

6. [sic] Letter of Transfer.

7. Notice of Transfer.

8. Notice of Acceptance of Transfer and Grant of Fellowship.

9. Notice to Committee granting Letter of Transfer.

10. Application of Parish for Ordination of Pastor Elect.

11. Application of a Licentiate for Ordination.

12. Call of Clergymen to Ordaining Council.

13. Call of Delegates to Ordaining Council.

14. Notice of Call of Ordaining Council for Publication.

15. Report of Clerk of Ordaining Council.

16. Appointment to confer Fellowship at Ordination.

17. Report of Ordination.

18. Certificate of Ordination.

19. Letter of Dismission.

21. [sic] Certificate of Fellowship for such as are admitted from other Churches.

If these Letters of Transfer are not properly obtained and fellowship secured, the clergyman is legally under several disadvantages (Laws vii. 3, 4).

This can only properly be done by Committees of Fellowship, when the Parish or Clergyman has had due notice and opportunity to answer the allegations; but the same formalities are not needful as in case of charges of unministerial conduct.

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For proceedings under this subsection, see Laws vii, 6-14

†This refers to cases outside the jurisdiction of the State Conventions.

This refers to cases outside the jurisdiction of the State Conventions.

This refers to cases outside the jurisdiction of the State Conventions.

†Licenses under the first section are intended to be preliminary to Ordination; under the second are for such as do not mean to enter ministerial fellowship.

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A greater number may be called, at the discretion of Committees of Fellowship. Observe, that the lay members of the Council must be delegates from parishes.

Committees of Fellowship may require longer lapses of time, at their discretion.

This discipline is exercised, not by the legislative bodies, but by the Committee of Fellowship as ecclesiastical courts. (Section 6 of this Chapter).

This report is for filing and record, and not for review.

Other particulars relating to such appeals, will be found in Chapter vii. § 15.

This Law does not require the publication of negative action; but Committees are left to their discretion whether such publication is demanded by the interests of the Church.