The Doctrines and Discipline of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church / Revised Edition 1918

by Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

PART III.
THE MINISTER

CHAPTER VIII.
THE ELECTION AND CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS AND THEIR DUTIES

Ques. 1. How is a Bishop to be constituted?

Ans. By the election of the General Conference, and the laying on of hands of three Bishops, or at least of one Bishop and two Elders.

Ques. 2. If by death, expulsion, or otherwise, there be no Bishop remaining in our church, what shall we do?

Ans. The General Conference shall elect a Bishop; and the Elders, or any three of them, who shall be appointed by the General Conference for that purpose, shall ordain him according to our form of ordination.

Ques. 3. What are the duties of a Bishop?

Ans. 1 (a) To preside in the General and Annual Conferences.

(b) To fix the appointments of the preachers in the Annual Conferences; provided, he shall not allow any preacher to remain in the same circuit, station or mission more than six years successively, except where the presiding Bishop thinks a longer term of service will promote the welfare of the charge. The Book Agent, Editor of the Christian Index, the Secretaries of Missions, Church Extension and Epworth Leagues, superannuated and supernumerary preachers, Missionaries in foreign stations, Chaplains to military posts, preachers who may be appointed to labor for seamen and the American Bible Society and the presidents, principals or other teachers of seminaries and other institutions of learning under our superintendence are exceptions to the time limit as above indicated, (c) When requested by an annual conference, the Bishop may appoint a preacher for a term of years to any seminary or institution of learning not under our supervision and care. (d) He shall have authority when requested by the Annual Conference to appoint an agent, who shall travel throughout the bounds of such conference for the purpose of organizing Sunday Schools, aiding needy ones, and distributing tracts. (e) When requested by any annual conference, he shall have authority to appoint an agent or agents who shall travel and work in the interest of our literary institutions.