Ans. 1. Ministers of other Churches who may desire to unite with us as local preachers, may be received by a Quarterly Conference, upon giving satisfaction that they are suitable persons; but they shall not exercise the peculiar functions of deacons or elders until their orders are recognized by the Annual Conference:
Provided, no one who has been expelled from the ministry and membership of another Church shall be permitted to enter our itinerancy under five years from date of said expulsion.
Provided, that the Bishop may, at his discretion, allow ministers thus received to exercise their functions as Deacons or Elders until the session of the Annual Conference.
2. After such reception, and a recommendation by the Quarterly Conference, the Annual Conference, if satisfied of their being in order, and of their agreement with us in doctrine and discipline, and also of their gifts, graces and usefulness, may recognize them accordingly, without the re-imposition of hands, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows. If they cannot attend the Annual Conference, they shall send up a certified subscription to our doctrines and discipline, and to our ordination vows.
3. Ministers of other Churches, duly accredited as Deacons or Elders, who may desire to unite with us as traveling preachers, may be admitted as Deacons or Elders in full connection, after they shall have been members of the Quarterly Conference at least one year, and procuring a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference: provided, the Conference is satisfied with their gifts, graces and usefulness, and their agreement with us in doctrine and discipline, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows, without the re-imposition of hands.
4. When a minister has been received and recognized in orders, he shall be furnished with a certificate, signed by one of our Bishops, in the following words, viz:
This is to certify that..............
has been admitted into...............
Conference as a traveling preacher (or
has been received as a local preacher
on........................Circuit),
he having been ordained to the office
of a deacon, (or elder, as the case
may be,) according to the usages of
the.................Church, of which
he has been a member and minister;
and he is hereby authorized to exercise
the functions pertaining to his office
in the Colored Methodist Episcopal
Church in America so long as his
life and conversation are such as become
the gospel of Christ.
Given under my hand and seal, at
......this..........day of........in
the year of our Lord.........