between the Boards themselves, in the conduct of affairs either at home or on the foreign fields, shall be brought to the attention of the president in a written statement signed by at least one Bishop, two preachers, and three laymen, the Committee of Appeals shall sit as the Board of Conflict at the call of its president or at other times to consider or decide such cases. In these cases the committee shall take testimony according to the law of our Church (¶¶725-761, 764-766), shall hear representatives of the parties in interest, and decide the cause at issue. Its decision shall be final.

¶318. On the written request of one-third of a Board, attested by its Chairman and Secretary, the Committee of Appeals shall sit as a Judiciary Committee to decide questions of law which may arise in the administration of the affairs of our General Boards and Committees, either at home or in the foreign fields.

¶319. The necessary expense of the committee shall be paid from the General Conference fund.

SECTION II.

OF THE APPEAL OF A LOCAL PREACHER.

¶320. When a local preacher appeals from the decision of a committee of trial, the president of the Annual Conference shall appoint a com

mittee of not less than nine nor more than thirteen, who shall try the case. Its decision shall be final. (¶¶737, 740, 745, 748, 750-758, 764,

766.)

¶321. No member of the committee of trial shall be appointed on this committee. (¶747.)

¶322. The records of the trial shall be the only evidence considered by the committee. The decision rendered, together with the whole record of the case, shall be delivered to the secretary of the Conference.

¶323. The appellant, in person or by representative (who shall be a member of the Annual Conference) (¶746), shall state the grounds of his appeal, and shall be permitted to make his argument without interruption, so long as his defense is within the record of the case. The representative of the committee of trial shall then be permitted to respond, and the appellant may reply. At the conclusion of the argument, the committee shall consider the case privately and announce its decision to the respective parties.

4324. No local preacher, after trial and expulsion, shall be restored until he give satisfactory evidence of repentance of the offense for which he was expelled, unless the District Conference become convinced of his innocence, in which case the Conference may restore him to his previous standing. (¶667.)

SECTION III.

OF THE APPEAL OF A MEMBER.

325. Any suspended or expelled member may appeal to the next Quarterly Conference. If appeal be made, the preacher in charge shall present to the Conference the record of the trial, from which record the case shall finally be determined. (¶¶670, 737, 740, 746, 748, 750758, 764, 766.)

¶326. No member of the committee of trial shall vote on the appeal. (¶¶747, 761.)

¶327. The appellant, in person or by his representative (who shall be a member of the Church) (746), shall state the grounds of his appeal, and shall be permitted to make his argument without interruption, so long as his defense is within the record of the case. The representative of the committee of trial shall then be permitted to respond, and the appellant may reply. The appellant and the representative of the committee shall then withdraw, and the majority of the members of the Quarterly Conference present shall finally determine the

case.

¶328. No member, after trial and expulsion, shall be restored until he give satisfactory evidence of repentance of the offense for which he was expelled, unless the Quarterly Conference become convinced of his innocence, in which case he may be restored. (¶¶667, 679.)

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DEPRIVATION AND RESTORATION OF
CREDENTIALS.

SECTION I.

OF THE CREDENTIALS OF TRAVELING DEACONS OR

ELDERS.

9329. When a traveling deacon or elder is deprived of his credentials of ordination, by expulsion or otherwise, they shall be filed with the papers of his Annual Conference. (¶¶658, 679, 768-772.)

¶330. When a minister of our Church desires to surrender his credentials and retain his membership, he shall be permitted to do so, and to designate the Church in which he will hold membership; and the secretary of the Conference to which he surrenders his credentials shall issue to him a certificate of membership in the Church: provided, that no minister shall be permitted to take such action when charges involving his character have been made and sustained or are pending. (¶¶658, 679, 767–772.) However, when his character is involved in cases where the law permits final adjustment by the surrender of credentials, this shall be also

the surrender of membership in the Church. (¶767.)

4331. Should he later give satisfactory evidence to the Conference of his amendment or innocence, and procure a certificate of the Quarterly Conference of the charge in which he resides, or of the Annual Conference that admitted him on trial, recommending to the Annual Conference to which he surrendered his credentials their restoration, the Conference may restore them. (¶¶658, 770-772.)

SECTION II.

OF THE CREDENTIALS OF LOCAL DEACONS OR ELDERS.

¶332. When a local deacon or elder is deprived of his credentials of ordination, by expulsion or otherwise, the Presiding Elder shall require them of him, and file them with the Annual Conference in the bounds of which the local preacher resides. (¶¶658, 679, 767–772.

¶333. Should he later produce to the Annual Conference a recommendation from the District Conference for the restoration of his credentials, signed by its president and secretary, they may be restored to him. (¶¶658, 770772.)