Nathan Bangs · 37 of 73

Book II. From the First Conference in 1773 to the First Regular General Conference in 1792. · Chapter 3 · SECTION V.

On the constituting of Elders, and their Duty

Question 1. How is an elder constituted?

Answer By the election of a majority of the conference, and by the laying on of the hands of a bishop, and of the elders that are present.

Question 2. What is his duty?

Answer

To travel through his appointed district.

To administer baptism and the Lord’s supper; and to perform all parts of divine service.

In the absence of a bishop, to take charge of all the deacons, traveling and local preachers, and exhorters.

To change, receive, or suspend preachers.

To direct in the transaction of the spiritual business of his circuit.

To take care that every part of our discipline be enforced.

To aid in the public collections.

To attend his bishop when present, and give him when absent all necessary information, by letter, of the state of his district.

N.[athan] B[angs]. No elder that ceases to travel, without the consent of the conference, certified under the hand of a bishop, shall on any account exercise the peculiar functions of his office among us.