LAY DELEGATION IN THE WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 322, 24 June 1875, Page 4

LAY DELEGATION IN THE WESLEYAN CHURCH.

At a meeting of a number of influential and representative lay members of the Wes* leyan Church, held at Ballarat, on the subject of lay delegation, the following resolutions were passed ; 1. That, after carefully considering the reply to our recent memorial to the Wesleyan Methodist General Conference on the subject of lay delegation, we are still of opinion that the rights claimed by us are scriptural and reasonable, and were enjoyed by the early Christian church.

2. That in requesting the right to legislate and act in all our church courts on equal terms with ministers, we seek for only what is granted the laity of other Christian bodies, including the Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, Primitive Methodist, Bible Christian, United Free Methodist, &c. 3. That while we have to acknowledge the rights conceded, we are still of the opinion that at least our leading requests should be granted and embodied in the new constitution—such as the right to vote in the annual conference for president, chairmen of districts, secretaries; also to vote on questions affecting the expulsion and introduction of members and ministers, and the stationing of ministers and the examination of ministerial character.

4. That we are convinced it would be better to delay the completion of the proposed constitution until after the next general conference in 1878, when it might be re-considered and amended, or, failing that being done, to petition the home conference to withhold its consent to the measure till the views of the church be ascertained, or more satisfactory terms be granted. We nevertheless recognise the fact that some of the privileges claimed might eventually be obtained by legislating in the general conference, but thio course would involve inconvenience, expense, and delay in having to attend at Sydney in 1878, or some other colony in 1881, as well as continued agitation, which latter we are most anxious to avoid. Until these reasonable requests are granted, we believe that many worthy and independent laymen having feelings of self-respect will refuse to attend annual conferences, and subject themselves to the humiliating treatment of being shut out four days or more, while ministers alone transact some of the most important business affecting the interest and welfare of the entire church. 5. We observe that “the general conference shall have no power to do away with the privilege of trial, and appeal, of our members or ministers, as at present existing,” nor “to do away with the right of the ministers to admit or expel members, subject to such guards and regulations as our rules provide.” From this we conclude that laymen when admitted into the general conference will be powerless to legislate as regards these matters. Therefore we fail to see how it can be fair to say that laymen are to possess equal rights with ministers, even at the general conference. Since ministers in settling the conditions of the new constitution have taken care to protect their own interests by putting it beyond the reach of the laity to secure the rights alluded to—hence the reply that “ what it (the general conference) keeps back from lay members it withholds from the ministerial also,” applies only to such matters as ministers, by a previous understanding, agreed to permit laymen to discuss.

6. In order to ascertain the views of the church as to the extent that lay representation should be granted, we advise conference o make a ballot in the various circuits of the colonies, and abide by the result, 7 That we adhere to our conclusion that representatives of the press are to all intents md purposes excluded. The fact of a certain reporter having been present as an adherent does not affect the case.

8. Finally, we would recommend quarterly aeetings throughout the colonies, to express heir views on this vital question, and forvard a united protest to thenrxt annual •onferences, to stay the complet ; ou of the lew constitution until the opinion of the entire church be taken,