METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 212, 7 March 1914, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

EXTENSION" OF PASTOKA'J'K. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night At the Methodist Conference this afternoon, a proposal relating to lay representation on the Stationing Committee, and also as to the size of the conference was referred to quarterly ■meetings and synods, and to the conference of 1916. An animated debate took place 011 the proposal to extend the term,of the pastorate beyond five years. It was eventually Tesolved to provide for such extension under certain safeguards, the extension to be endorsed in every case by a majority vote of 75 per cent, before becoming law. This resolution will need the endorsement of the various district synods, and approval by tlie conference of 1915. A provisio* was made for holding special quarterly meetings in the circuits. It was resolved to elect -secretaries of synods at the Conference instead of at the Synod. Resolutions affecting the constitution of district synods, with a view to increasing the number of lav readers were adopted. Home Missionaries of seven years' continuous standing were granted a seat in the Synod. The establishment of a "Conference travelling expenses fund" wa< referred to quarterly meetings, with a view to recommendations being made to the next conference on the subject. NEW APPOINTMENTS. Dunedin. March fi. At tte Methodist Conference, the Rev. W. Slade was appointed foreign Missions Secretary, the liev. Ij. Hudson to supply in the present year, the Rev, Mr. Serpen was elected president of the ;Social Service Union, the ißer. Iff. Drake secretary, and the Rev. Ru«li\ Pratt editor of the union publications The order in which the circuits will receive probationer® was fixed as fallows: —Waiafcn, Tfaimate, Giebor»e, ffeilding Tauiuarunui, Havelock South. Auckland West, P*rt' Albert and Kaitangala, Tin conference wa» welcomed kj a Pvesby terian deputation.