History:
1. In the latter end of the year
1739 there came to Mr. Wesley,
in London, eight or ten persons
who appeared to be deeply
convinced of sin and earnestly
groaning for redemption. They
desired (as did two or three
more the next day) that he would
spend some time with them in
prayer, and advise them how to
flee from the wrath to come,
which they saw continually
hanging over their heads. That
he might have more time for this
great work he appointed a day
when they might all come
together-which from thence
forward they did every week;
namely, on Thursday, in the
evening. To these, and as many
more as desired to join them
(for their number increased
daily), he gave those advices
from time to time which he
judged most needful for them;
and they always concluded their
meeting with prayer, suited to
their several necessities.
2. This was the rise of the
Wesleyan Societies in Europe,
then of The Wesleyan Methodist
Church of America. Such churches
are no other than companies of
persons having the form and
seeking the power of godliness,
united in order to pray
together, to receive the word of
exhortation, and to watch over
one another in love, that they
may help each other to work out
their salvation.
3. The Wesleyan Methodist Church
of America grew out of a
separation from the Methodist
Episcopal Church, the result of
the connection of that body with
slavery, and the arbitrary
character of its government.
4. O. Scott, J. Horton, and L.
R. Sunderland withdrew in
November, 1842. At the same time
the first number of a weekly
paper was issued called the True
Wesleyan, in which they
announced their withdrawal,
setting forth their reasons. In
December following, Luther Lee
withdrew from the Methodist
Episcopal Church, as did L. C.
Matlack. These withdrawals are
to be regarded as the
commencement of the movement
which led to the Wesleyan
organization. There were
previous separations, but the
organization of the community,
whose system of doctrine and
polity is presented in the
following pages, must date its
commencement as above.
5. The most extensive prior
separation took place in
Michigan, which resulted in the
organization of a conference,
but they united in the general
organization at Utica, hereafter
mentioned, and formed the basis
of what became the Michigan
Annual Conference. The first
Wesleyan Church, which was
organized as a part of the
present Denomination, was in
Providence, Rhode Island.
6. Soon after the withdrawal of
Scott, Horton, Sunderland, Lee,
and Matlack, measures were taken
to hold a convention, which
transpired at Andover,
Massachusetts, February, 1843.
This resulted in a call for a
General Convention, which was
held at Utica, New York,
commencing May 31, I843, at
which a general organization was
effected and a Discipline
adopted. The first General
Conference was held in October,
1844, at which the Discipline
underwent some modifications.
7. In October, 1848, the second
General Conference was held; and
in the light of the four years'
additional experience, the
Discipline underwent a thorough
revision, principally to improve
it in simplicity and in the
arrangement of its parts; since
then it has been further
revised, and, with confidence
that it will be approved, it is
presented to the Church, whose
system of doctrine and rules of
practice it contains, and to the
Christian public, whose
inspection it invites.
8. It will be seen by the candid
reader that the system of
government is essentially
republican, and is conformed to
the Scriptures and primitive
usages in all fundamental
matters-under such modifications
in what is merely prudential, as
are demanded by circumstances of
the times in which we live. For
amplitude of provision to meet
all the exigencies of an
ecclesiastical organization-and
for simplicity, rendering it
easy to be comprehended, it is
believed this little book stands
unrivaled.
9. It is not presented as a
substitute for the Holy
Scriptures, but as an epitome of
the doctrines, morals, and
ecclesiastical polity contained
in the Sacred Volume. All who
read this volume, and especially
those who adopt it as the rule
of their faith and practice,
should never forget for one
moment, that, to secure the end
of religion, they must add to
their creed, however truthful it
may be, sincerity of heart and
purity of life. "Not every one
that saith unto me, Lord! Lord!
shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in
heaven." "Without holiness no
man shall see the Lord."
10. Connecting Sketch: In the
General Conference of I943 a
movement was advanced for union
with other holiness bodies,
notably the Free Methodist
Church. Allegheny Conference,
one of the original organizing
conferences, opposed this
merger. With the agitation for
merger, there also became
evident within the General
Conference a steady trend toward
a more centralized government
and a noticeable departure from
the original polity and
standards set by the founding
fathers of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church. This trend the
Allegheny Conference deeply
deplored. The proposed merger
with the Free Methodist Church
was defeated at the General
Conference of 1955, with the
Allegheny Conference unanimously
opposing. A merger with the
Pilgrim Holiness Church was
proposed at the 1963 General
Conference. Again the Allegheny
Conference opposed, having gone
on record to accept no further
departure from Disciplinary
polity and standards beyond the
I959 Discipline. The General
Conference of I966, called one
year early to facilitate the
proposed merger, refused to seat
the Allegheny delegation, and
the merger was passed by a large
vote. Allegheny refused to join
the merged group. Final
settlement between the
Conference and the General
Church came in I968 when the
Conference accepted the name of
The Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist
Connection (Original Allegheny
Conference).
11. The Discipline here
presented is offered as true to
the original doctrines,
standards, and polity of
Wesleyan Methodism.
Statement of Beliefs:
I. Faith in the Holy Trinity.
14. There is but one living and
true God, everlasting, of
infinite power, wisdom, and
goodness; the Maker and
Preserver of all things, visible
and invisible. And in unity of
this Godhead there are three
persons of one substance, power,
and eternity-the Father, the Son
(the Word), and the Holy Ghost.
Gen. 1:1; 17:1; Exod. 3:13-15;
33:20; Dent. 6:4; Ps. 90:2;
104:24; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 10:10;
John 1:1-2; 4:24-5:18; 10:30;
16:13; 17:3; Acts 5:3-4; Rom.
16:27; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6; 2 Cor.
13:14; Eph. 2:18; Phil. 2:6;
Col. 1:16; 1 Tim. 1:17;1 John
5:7, 20; Rev. 19:13.
II. The Son of God.
15. The only begotten Son of God
was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and
buried-to be a sacrifice, not
only for original guilt, but
also for the actual sins of men,
and to reconcile us to God.
Mark 15; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; John
1:14, 18; 3:16-17; Acts 4:12;
Rom. 5:10, 18; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2
Cor. 5:18-19; Gal. 1:4; 2:20;
4:4-5; Eph. 5:2; 1 Tim. 1:15;
Heb. 2:17; 7:27; 9:28; 10:12;1
Pet. 2:24;1 John 2:2; 4:14.
III. The Resurrection of Christ.
16. Christ did truly rise again
from the dead, taking His body
with all things appertaining to
the perfection of man's nature,
wherewith He ascended into
heaven, and there sitteth until
He returns to judge all men at
the last day.
Ps. 16:8-10; Matt. 27:62-66;
28:5-9, 16-17; Mark 16:6-7,12;
Luke 24:4-8,23; John 20:26-29;
21:1-25; Acts 12; 2:24-31;10:40;
Rom. 8:34; 14:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:6,
14; Heb. 13:20.
IV. The Holy Ghost.
17. The Holy Ghost proceeding
from the Father and the Son is
of one substance, majesty, and
glory with the Father and the
Son, very and eternal God.
Job 33:4; Matt. 28:19; John
4:24-26; Acts 5:3-4, Rom. 8:9; 2
Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6.
V. The Sufficiency and Full
Authority of the Holy Scriptures
for Salvation.
18. The Holy Scriptures contain
all things necessary to
salvation; so that whatsoever is
not read therein, nor may be
proved thereby, is not to be
required of any man, that it
should be believed as an article
of faith, or be thought
requisite or necessary to
salvation. In the name of the
Holy Scriptures, we so
understand the books of the Old
and New Testaments. These
Scriptures we do hold to be the
inspired and infallibly written
Word of God, fully inerrant in
their original manuscript and
superior to all human authority:
The canonical books of the Old
Testament are:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua,
Judges, Ruth, l Samuel, 2
Samuel, I Kings, 2 Kings, I
Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms,
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song
of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel,
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zephaniah,
and Malachi.
The canonical books of the New
Testament are:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The
Acts, The Epistle to the Romans,
I Corinthians, 2 Corinthians,
Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, 1
Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians,
l Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus,
Philemon, Hebrews, James, I
Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John,
3 John, Jude, and Revelation.
Ps. 19:7; Luke 24:27; John
17:17; Acts 17:2, 11; Rom. 1:2;
15:4; 16:26; Gal. 1:8; 1 Thes.
2;13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12;
Jas. 1:21;1 Pet. 1:23; 2 Pet.
1:19-21; Rev. 22:14, 19.
VI. The Old Testament.
19. The Old Testament is not
contrary to the New; for both in
the Old and New Testaments
everlasting life is offered to
mankind through Christ, who is
the only Mediator between God
and man. Wherefore they are not
to be heard who feign that the
old fathers did look only for
transitory promises. Although
the law given from God by Moses,
as touching ceremonies and
rites, doth not bind Christians,
nor ought the civil precepts
thereof of necessity be received
in any commonwealth, yet
notwithstanding no Christian
whatsoever is free from the
obedience of the commandments
which are called moral.
Matt. 5:17-19; 22:37-40; Luke
24:27-44; John 1:45; 5:46; Rom.
15:8; 2 Con 1:20; Eph. 2:15-16;
1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:1; 11:39; 1
John 2:3-7.
VII. Relative Duties.
20. Those two great commandments
which require us to love the
Lord our God with all the heart,
and our neighbors as ourselves,
contain the sum of the divine
law as it is revealed in the
Scriptures: they are the measure
and perfect rule of human duty,
as well as the ordering and
directing of families and
nations, and all other social
bodies, as for individual acts,
by which we are required to
acknowledge God as our only
Supreme Ruler, and all men as
created by Him, equal in all
natural rights. Wherefore all
men are bound so to order all
their individual, social, and
political acts as to render to
God entire and absolute
obedience, and to secure to all
men the enjoyment of every
natural right, as well as to
promote the greatest happiness
of each in the possession and
exercise of such rights.
Lev. 19:18, 34; Dent. 1:15,17; 2
Sam. 23:3; Job 29:16; 31:13-14;
Jer. 21:12; 22:3; Matt. 5:44-47;
7:12; Luke 6:27-29,35; John
13:34-35; Acts 10:34-35; 17:26;
Rom. 12:9; 13:1, 7-8,10; Gal.
5:14; 6:10; Tit. 3:1; Jas. 2:8;
1 Pet. 2:17; 1 John 2:5;
4:12-13; 2 John 6.
VIII. Original or Birth Sin.
21. Original sin standeth not in
the following of Adam (as the
Pelagians do vainly talk), but
it is the corruption of the
nature of every man, that
naturally is engendered of the
offspring of Adam, whereby man
is wholly gone from original
righteousness, and of his own
nature inclined to evil, and
that continually.
Gen. 8:21, Ps. 51:5; Jer. 17:9;
Mark 7:21-23; Rom. 3:10-12;
5:12,18-19; Eph. 2:1-3.
IX. Free Will.
22. The condition of man after
the fall of Adam is such that he
cannot turn and prepare himself,
by his own natural strength and
work, in faith and calling upon
God; wherefore we have no power
to do good works, pleasant and
acceptable to God, without the
grace of God by Christ working
in us, that we may have a good
will, working with us when we
have that good will.
Prov. 16:1; 20:24; Jer. 10:23;
Matt. 16:17; John 6:44, 65;
15:5; Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 2:5-9;
Phil. 2:13; 4:13.
X. Justification of Man.
23. We are accounted righteous
before God only for the merit of
our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, by faith, and not our
own works or deservings.
Wherefore, that we are justified
by faith only is a most
wholesome doctrine and very full
of comfort.
Acts 13:38-39;15:11;16:31; Rom.
3:28; 4:2-5; 5:1-2,9; Eph.
2:8-9; Phil. 3:9.
XI. Good Works.
24. Although good works, which
are the fruit of faith and
follow after justification,
cannot put away our sins and
endure the severity of God's
judgment, yet they are pleasing
and acceptable to God in Christ,
and spring out of a true and
lively faith, insomuch that by
them a lively faith may be as
evidently known as a tree is
discerned by its fruit.
Matt. 5:16; 7:16-20; John 15:8;
Rom. 3:20; 4:2,4,6; Gal. 2:160;
Phil. 1:11; Tit. 3:5; Jas.
2:18,22; 1 Pet. 2:9,10.
XII. Sin After Justification.
25. Not every sin willingly
committed after justification is
the sin against the Holy Ghost,
and unpardonable. Wherefore
repentance is not denied to such
as fall into sin after
justification. After we have
received the Holy Ghost we may
depart from grace given and fall
into sin, and by the grace of
God rise again to amend our
lives. And therefore, they are
to be condemned who say they can
no more sin as long as they live
here, or deny the place of
forgiveness to such as truly
repent.
Ps. 32:5; 95:7,11; Ecd. 7:20;
Jer. 3:13-15; Matt. 24:12; John
5:14; Gal. 5:4,7; Eph. 5:14;
Heb. 3:7-13,15; Jas. 3:2,8; 1
John 1:8-9; 2:12; Rev. 2:5.
XIII. Regeneration.
26. Regeneration is that work of
the Holy Spirit by which the
pardoned sinner becomes a child
of God; this work is received
through faith in Jesus Christ,
whereby the regenerate are
delivered from the power of sin
which reigns over all the
unregenerate, so that they love
God and through grace serve Him
with the will and affections of
the heart receiving the Spirit
of adoption whereby we cry;
Abba, Father.
John 1:12-13; 3:3,5; Rom.
8:15,17; Gal. 3:26; 4:5,7; Eph.
1:5; 2:5,19; 4:24; Col. 3:10;
Tit. 3:5; Jas. 1:18;1 Pet.
1:3-4; 2 Pet 1:4; 1 John 3:1.
XIV. Entire Sanctification.
27. Entire sanctification is
that work of the Holy Spirit by
which the child of God is
cleansed from all inbred sin
through faith in Jesus Christ.
It is subsequent to
regeneration, and is wrought
when the believer presents
himself a living sacrifice, holy
and acceptable unto God, and is
thus enabled through grace to
love God with all the heart and
to walk in His holy commandments
blameless.
Gen. 17:1; Dent. 30:6; Ps.
130:8; Ezek. 36:25-29; Matt.
5:48; Luke 1:74-75; John
17:2-23; Rom. 8:3-4;11:26; 1
Cor. 6:11;14:20; Eph. 4:13, 24;
5:25-27; Phil. 2:5,7; Col. 4:12;
Thes. 3:10; 5:23; 2 Thes. 2:13;
2 Tim. 3:17; Tit. 2:12; Heb.
9:13-14; 10:14,18-22; Jas. 1:27;
4:8;1 Pet. 1:10; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1
John 1:7, 9; 3:8-9; 4:17-18;
Jude 24.
XV. The Sacraments.
28. Sacraments ordained of
Christ are not only tokens of
Christian profession, but they
are certain signs of grace and
God's good will toward us, by
which He doth work invisibly in
us, and doth not only quicken
but also strengthen and confirm
our faith in Him. There are two
sacraments ordained of Christ
our Lord in the Gospel: that is
to say, Baptism, and the Supper
of the Lord.
Matt. 26:26-28; 28:19; Mark
14:22-24; Rom. 2:28-29; 4:11; 1
Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26; Gal. 3:27.
XVI. Baptism.
29. Baptism is not only a sign
of profession and mark of
difference whereby Christians
are distinguished from others
who are not baptized, but it is
also a sign of regeneration or
new birth. The baptism of young
children is to be retained in
the church.
Num. 8:7; Isa. 52:15; Ezek.
36:25; Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:10;
16:16; John 3:22, 26; 4:12; Acts
2:38,41; 8:12-17;
9:18;16:35;18:8;19:5; 22:16; 1
Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27-29; Col.
2:11-12; Tit. 3:5.
XVII. The Lord's Supper.
30. The Supper of the Lord is
not only a sign of love that
Christians ought to have among
themselves one to another, but
rather it is a Sacrament of our
redemption by Christ's death;
insomuch that to such as
rightly, worthily and with faith
receive the same, it is made a
medium through which God Both
communicate grace to the heart.
Luke 22:19-20; John 6:53, 56; 1
Cor. 5:7-8; 10:3-16; 11:28.
XVIII. The One Oblation of
Christ Finished Upon the Cross.
31. The offering of Christ, once
made, is that perfect redemption
and propitiation for all the
sins of the whole world, both
original and actual; and there
is none other satisfaction for
sin but that alone. Wherefore,
to expect salvation on the
ground of our own works, or by
suffering the pains our sins
deserve, either in the present
or future state, is derogatory
to Christ's offering for us and
a dangerous deceit. :
Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:8; 8:34; Gal.
2:16; 3:2-3,11; 1 Tim. 2:5-6;
Heb. 7:23-27; 9:11-15,2428;
10:14.
XIX. The Rites and Ceremonies of
Churches.
32. It is not necessary that
rites and ceremonies should in
all places be the same or
exactly alike, for they have
always been different and may be
changed according to the
diversities of countries, times,
and men's manners, so that
nothing be ordained against
God's Word. Every particular
church may ordain, change, or
abolish rites and ceremonies, so
that all things may be done to
edification.
Acts 15:10, 28-29; Rom. 14:2-6,
15, 17, 21; 1 Cor. 1:10; 12:25;
14:26; 2 Cor. 13:11; Gal.
5:1,13; Col. 2:16-17; 2 Thes.
3:6,14; 1 Tim. 1:4,6; 1 Pet.
2:16.
XX. The Second Coming of Christ.
33. The doctrine of the second
coming of Christ is a very
precious truth, and this good
hope is a powerful inspiration
to holy living and godly effort
for the evangelization of the
world. We believe the Scriptures
teach the coming of Christ to be
a bodily return to the earth and
that He will cause the
fulfillment of all prophecies
made concerning His final and
complete triumph over all evil.
Faith in the imminence of
Christ's return is a rational
and inspiring hope to the people
of God.
Job 19:25-27; Dan. 12:1-4; Ps.
17:15; Isa. 11:1-12; Zech.
14:1-11; Matt. 24:1-51; 26:64;
Mark 13:27-37; Luke 17:26-37;
21:24-36; John 14:1-3; Acts
1:9-11;1 Cor. 1:7, 8; 1 Thes.
4:13-18; Tit. 2:11-14; Heb.
9:27-28; Jas. 5:7-8; 2 Pet.
3:1-14;1 John 3:2-3; Jude 14;
Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; 22:6-7, 12,
20.
XXI. The Resurrection of the
Dead.
34. We hold the Scriptural
statements concerning the
resurrection of the dead to be
true and worthy of universal
acceptance. We believe the
bodily resurrection of Jesus
Christ was a fact of history and
a miracle of supreme importance.
We understand the manner of the
resurrection of mankind to be
the resurrection of the
righteous dead, at Christ's
second coming, and the
resurrection of the wicked at a
later time, as stated in
Revelation 20:4-6. Resurrection
will be the reuniting of soul
and body preparatory to final
reward or punishment.
Job 19:25-27; Ps. 17:15; Dan.
12:2; Matt. 22:30-32; 28:1-20;
Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29; Acts
23:6-8; Rom. 8:11;1 Cor.
15:1-58; 2 Con 4:14; 5:1-11;1
Thes. 4:14-17; Rev. 20:4-6.
XXII. The Judgment of Mankind.
35. The Scriptures reveal God as
the Judge of all mankind and the
acts of His judgment to be based
on His omniscience and eternal
justice. His administration of
judgment will culminate in the
final meeting of mankind before
His throne of great majesty and
power, where records will be
examined and final rewards and
punishments will be
administered.
Eccl. 12:14; Matt 10:15;
25:31-46; Luke 11:31-32; Acts
10:42;17:31; Rom. 2:16;14:1011;
2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb.
9:27; 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev. 20:11-13.
XXIII. Hell.
36. The Scriptures reveal hell,
the final doom of ungodly
unbelievers, as a place of
weeping and gnashing of teeth,
unquenchable fire, outer
darkness, everlasting fire,
everlasting punishment, and
torments in the lake of fire.
Matt. 3:12; 8:12; 25:41,46; Luke
16:23; Rev. 20:15.
XXIV. Heaven.
37. The Scriptures reveal
heaven, the final home of every
righteous believer. Jesus said
it was His Father's house where
He went to prepare a place for
us with no more death, neither
sorrow, nor crying, neither any
more pain, with no more curse
and no night there; the Lamb is
the light thereof and His
servants shall serve Him.
John 14:2; Rev. 21:4,23; 22:3,5.
Note: It is not to be understood
that a dissenting understanding
on the subject of the millennium
shall be held to break or hinder
either church fellowship or
membership.
Article III. General Rules.
38. It is expected of those who
are admitted to our churches
that they should continue to
evidence their desire of
salvation:
First, by doing no harm-by
avoiding evil of every kind,
especially that which is most
generally practiced, such as
The taking of the name of God in
vain.
The profaning the day of the
Lord, either by doing ordinary
work therein or by buying or
selling.
Drunkenness or the
manufacturing, buying, selling,
or using intoxicating liquors,
unless for mechanical, chemical,
or medicinal purposes, or in any
way intentionally and knowingly
aiding others so to do.
The buying or selling of men,
women, or children, with an
intention to enslave them, or
holding them as slaves, or
claiming that it is right so to
do.
The giving or taking things on
usury, i.e., unlawful interest.
Fighting, quarreling, brawling,
brother going to law with
brother, returning evil for
evil, or railing for railing.
The buying or selling goods that
have not paid the duty.
Uncharitable or unprofitable
conversation.
Doing to others as we would not
they should do unto us. Doing
what we know is not for the
glory of God, as The putting on
of gold and costly apparel.
The wearing of apparel which
does not modestly and properly
clothe the person.
The taking such diversions as
cannot be used in the name of
the Lord Jesus.
The singing those songs or
reading those books which do not
tend to the knowledge or love of
God.
Softness and needless
self-indulgence. Laying up
treasure upon earth. Borrowing
without a probability of paying,
or taking up goods without a
probability of paying for them.
39. It is expected of all who
continue in these churches that
they should continue to evidence
their desire of salvation:
Second, by doing good; by being,
in every kind, merciful after
their power; as they have
opportunity, doing good of every
possible sort, and, as far as
possible, to all men.
To their bodies, of the ability
which God giveth, by giving food
to the hungry, by clothing the
naked, by visiting or helping
them that are sick or in prison.
To their souls, by instructing,
reproving, or exhorting all we
have any intercourse with;
trampling under foot that
enthusiastic doctrine that "we
are not to do good unless our
hearts be free to it."
By doing good, especially to
them that are of the household
of faith or groaning so to be;
employing them preferably to
others, buying one of another,
helping each other in business;
and so much the more because the
world will love its own and them
only.
By all possible diligence and
frugality, that the gospel be
not blamed. By running with
patience the race which is set
before them, denying themselves,
and taking up their cross daily;
submitting to bear the reproach
of Christ, to be as the filth
and offscouring of the world,
and looking that men should say
all manner of evil of them
falsely for the Lord's sake.
40. It is expected of all who
desire to continue in these
churches that they should
continue to evidence their
desire of salvation:
Thirdly, by attending upon all
the ordinances of God; such as:
The public worship of God.
The ministry of the Word either
read or expounded. The Supper of
the Lord.
Family and private prayer.
Searching the Scriptures.
Fasting or abstinence.
41. Further, by abstaining from
membership in secret societies.
We will on no account tolerate
our ministers and members
joining or holding fellowship
with secret societies, as, in
the judgment of the Allegheny
Wesleyan Methodist Connection
(Original Allegheny Conference),
it is inconsistent with our
duties to God to hold such
relations.
"Jesus answered him, I spake
openly to the world; I ever
taught in the synagogue, and in
the temple, whither the Jews
always resort; and in secret
have I said nothing" (John
18:20).
"Wherefore if they shall say
unto you, Behold, he is in the
desert; go not forth: behold, he
is in the secret chambers;
believe it not" (Matt. 24:26).
"But above all things, my
brethren, swear not, neither by
heaven, neither by the earth,
neither by any other oath: but
let your yea be yea; and your
nay, nay; lest ye fall into
condemnation" (James 5:12).
Also see Lev. 5:4-5; Isa. 29:15;
Matt. 5:34-36; John 3:19-20; 2
Cor. 4:1-2; 6:14-18; Eph.
5:11-12; 1 John 4:2-3.
Note: This rule on secret
societies does not prevent our
members from affiliating with
unions organized for the purpose
of protecting their industrial
interests where Christian
principles are not violated; and
where such principles are
violated, members shall be dealt
with because of such violation
and not because of membership in
the union.
42. Further, by abstaining from
the use of tobacco. In the
judgment of The Allegheny
Wesleyan Methodist Connection
(Original Allegheny Conference),
the use of tobacco is a great
evil, unbecoming a Christian, a
waste of the Lord's money, and a
defilement of the body, which
should be the temple of the Holy
Ghost. We do, therefore, most
earnestly require our members to
refrain from its cultivation,
manufacture, and sale, and to
abstain from its use in all
forms, for Jesus' sake.
We will not receive as members
into our churches nor will we
ordain or license to preach or
to exhort, persons who use,
cultivate, manufacture, or sell
tobacco. Using tobacco by a
member of a church or of the
conference after being received
from this date (June 28, 1927)
is a violation of the law of the
Church, and the offending party
should be dealt with according
to the Judiciary Rules.
43. Further, by observing the
teachings of Scripture regarding
marriage and divorce. We regard
adultery as the only justifiable
cause for divorce. In the case
of a divorce for such cause the
innocent party may marry again;
but the guilty party has by his
or her act forfeited membership
in the church. In the case of
divorce for other cause, neither
party shall be permitted to
marry again during the lifetime
of the other; and violation of
this law shall be punished by
expulsion from the church (Matt.
5:32; Mark 10:11-12). In the
carrying out of these
principles, guilt shall be
established in accordance with
judicial procedures set forth in
the Discipline.
44. These are the General Rules
of our churches, all of which we
are taught of God to observe,
even in His written Word, which
is the only rule and the
sufficient rule both of our
faith and practice, And all
these we know His Spirit writes
on truly awakened hearts. If
there be any among us who
observe them not, who habitually
break any of them, let it be
known unto them who watch over
that soul, as they who must give
account. We will admonish him of
the error of his ways. We will
bear with him for a season. But
if then he repent not, he hath
no more place among us; we have
delivered our own souls.
Article IV. Elementary
Principles.
45. A Christian church is a
society of believers in Jesus
Christ assembling in any one
place for religious worship, and
is of divine institution.
46. Christ is the only Head of
the church, and the Word of God
the only rule of faith and
conduct.
47. No person who loves the Lord
Jesus Christ, and obeys the
gospel of God our Saviour, ought
to be deprived of church
membership.
48. Every man has an inalienable
right to private judgment in
matters of religion, and an
equal right to express his
opinion in any way which will
not violate the laws of God or
the rights of his fellow men.
49. All church trials should be
conducted on gospel principles
only; and no minister or member
should be excommunicated except
for immorality, for propagation
of unchristian doctrines, or for
neglect of duties enjoined by
the Word of God.
50. The pastoral or ministerial
office and duties are of divine
appointment, and all elders in
the church of God are equal; but
ministers are forbidden to be
lords over God's heritage, or to
have dominion over the faith of
the saints.
51. The church has a right to
form and enforce such rules and
regulations only as are in
accordance with the Holy
Scriptures, and may be necessary
or have a tendency to carry into
effect the great system of
practical Christianity.
52. Whatever power may be
necessary to the formation of
rules and regulations is
inherent in the ministers and
members of the church; but so
much of that power may be
delegated from time to time,
upon a plan of representation,
as they may judge necessary and
proper.
53. It is the duty of all
ministers and members of the
church to maintain godliness and
oppose all moral evil.
54. It is obligatory upon
ministers of the gospel to be
faithful in the discharge of
their pastoral and ministerial
duties, and it is also
obligatory upon the members to
esteem ministers highly for
their works' sake, and to render
them a righteous compensation
for their labors.
Article V. Membership.
55. The privileges and
conditions of full membership in
the church are constitutional,
and changes therein may be made
only by constitutional
enactment. Nothing shall be
included in the membership
ritual that is contrary to the
following definitions,
conditions, and privileges of
membership.
56. The conditions of full
membership are:
1). Confession of a personal
experience in regeneration, and
a pledge to seek diligently
until sanctified wholly if that
experience has not been
attained.
2). Christian baptism.
3). Acceptance of the Articles
of Religion, the General Rules,
the Elementary Principles, and
the authority of the Discipline
in matters of church government.
4). A covenant to support the
church, to live in fellowship
with the members thereof, and to
seek God's glory in all things.
5). The approving vote of a
majority of the members of the
receiving church who are present
and voting, provided that when
objections are urged against the
reception of a member, it shall
require a vote of three-fourths
of those present and voting to
receive.
57. The rights of full
membership are:
1). The fellowship of the saints
and the encouragement,
admonition, and spiritual
guidance of the ministry.
2). The access to the sacraments
and ordinances of the church.
3). The right to vote and the
eligibility to hold any office
for which a person in full
membership is eligible, if not
under discipline.
4). The right to trial and
appeal if charged with failure
to maintain the conditions of
membership, with the specific
provision that joining another
religious body shall of itself
sever membership in the church.
58. Church membership may be
terminated only by one or more
of the following:
1). Voluntary withdrawal.
2). Joining another religious
body or a secret order.
3). Expulsion after proper trial
and conviction.
4). Persistent neglect of church
relationship as defined by the
Discipline.
Article VI. The Ministry.
59. The Connection shall from
time to time enact provisions
for the training, qualification,
and ordination of the ministry.
Every Allegheny Wesleyan
Methodist minister must be a
member of some Allegheny
Wesleyan Methodist Church. An
elder is a minister of the
gospel fully invested with all
the functions of the Christian
ministry.
60. The Constitutional rights of
ministers in The Allegheny
Wesleyan Methodist Connection
(Original Allegheny Conference),
if not under discipline, shall
include the following:
1). To preach the gospel and, in
the case of ordained elders, to
administer baptism and the
Lord's Supper, to perform all
parts of divine worship, and to
solemnize the rite of matrimony.
2). To be eligible, in the case
of ordained elders, for election
to any office in the church for
which elders are eligible.
3). To contract the pastoral
relationship with local
Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist
Churches subject to the other
provisions of this constitution.
(See paragraph 64, subparagraphs
1 and 2 below.)
4). To enjoy the use for
religious meetings of the church
building or buildings of the
pastoral charge to which he has
been appointed by the annual
conference.
5). To serve his assigned
pastoral charge without
interference by unauthorized
activities of another minister
of The Allegheny Wesleyan
Methodist Connection.
6). To have recourse, even if
under discipline, to a proper
court of jurisdiction in any
matters involving complaint
against his character or
ministerial conduct, and to
appeal the decision of such
court.
Article VII. Organization and
Government.
61. Pastoral Charges. The
members of the Connection shall
be grouped into local churches,
one or more of which shall
constitute a pastoral charge.
The following are the
constitutional rights of each
pastoral charge:
1). To receive and expel or
discontinue members subject to
the provisions of the
Discipline. This right vests
severally in each local church.
2). To call its own pastor,
subject to confirmation by the
Connection.
3). To grant licenses to preach
and exhort, and to take away the
same.
4). To recommend local preachers
and special workers to the
Connection.
5). To elect its own officers
and to remove the same for
cause. No pastor or other
official has any right to
appoint an officer or declare an
office vacant. This right
belongs to the church alone, and
vests severally in each local
church.
6). To elect trustees and
through such trustees to
supervise, control, and maintain
its property for the use and
benefit of the ministry and
members of the churches of The
Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist
Connection (Original Allegheny
Conference) and subject to its
regulations and appointments as
from time to time legislated and
declared. This right vests
severally in each local church.
7). To be represented in the
voting membership of the
Connection, if not under
discipline.
8). To have a recourse to a
proper court of jurisdiction in
any matters of controversy
between itself and the
Connection or any other agencies
of the Connection. This right
vests severally in each local
church.
62. The Connectional Annual
Conference. The voting
membership of the conference
shall include the following: all
elders on the stationed,
reserve, and superannuated
lists; all conference preachers
elected to elders' orders; all
conference preachers serving as
pastors of organized Allegheny
Wesleyan Methodist Churches; lay
delegates elected by organized
Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist
Churches as provided in the
Discipline. In addition, the
annual conference shall include
such nonvoting members as the
Discipline shall provide. The
principle of equal
representation of the ministry
and laity in the annual
conference shall be maintained.
63. In transacting the business
of the annual conference the
ministers and lay members shall
deliberate as one body; but on
the final vote on any question,
at the call of one-fourth of the
members, the house shall divide,
and the ministers and lay
members shall vote separately;
and it shall require a majority
vote of each branch to pass any
question upon which the division
has been called.
64. The constitutional rights of
the Connection shall include the
following:
1). The right to take charge of
all the ministers and churches
within its bounds and subject to
the right of the ministers and
churches to enter into pastoral
engagements for one year from
the next session of the annual
conference, or to contract the
pastoral relationship at any
time during the interval of the
sessions of the annual
conference when this does not
interrupt any arrangement which
was sanctioned by the annual
conference at its previous
session.
2a). To alter the agreement
entered into by any pastor and
charge when it deems this to be
for the best interest of the
charge or pastor involved or
when the general interest of the
Connection would be better
served by such a change,
provided that any alteration of
a previous arrangement between a
pastor and church shall be
separately reported and passed
by vote of the annual
conference, to be effective.
2b). The Connection's authority,
as outlined in 64 (2a), shall be
restricted in the following
respect: In the event a contract
between pastor and a church must
be interrupted in the interim of
annual sessions, the Conference
shall work through the local
Pulpit Supply Committee
concerning a successor and that
the said church shall have the
right of voting to extend a call
to such a successor.
3). To elect and ordain elders,
and to receive elders from other
denominations subject to the
restrictions of the Discipline.
4). To receive or decline local
preachers and special workers
recommended to it by the
pastoral charges within its
bounds.
5). To organize and receive
local churches within the
boundaries of its territory and
to fix the boundaries of its
circuits and stations.
6). To take such actions and
adopt such rules as it shall
judge necessary to promote the
interests and prosperity of the
church and to amend or rescind
the same, provided it shall not
contravene any provision of the
constitution or of the
Discipline, and provided further
that if three members of a local
church shall take exception to
its action on the ground that it
violates this restriction, they
may make an appeal therefrom
through the channels prescribed
by the Discipline.
7). To elect its own officers as
outlined in the Discipline, and
to dismiss them for cause.
8). To elect in the manner
prescribed by the Discipline its
own Board of Trustees and
through them to receive, hold,
encumber and dispose of all
Connection property within the
bounds of the Connection,
according to the provisions of
the Discipline and the laws of
the state. All properties held
by the Connection shall be held
in trust for the use and benefit
of the ministry and members of
its own local churches and
subject to its regulations and
appointments as from time to
time legislated and declared.
9). To have recourse to a proper
court of jurisdiction in any
matters of controversy between
itself and local or other units
or agencies.
Article VIII. Amendments to the
Constitution.
65.1). Upon the recommendation
of a two-thirds majority of all
the members of the General
Connectional Session who shall
be present and vote on a
proposed change of any matter
involving the constitution, and
upon concurrent recommendation
of a two-thirds majority of all
the members of the local
churches who shall be present
and vote on the same, it shall
become constitutional law.
2). Memorials and Revisals
pertaining to Statutory
provisions of the Discipline
[exclusive of paragraphs 12-72,
which are Constitutional and
amended in accordance with
paragraphs 65 (1) and 65 (3)]
shall be presented to the
General Connectional Session for
vote. Majority vote is necessary
for approval.
3). All amendments or revisals
of the constitution or statutory
laws shall be submitted over the
signature of three or more
individual members of any
Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist
Church(es), and directed to the
Chairman of the Connectional
Advisory Board sixty days prior
to the coming General
Connectional Session. The
General Connection shall have
power to establish a committee
to be named as Committee on
Memorials and Revisals and shall
consider all Memorials and
Revisals as pertaining to both
Constitutional and Statutory
law. |