| Admin history: |
At the foundation of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 it was established that discipline and pastoral matters would remain ultimately the responsibility of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. However, the society was permitted in urgent cases to recall a missionary for their behaviour to be reviewed by the Committee of Discipline and, if found wanting, the individual could be suspended. Only Conference could dismiss an ordained minister.
In practice misconduct in the mission field was a matter for the district synod under the supervision of the Superintendent (later Chairman) who had the power to impose sanctions, in an emergency even suspension, until a hearing could be arranged. In most instances, all disciplinary matters would have to be referred to the Committee of Discipline in London (which answered to Conference) for confirmation or revision.
The committee was originally composed of preachers from the London Districts (the same group of individuals who sat on the Candidates Committee). However, by 1885 this had become unwieldy and the composition of the committee was reformed to comprise ministerial officers and members of the 'Missionary Committee' [General Committee of WMMS] with the addition of three ministers from each of the London Districts (who were to be appointed annually by Wesleyan Methodist Conference). At the Conference of 1918 the committee was renamed the Pastoral Committee, to reflect that its remit did not just include matters of discipline but also broader issues of welfare. |
At the foundation of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 it was established that discipline and pastoral matters would remain ultimately the responsibility of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. However, the society was permitted in urgent cases to recall a missionary for their behaviour to be reviewed by the Committee of Discipline and, if found wanting, the individual could be suspended. Only Conference could dismiss an ordained minister.
In practice misconduct in the mission field was a matter for the district synod under the ... View more |
