Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1920 — CHURCH MERGER WINS APPROVAL OF METHODISTS [ARTICLE]

CHURCH MERGER WINS APPROVAL OF METHODISTS

Louisville, Ky., Jan. 20. —Recommendations of the joint commission of the Methodist Episcopal churches, North and South, that the two branches again be reunited were unanimously adopted late today by the convention here of the 100 or more bishops and laymen of both churches. The merger plan provided that the unified churches be named the Methodist church. Supreme Board. The recommendations of the commission will be submitted to the general conference for final decision. A committee of ten was appointed to prepare the recommendations for submission to the conferonce. ' ” Under the new constitution of the Methodist church, there would be a supreme general conference composed of seven regional conferences. Six of these would consist of white members averaging about one million members each and the other would embrace the negro membership of 393,000. v The general conference which has governed the churches since their division in 1846 after a disagreement ofer the slavery question, will lose some of its power. General Council.

Regional ,and local conferences would have entire control of their respective regions except in general matters. Bishops will be chosen by local conferences, subject to con-, firmation by the general conference. The merger recommendations provide that a general council shall be composed of 800 members chosen by the regional conference in proportion to the membership. It will meet every four years.