The Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1) provides for the Conference to be the governing body of the Methodist Church, meeting annually (cl. 11) and for its powers and duties (cls 18 to 21).
100 Numbers. The Representative Session shall number 288 ministers and 288 lay persons. See cl. 14(1) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1).
101 Conference Secretariat. (1) Unless the Conference of the last preceding year otherwise determines the assistant secretaries and other officers of the Conference who are as such to be members of the Conference pursuant to clause 14(2)(iv) of the Deed of Union shall be the assistant secretary of the Conference, the record secretary, the assistant record secretary, the Journal secretary, the convener of the Committees of Scrutineers, the convener of the Memorials Committee and the precentor, who shall also act as correspondence secretary. For the committees referred to see S.O. 139, 138 respectively. (2) The assistant secretary shall be a minister. The other officers may be ministers or lay persons, but a lay person appointed to such an office shall exercise it in and be a member of the Representative Session of the Conference only, and in that event a minister shall at the same time be appointed (if required) to exercise that office in the Ministerial Session and shall be an additional member, ex officio, of that session.
102 Representatives of Connexional Bodies and of the Youth Conference. (1) The [. . .] connexional committees, funds and institutions to be represented in the Conference pursuant to clause 14(2)(x) of the Deed of Union and the representation of each shall be as follows, any representative not otherwise identified being appointed by the board or committee in question:
Body Representation (i) Methodist Council (a) Four Co-ordinating Secretaries and other persons to a total of six ministers and six lay persons. (b) The connexional Treasurer. (c) The secretary and one other member of the Faith and Order Committee. (d) The secretary of the Law and Polity Committee. (e) A ministerial member of the connexional Team responsible for initial ministerial training. (f) The chairman of the Council Executive. (g) One minister who is a commissioned chaplain. (h) Two ministers who are serving overseas under the direction of the council or whose ministry is based on overseas Districts and two lay persons who are serving overseas under the direction of the council or who are members in overseas Districts. (j) One further representative either from an overseas District or serving overseas as in (h), who shall be either a minister or a lay person as is required to maintain equality of seats as between ministers and lay persons under this head (j) taken together with clause 14(4)(b) of the Deed of Union. (k) Two ministers and four lay persons nominated by the Committee for Racial Justice. (ii) Methodist Homes for the Aged The chief executive. (iii) Methodist Publishing House The chairman of the board. (iv) NCH Action for Children Two persons. For cls. 14(2)(x) and 14(4)(b)of the Deed see Book II, Part I. (2) If a person appointed as a representative to the Conference under clause (1) of this Standing Order cannot attend then the responsible body shall appoint a substitute, a minister for a minister or a lay person for a lay person, failing which the Methodist Council shall nominate a substitute for election by the Conference under clause 17 of the Deed of Union. For cl. 17 of the Deed see Book II, Part l. (3) [. . .] (4) No appointment shall be made under clause (1) above if in consequence the distribution of seats under that clause as between ministers and lay persons will be altered unless the body concerned has given notice of that fact to the Secretary of the Conference before the sixth day of the Representative Session of the preceding Conference. (5) There shall be four lay members of the Conference elected at the preceding Methodist Youth Conference in accordance with Standing Order 250(5).
103 Conference-elected Representatives. (1) Eighteen ministers and eighteen lay persons shall be elected by the Conference for a period of three years. They shall retire in rotation of six ministers and six lay persons each year. Every Conference-elected representative shall hold office from the close of the Conference at which elected until the close of the Conference held in the third year after the date of election, and shall thereupon go out of office. He or she is not eligible for re- election at the Conference at the close of which he or she goes out of office, but is eligible at any later Conference. See cl. 6 of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1). (2) The election of Conference-elected representatives shall be held after nomination by members of the Conference. Each nomination shall be signed by four members. It shall contain the District and Circuit in which the person being nominated is stationed or is a member, current appointment or current offices within the church, age, occupation, and any other relevant information (up to fifteen words). No member shall nominate more than one person. In electing such representatives the Conference shall consider its own composition as a whole with regard to age, sex and ethnic origin. The election shall be by single transferable vote and the convener of the Committee of Scrutineers or a deputy shall be the returning officer. For the procedure for election by single transferable vote see S.O. 016A. (3) A person who will in another capacity be a member of the Conference of the next following year is not eligible for election as a Conference-elected representative. If after being elected as such a representative a person becomes entitled during the meeting of the Conference to be a member of the Conference of the next following year in another capacity his or her election as a Conference-elected representative shall, unless the Conference otherwise directs, be set aside and the Conference shall by redistribution of the votes for that person or in such other way as the Conference may determine choose one of the unsuccessful nominees (minister or lay person according to the category of the vacancy) to take his or her place. (4) Vacancies, whether casual or normal, occurring from time to time in the number of the Conference-elected representatives shall be filled up by election by the Conference, provided that in filling up a casual vacancy a minister shall be elected in place of a minister and a lay person in place of a lay person, and every person so elected shall hold office for the remainder only of the term for which the person was elected whose death, resignation, or disqualification has occasioned the vacancy. As to disqualification see cl. 14(5)(c) of the Deed of Union (Book II Part I). (5) A Conference-elected representative who is unable to attend the Conference shall so inform the Secretary of the Conference at least one week before the date fixed for the commencement of the Conference and the Methodist Council shall nominate a person to fill during that Conference only the vacancy thus created. The nomination shall be submitted to the Conference, which shall be requested to elect the person so nominated. (6) The Conference may also, at any time, appoint additional Conference-elected representatives to the next ensuing Conference when in its judgment such appointments are necessary. (7) Clauses (2) and (3) above shall apply to elections and appointments under clauses (4) and (6) above with such variations as may, in the judgment of the Conference, be required by the circumstances. As to the expenses of Conference-elected representatives see S.O. 141(1).
104 Representatives of Autonomous Conference. The other
autonomous Conferences by or on behalf of whom ministers and
lay persons shall be appointed to membership of the Conference
under clause 14(4)(a) of the Deed of Union, and the numbers to
be so appointed, shall be as follows:
Numbers of
The Conference or General Conference of: ministers and lay
persons
The Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas One each
The Methodist Church, Ghana One each
The Methodist Church, Hong Kong One each
The Methodist Church in Kenya One each
The Methodist Church, Upper Myanmar One each
The Methodist Church, Nigeria One each
The Methodist Church, Sierra Leone One each
The Methodist Church, Sri Lanka One each
The United Methodist Church One each
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe One each
For cl. 14(4)(a) of the Deed see Book II Part l.
105 District Allocations. (1) The representatives elected under clause 14(6) of the Deed of Union shall be elected by the Representative Session of each home Synod. For the election of district representatives see S.O. 417. (2) The following minima shall obtain: (i) Shetland: one lay person; (ii) Channel Islands: two lay persons; (iiA) Isle of Man: one minister and one lay person; (iii) Each other District except North Wales: four ministers and four lay persons. (3) The numbers to be elected shall be declared by the preceding Conference and shall, subject to clause (2) above, be in proportion to the number of members in each District involved, calculating the numbers of ministerial and lay representatives separately and allocating in order of magnitude of fractional claims the seats remaining after satisfaction of entitlements to whole numbers. (4) In declaring the allocations the Conference shall state which Districts will be entitled to additional representatives if places become available by reason of dual qualification, with the order of priority, arrived at in accordance with clause (3) above. (5) The provisions of this Standing Order prescribing the method of arriving at the allocations are directory only; the allocations declared by the Conference shall be binding notwithstanding any error in the calculations.
106 Delegations. (1) [Revoked] (2) The Conference may itself appoint any representatives whom the Conference or the Methodist Church is entitled to appoint to other autonomous conferences (as defined in the Deed of Union), and may appoint a committee or committees to bring nominations for that purpose, but in so far as any such representatives are in any year not appointed by the Conference itself the power and responsibility of appointing them is hereby delegated to and laid upon the Methodist Council. For the delegation to the Irish Conference see cl. 12 of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1). (3) Before each meeting of the World Methodist Council the Conference shall appoint its representatives as follows: (i) the President, Vice-President and Secretary of the Conference in the year in which the Council is to be held; (ii) the British officers of the Council and the chairman, the general secretary, the assistant secretary and the treasurer of the World Methodist Committee and the secretary for the exchange of pastorates; (iii) ministers and other persons in such numbers as the Conference shall determine but not so as to raise the membership beyond the total required by the constitution of the Council. For the World Methodist committee see S.O. 335. (4) The Conference shall from time to time decide whether any right of the Methodist Church or of any person or body on its behalf to appoint delegates or representatives to any assembly other than those specified in the above clauses shall be exercised. If so, the Conference may itself appoint the delegates or representatives and may appoint a committee to bring nominations for that purpose, but in so far as any such delegates or representatives are in any year not appointed by the Conference itself the power and responsibility of appointing them are hereby delegated to and laid upon the Methodist Council.
107 Representatives of other bodies. (1) The Conference shall decide annually, in the light of recommendations by the Methodist Council, whether to invite any, and if so which, other churches and Christian bodies (including other autonomous conferences) with which the church is in association, but which are not represented in the membership of the Conference, to appoint representatives to attend the next or next but one Conference in accordance with clause (2) below, and if so in what numbers.
(2) Any such representative shall be entitled to attend and speak in the Representative Session of the Conference but shall not be a member of the Conference.
110 Designation and Election. (1) Before the opening of the Conference the Secretary of the Conference shall in writing invite members to submit nominations, on a form provided, for the designation of the President and Vice-President in accordance with clauses 26 and 27 of the Deed of Union. (2) Each nomination shall be signed by five ministerial and five other members of the Representative Session of the Conference. No person shall sign more than one nomination for the designation of the President nor more than one nomination for the designation of the Vice-President. (3) Each nomination, in addition to specifying the name and District and Circuit in which the person nominated is stationed or is a member, shall contain a reasoned statement up to 100 words in support of the nomination. (4) Clause (3) above is directory only, and omission of or inaccuracy in any or all of the information given shall not invalidate an otherwise valid nomination. (5) Nomination papers shall be collected during the first three days of the Representative Session, unless the Conference otherwise determines, and shall be displayed for twenty four hours before a vote is taken. Before the vote is taken, the Secretary of the Conference shall seek from each nominee an assurance of willingness to serve, if elected, and shall report the outcome to the Conference. (6) Voting shall be by single transferable vote and the convener of the Committees of Scrutineers or a deputy shall be the returning officer. For the procedure for election by single transferable vote see S.O. 016A (7) Subject to clause (8) below the Conference shall at each annual meeting vote on the resolution that the President-designate be elected President, and similarly as to the Vice-President-designate. (8) If such a resolution is not carried, or if the President- designate or Vice-President-designate has died, or ceased to be qualified for the office, or is incapable of acting or unfit to act or unwilling to be elected, then the Conference shall by ballot elect some other qualified person to be the President or Vice-President, and clauses (1) to (6) above shall apply to that election as to a designation, with such variations in procedure as may, in the judgment of the Conference, be required by the circumstances.
111 President's Powers. (1) The President shall have power to assist at any Synod, if requested to do so by the Chairman or by a majority of the Superintendents in the District. (2) The President shall have the right if requested to do so to visit any Circuit, to inquire into its affairs, and to take any steps open to him or her which he or she judges beneficial. He or she may delegate his or her powers in this respect to some appropriate person including the Chairman of the District concerned to act on his or her behalf. If, under Section 02, a formal complaint is laid or a charge brought, no inquiry into the subject matter of the charge shall be pursued under this clause until the matter has been disposed of under that Section. (3) The President shall be informed of every case of the breakdown of the marriage of a minister and shall annually appoint one or more persons to be responsible, on behalf of the President, for ensuring in every such case by personal inquiry whether adequate support is being given to the parties involved, and particularly to the spouse and family, and for arranging for such pastoral and material help to be given as may be possible and appropriate in the circumstances. For other powers and duties of the President see the references in the Index.
112 Visits to Shetland. The President of the Conference, or if he or she be unavoidably prevented the ex-President, shall in every third year officially visit the Shetland District.
113 Support for the President and Vice-President. (1) The Methodist Council shall [. . .] ensure that the President and the Vice-President receive the support and assistance they need in the fulfilment of their duties, and that the financial provision made for that purpose is adequate. (2) Where the circuit stewards or comparable officers in the President's station consider that the appointment of a President's Assistant is necessary during his or her year of office, they shall immediately after his or her designation apply to the council. If the council agrees, an assistant shall be appointed for the connexional year beginning during the President's year of office. The cost of the appointment, including necessary accommodation, and the cost of having the duties of the President's station performed so far as is possible and necessary, whether with or without the appointment of an assistant, shall be [. . .] treated as expenses of the Presidency under Standing Order 361(3)(ii). (3) [. . .] The cost of secretarial or other services supplied to the President and Vice-President in the discharge of their duties, [. . .] shall be treated as expenses of their office under Standing Order 361(3)(ii). (4) [. . .]
114 Secretary. Subject to clause 31 of the Deed of Union the provisions of Standing Order 313 shall apply to the designation and appointment of the Secretary of the Conference as if holding an [. . .] office under that Standing Order.
115 Dual Election. The Conference may at any time, if it thinks fit, designate or elect the same person as both President and Secretary of the Conference.
116 Deputy Secretary. (1) If the Secretary of the Conference is temporarily unable to fulfil the duties of the office because of accident, illness, absence from the country, sabbatical leave or other cause then a deputy shall have authority to exercise all the functions of the Secretary, including those exercisable as managing trustee of general property. (2) A certificate signed by the President of the Conference shall be conclusive evidence of the existence and duration of any such temporary inability. (3) The assistant secretary of the Conference shall be the deputy, unless the President (as he or she shall have the power to do) appoints some other person. (4) Nothing in this Standing Order infringes upon the provisions in the Deed of Union for filling casual vacancies. See cl 31(c)-(h) of the Deed (Book II, Part 1).
116A Assistant Secretary. (1) The provisions of Standing Order 313 shall apply to the designation and appointment of the assistant secretary of the Conference as if holding an [. . .] office, under that Standing Order [. . .]. (2) The assistant secretary of the Conference shall also be the ecumenical officer of the Methodist Church.
117 Other Officers. All other officers of the Conference shall be elected by the Representative Session of the Conference of the last preceding year. The Secretary of the Conference shall be responsible for bringing nominations.
120 [Revoked]
121 Agenda. The Secretary of the Conference shall prepare the Conference Agenda. Secretaries [. . .] and conveners of committees reporting to the Conference shall be responsible for supplying their portions of the Agenda and for the costs involved.
122 Provisional Resolutions. (1) If the Conference judges that any resolution which it has adopted is of such significance that it ought to be considered by the Synods and confirmed before coming into effect it may declare that it shall be a provisional resolution. If the resolution is being dealt with as shared business under clause 24(c) of the Deed of Union, such a declaration by the Conference in either session shall be effective. (2) Notice shall be given in accordance with Standing Order 132 of any motion for such a declaration. Notice may be given before the adoption of the substantive resolution to which it relates, but the motion shall not be considered by the Conference until after such adoption. (3) Provisional resolutions [. . .] shall [. . .] be submitted [. . .] to the Synods of the home Districts and to the Law and Polity Committee, each of which may approve, disapprove or approve with amendments. [. . .] Provisional resolutions shall be submitted for confirmation to the next annual meeting of the Conference with a report of the opinions of the Synods and the Law and Polity Committee, and shall take effect only if then confirmed. As to amendments to provisional legislation see cl. (6) below. (4) The Conference may direct that the whole or some specified part of the text of any report leading to the adoption of a provisional resolution be submitted with it to the Synods. Unless it does so the Secretary of the Conference shall ensure that a brief summary of the arguments for and against the resolution and of the implications of adopting or declining it is prepared for the same purpose. The resolution and the above text or summary, as the case may be, shall be distributed by the district officers to all members of the synod before its autumn meeting. The Synod may express its judgment then or at its spring meeting, and in the latter event may arrange for such consultation within the District meanwhile as it thinks fit. (5) Provisional resolutions submitted to the Synods under clause (3) above shall be dealt with in their Representative Sessions and, if dealt with as shared business under clause 24 of the Deed of Union, also in their Ministerial Sessions. (6) On receiving the reports of the Synod and the Law and Polity Committee upon a provisional resolution the Conference may confirm it unamended or may decline to confirm it, or may confirm it with amendments, and in the last event may, by the procedure of clauses (1) and (2) above, declare that the resolution as so amended shall itself be a provisional resolution. For other resolutions of the Conference requiring confirmation see S.O. 401 (5). For the procedure for the adoption of special resolutions and deferred special resolutions see s. 2(1) of the 1976 Act (Vol. 1, pp. 8, 9) and S.O. 126.
123 Daily Record. A record of each day's proceedings shall be printed so as to be in the hands of the Conference [. . .] at the time appointed for its confirmation. Any suggested corrections must be submitted to the Conference for approval.
124 Publication of Proceedings. (1) Subject to clause (9)
below the general resolutions and other proceedings of the
Conference required by clause 37 of the Deed of Union to be
printed and published shall be issued as a book under the
title of The Minutes of the Annual Conference and Directory
of the Methodist Church' and the year of the Conference
concerned. For cl. 37 of the Deed see Book II, Part l.
(2) It shall be prepared for publication by the Secretary of
the Conference. (3) A brief summary of the transactions of the
Conference shall be published annually for wide circulation
in the Church. This summary shall highlight possible action
points for individuals and
local churches or questions that could be addressed at local
level. The cost of publication shall be a charge on the
Methodist Church Fund and arrangements for it shall be made by
the Methodist Council. Responsibility for the content of the
summary shall lie with the person or persons appointed to
edit it, who shall be responsible for taking the following
action:
(i) consulting the Secretary of the Conference on the factual
content; and (ii) ensuring that the master copy reaches the
Methodist Publishing House so that it can be distributed by
the end of August.
(4) [revoked]
(4A) Persons whose names and addresses are listed in the
Minutes of Conference shall be entitled to have printed any
degrees, distinctions or professional qualifications, held by
them, of which they have given particulars to the Secretary
of the Conference. In the case of degrees the name of the
awarding body shall be stated and the prefix 'Hon' shall be
added to all honorary degrees.
(5) Every minister in full work and probationer and every
deaconess and deacon in the active work shall possess a copy,
the cost of which shall be an expense recoverable, in the case
of persons in appointments within the control of the Church,
from the Circuits or other bodies responsible for provision
of their stipends.
(6) A copy shall be presented to every supernumerary, the cost
being defrayed by the Methodist Church Fund.
(7) A copy of the memorial service which incorporates that
section of the Minutes of Conference containing the obituary
notices of those ministers and probationers who have died
shall be presented to the nearest relative of every minister
or probationer whose obituary is printed in the issue of that
year, the cost being defrayed by the Methodist Church Fund.
(8) A copy shall be presented to any minister's widow or
widower or retired deaconess or deacon who makes application,
the cost being defrayed by the Methodist Church Fund. For
committee lists to be included in the Conference Agenda and
Minutes of Conference see S.O. 204. For inclusion of names of
ministers now in Union Churches or autonomous conferences see
S.O. 727. As to obituaries see S.O. 153.
As to the stations of deaconesses and deacons see S.O. 791(5).
(9) Those general resolutions of the Conference embodied in
Standing Orders shall be published with the Deed of Union,
the Model Trusts and other appropriate texts under the title
The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist
Church. Amendments or an amended edition shall be published
annually and prepared for publication by the Journal
secretary. Every minister in full work and probationer and
every deaconess and deacon in the active work shall possess a
copy and receive annually the amendments or amended edition,
the cost of which shall be an expense recoverable, in the
case of persons in appointments within the control of the
Church, from the Circuits or other bodies responsible for
provision of their stipends.
(10) Ministers without appointment shall each be entitled, if
they obtain the publications specified in clauses (1) and (9)
above, to recover the cost of one copy of each per annum from
the respective Circuits in which they reside.
125 Custody of Records, etc. (1) During the intervals of the Conference the Journal shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Conference. (2) The following records and documents shall also be preserved: (i) the Conference Agenda; (ii) the Conference Daily Record; (iii) reports of committees meeting during the Conference and resolutions of the Conference upon them; (iv) minutes of the Synods; (v) any legal opinion obtained by direction of the Conference; (vi) the Methodist Church Union Act 1929; (vii) the Methodist Church Act 1939; (viii) the Deed of Union; (ix) the Methodist Church Act 1976; (x) any deed poll executed in accordance with the provisions of section 24(3) of the 1976 Act or of paragraph 27(5) of the Model Trusts; (xi) any other document which the Conference may direct to be preserved. For the duty of the Chairmen of Districts to furnish copies of the Synod minutes for this purpose see S.O. 415(2). As to circuit and local records see S.O. 015. As to (x) see Vol. 1, p. 24 and Book II, Part 2.
126 Special Resolutions. (1) (a) Sub-clauses (b) to (d) below shall constitute the provisions prescribing the appropriate consultation , as defined by section 2(1) of the 1976 Act, required before the confirmation of special resolutions , as so defined. Special resolutions amending the Model Trusts shall also be submitted to the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scotland and Shetland Synods. (b) The Conference, after considering the advice of the Conference Law and Polity Sub-committee on the point, shall direct, as to each such special resolution, whether consultation shall be in accordance with sub-clause (c) or (d) below, and in default of such a direction sub-clause (d) shall apply (c) Special resolutions within this sub-clause shall be submitted for approval or disapproval to the Methodist Council unless moved on its behalf, in which case submission shall be to the Law and Polity Committee. (d) Special resolutions within this sub-clause shall be dealt with under clauses (3) and (4) of Standing Order 122 in the same way as provisional resolutions, except that there shall be no power to approve with amendments. For matters requiring special resolutions see ss. 5(2), (3) and 6(2)(b) of the 1976 Act (Vol. 1, p. 11) and para. 27(1) of the Model Trusts (Book II, Part 2). Note that cl. (6) of S.O. 122 is inapplicable to special resolutions, which must be confirmed without amendment. (2) The consultation required before the confirmation of deferred special resolutions', as defined in section 2(1) of the 1976 Act, shall take place as prescribed in clauses (3) to (7) below. The provisions of clauses (3) to (7) are directory only, and no failure to comply shall of itself invalidate such confirmation if reasonable steps have been taken by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Conference to procure compliance with clause (3) and to ensure that reports actually received from the bodies consulted, or a suitable summary, are placed before the confirming Conference. See Vol. 1, p. 8, and for matters requiring deferred special resolutions s. 5(2) of the 1976 Act (Vol. 1, p. 11) and para. 27(2) of the Model Trusts (Book II, Part 2). As to the validation of proceedings see also cl. 35(c) of the Deed of Union (Book II Part 1). (3) Deferred special resolutions shall be submitted to the Synod of every home and overseas District, to the Circuit Meeting of every Circuit, to the Church Council of every Local Church and to the connexional committees on Faith and Order and on Law and Polity. (4) Each Synod shall consider any deferred special resolution at one or both of its meetings during the year following the passing of the resolution. (5) Each Church Council and Circuit Meeting shall consider any such resolution in or before March in the second year following the passing of the resolution and shall report its approval or disapproval both to the spring Synod of the District and to the Conference. (6) Each Synod shall at its spring meeting in the second year following the passing of any such resolution consider the reports of the Church Councils and Circuit Meetings of the District under clause (5) above and shall, after giving its own final consideration to the resolution, report its approval or disapproval to the Conference. (7) The connexional committees on Faith and Order and on Law and Polity shall during either or both of the two years following the passing of any such resolution consider the resolution and they shall report their approval or disapproval to the Conference in the second such year.
127 [Revoked]
128 Extent of Legislation. General resolutions of the Conference have effect throughout the home Districts, unless the Conference otherwise directs. They do not have effect in overseas Districts except so far as directed by the Conference or, subject to any direction by the Conference, by the Methodist Council. See also S.O. 216 and Article 10 of the Constitution of the Methodist Missionary Society (Book IVB, Part 3). This Standing Order does not apply to amendments to the Deed of Union, which have effect throughout the Connexion.
129 Conference Statements. (1) It shall be open to the Methodist Council or any [. . .] committee which reports to the Conference to present [. . .] a document intended, if adopted by the Conference under this Standing Order, to be a considered Statement of the judgment of the Conference on some major issue or issues of faith and practice, and framed with a view to standing as such for some years. (2) The body producing such a document shall on first presenting it to the Conference move that it be dealt with as a draft Conference Statement and commended to the Connexion for study, discussion and response. (3) If that motion is adopted the Conference shall give directions as to the distribution of the draft, the form and duration of such study and discussion, the timing and consideration of any such response and the year in which the matter shall next be brought before Conference, being at earliest the next year but one. The Conference may at any time vary those directions. (4) (a) After such study and discussion and in the light of any such response the responsible body may present the document to the Conference for adoption in its original form or as revised. (b) When such a document is presented for adoption notice of any proposed amendments to the text must be given in the Agenda or an order paper before the business is reached, and the Conference shall then decide whether to dispose of any such amendments in the ordinary course or to refer them to a revision committee and adjourn the debate. (c) If the Conference decides to refer it shall appoint a revision committee consisting of a chairman nominated by the President, one representative of each District and three Conference-elected representatives. The committee, meeting if possible when the Conference is not in session, shall consider all the amendments and report with recommendations as to how each amendment shall be dealt with and as to any further changes consequential upon those recommendations. The proposer of each amendment and two representatives of the body presenting the document may speak to the amendment in the committee by such procedure as the committee may direct. The Conference shall deal with the proposed amendments by reference to the report of the committee, adopting or departing from its recommendations, which it may deal with as a whole or by sections. For the purposes of the rules of debate in Standing Order 131 the recommendations of the committee, as moved on its behalf, are at that stage substantive resolutions and any proposal to depart from them is an amendment. (d) All decisions of the Conference on amendments to the text of the documents, however dealt with, shall be taken by simple majority. After all such amendments have been disposed of any member of the Conference may move that the document be adopted as a Conference Statement. Such a resolution shall be carried only by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of the Conference present and voting. (5) No document adopted or approved or otherwise dealt with by the Conference in or after 1987 may be described as a Conference Statement or Declaration unless adopted under this Standing Order or provisions amending or replacing it. (6) A Conference Statement shall cease to have that status if the Conference by a simple majority so resolves or if a further Statement covering substantially the same issue or issues is duly adopted.
129A Revision Committee. If the Conference considers that any text presented for adoption or approval is likely to be the subject of a number of proposals for detailed amendments it may, if it thinks fit, without prior notice of motion resolve to follow the procedure set out in Standing Orders 129(4), sub-clauses (b) and (c), notwithstanding that the text is not being dealt with as a Conference Statement within Standing Order 129, and that procedure shall then apply so far as may be. Once the Conference has adopted that procedure any motion to refer any or all of the amendments to the body originally presenting the text shall not be put to the vote until the revision committee has reported.
130 Introductory 332
131 Rules of Debate 332
132 Notices of Motion 336
133 Memorials 337
134 District Resolutions 337
135 Closed Sessions 338
136 Conference Business Committee 338
137 Committees of Reference 339
138 Memorials Committee 340
139 Scrutineers 341
130 Introductory. The rules of debate comprising the clauses of Standing Order 131 shall regulate the proceedings of the Conference, except that since much of the business of the Conference may be conducted in the form of conversations clauses (3) and (9) to (14) shall apply only when a formal resolution is under consideration.
131 Rules of Debate. (1) Any member who wishes to speak shall catch the President's eye but shall not proceed further until called upon by the President. (2) Every speaker shall address the President. (3) No member may speak more than once on the same question without leave of the Conference, except in the exercise of a right of reply under clause (18) below. For this purpose an amendment or procedural motion raises a fresh question. As to procedural motions, see clauses (11) to (16) below. (4) (a) Subject to sub-clause (b) below every resolution or amendment shall be circulated beforehand in writing in the Agenda, or by other form of official report, or by notice of motion. (b) Sub-clause (a) does not apply: (i) to procedural motions under clause (11) below or resolutions to extend sittings of the Conference under Standing Order 144(4); (ii) to resolutions submitted by the Law and Polity Sub- committee under clause (25) below; (iii) to business taken in closed session; (iv) to further amendments moved after a resolution has already been amended; (v) where the Conference has dispensed with circulation under clause (19) (ii) below or Standing Order 132(3); (vi) if the President judges it necessary for the effective conclusion of a debate to admit a resolution or amendment without prior notice. Under S.O. 129(4)(b) or 129A a revision committee may be appointed without prior notice.
(c) Where sub-clause (b) applies, except by virtue of head (i), the resolution or amendment shall be produced in writing when proposed, and immediately handed to the Secretary. (5) Every resolution or amendment, except a resolution moved on behalf of a body authorised to report to the Conference, requires to be seconded in order to be submitted to the Conference. With the same exception, all movers and seconders of resolutions or amendments must be members of the Conference. (6) Persons presenting reports may speak to the resolutions in them and may give information on any development of major importance which has arisen since publication. Otherwise reports circulated in the Agenda or otherwise shall be presented without introductory speeches. (7) When a resolution or amendment has been duly submitted it may not be withdrawn without the leave of the Conference. (8) The seconder of a resolution or amendment may reserve the right to speak. (9) (a) Any amendment of the terms of a resolution may be proposed if it is relevant to the subject- matter of the resolution, unless the same result could be achieved by the rejection of the resolution. (b) If an amendment is carried the resolution as amended becomes the substantive motion, and as such may itself be amended under this clause. (c) When an amendment has been duly submitted no other amendment may be moved until it has been disposed of, but any member may give notice of a proposed amendment and may state whether it is to be moved in any event or if not in what circumstances. (10) A resolution may be disposed of by adoption (with or without amendment), rejection or withdrawal. Until it has been so disposed of no other resolution may be submitted except a procedural motion. (11) The following are procedural motions, which may be adopted by the Conference at any time: (i) that the vote be now taken; (ii) that the question be not put; (iii) that the question be referred to the Methodist Council or a committee; (iv) that the debate be adjourned; (v) that the Conference adjourn. (12) If a resolution and amendment are before the Conference: (i) a motion that the vote be now taken relates only to the amendment; (ii) a motion that the question be referred or that the debate be adjourned relates to both;
(iii) a person moving that the question be not put must state whether that motion relates to both or only to the amendment. (13) A motion that the vote be now taken requires a majority of two thirds and shall be voted upon without discussion, but the President shall not be bound to put it to the vote if of the opinion that there has not been adequate opportunity for necessary debate. (14) A motion that the question be not put may be discussed concurrently with the question to which it relates. (15) A motion that the debate be adjourned may specify the time of resumption or be a motion for adjournment to a time to be resolved upon later. (16) A motion for the adjournment of the Conference shall specify the time of resumption. (17) (a) Subject to any Standing Order relating specifically to particular forms of report a report contained in the Agenda or in a document supplemental to the Agenda shall be dealt with as a whole or as to each part by a resolution in one of the following forms: (i) that it be referred back to the reporting body or referred to the Methodist Council or a committee; (ii) that it be received; (iii) that it be adopted. As to particular forms of report, see e.g. S.O. 129, 129A, 133. (b) A resolution in any of these forms may contain or be accompanied by directions as to the publication or study of or any other action in relation to the report or (where appropriate) that no action be taken. (c) Except as provided in (d) below or expressed in the resolution itself, no such resolution imports any endorsement by the Conference of any statement, opinion or recommendation in the report. (d) By adopting a report the Conference endorses its recommendations or conclusions but not (without so stating) any reasons given for them. (e) The Conference may qualify or limit any such adoption but shall not alter the text of any report except: (i) to rectify any manifest factual error; or (ii) to amend the terms of any passage which it is asked to endorse (whether expressly or by the operation of (d) above). (f) The Conference may on a single motion deal en bloc with more than one resolution attached to a report, or with the resolutions to more than one report, but whenever: (i) an amendment is proposed to any such resolution; or
(ii) there is a procedural motion under clause (11) above which in its original form or by a proposed amendment relates to less than all the matters before the Conference; any matters which require to be put separately shall be so put. (18) (a) When a vote falls to be taken, whether or not by the adoption of a motion under clause (11)(i) above, the following persons have a right to speak, and if more than one in the following order: (i) the seconder of the resolution or amendment to be put, if he or she has reserved the right to speak and has not already exercised that right; (ii) the mover of the substantive resolution, unless the question to be put is an amendment to which he or she has already spoken; (iii) if the question to be put is an amendment, the mover of the amendment. (b) The person entitled to speak last under sub-clause (a) above may deal only with questions or arguments put during the debate. (c) Before putting the question the President shall call the Conference to order and read the resolution or amendment to be put. Except on a point of order no member shall speak after the question has been put until the vote has been taken. (19) No decision of the current meeting of the Conference may be rescinded except by substantive resolution, and no such resolution shall be adopted unless either: (i) it is submitted on behalf of the Law and Polity Sub-Committee under clause (25) below; or (ii) it is moved upon notice in writing previously given and officially circulated (unless by a majority of two thirds the Conference has dispensed with notice) and obtains a majority of two thirds. (20) A resolution to suspend a rule of debate or other Standing Order requires a majority of two thirds, provided that the President, if of the opinion that such a resolution is of such significance that it ought to be considered by the Synods and confirmed before coming into effect, shall so inform the Conference and put to the Conference without discussion the motion that the resolution be declared to be a provisional resolution under Standing Order 122, and if that motion is adopted this clause shall no longer apply to that resolution. (21) The President shall call to order any speaker who departs from the question or violates the courtesies of debate. (22) Any member may raise a point of order on the ground that the rules of debate or regulations of the Conference have been violated. The speaker then addressing the Conference shall give way until the point of order has been decided. The President decides all questions of order.
(23) (a) The following interventions in the ordinary course of business may occur, but only for substantial cause and by leave of the President: (i) a member who thinks himself or herself misrepresented may interrupt the speaker to correct the misrepresentation; (ii) a member may interrupt the speaker or intervene at the end of a speech to ask of the speaker a question of fact immediately connected with what is being or has been said; (iii) brief information on uncontested matters of fact germane to the business of the Conference may be given between speeches or between items of business. (b) A member permitted to intervene under this clause must not enter into argument nor speak to the merits of the question. (24) Questions which relate to the rights and privileges of the Conference or of individual members, or to the order of business, have precedence. (25) The Conference may at any time entertain without notice any resolution moved on behalf of the Conference Sub- Committee of the Committee on Methodist Law and Polity which arises out of an earlier resolution of the current meeting of the Conference and which seeks: (i) to make consequential provisions; or (ii) to amend the earlier resolution for the purpose only of clarification, or reconciliation with the requirements of the law or of Methodist polity, or the avoidance of unintended results, or the better achievement of the intention of the Conference, or any other purpose considered by the Conference to be within the scope of the functions of the Law and Polity Committee; or (iii) to rescind the earlier resolution on the ground of illegality, irregularity or impossibility or any other ground considered by the Conference to be within the scope of the above functions. For the appointment and functions of the sub-committee see S.O. 338(6). (26) The response of the Conference shall not normally be conveyed by clapping.
132 Notices of Motion. (1) Any two members may upon notice of motion complying with this Standing Order bring before the Conference any lawful resolution within the competence of the Conference. (2) Only on matters of urgency, so judged by the President, shall notices of motion in the Representative Session be accepted after the close of business on the fourth day of the session, except that a notice of motion amending a resolution circulated or materially altered on or after the first day of the session shall be accepted if lodged before the close of business on the day before the resolution is to be dealt with. (3) Resolutions arising from notices of motion shall not without the leave of the Conference be moved until they have been printed and circulated.
133 Memorials. (1) The Conference may adopt, with or without amendment, or reject any reply proposed by the Memorials Committee or (if Standing Order 134(4) applies) by its convener. For the committee see S.O. 138. (2) In relation to any one or more memorials to which replies have been proposed by the committee any two members of the Conference may, on notice of motion submitted on the first day of the relevant session, move that instead of dealing with the committee's proposed reply in the ordinary course of business the Conference shall debate a resolution based on the relevant memorials, and if such a motion is carried the President, Vice-President and Secretary of the Conference shall make arrangements accordingly. See also S.O. 138(5). (3) If there is a debate pursuant to Standing Order 138(5) or clause (2) above any resolution or amended resolution then adopted by the Conference is its reply to the relevant memorials. (4) Subject to clause (5) below the Conference shall reply to every memorial, although it is open to the Conference as its interim reply to refer the memorial to the Methodist Council or a committee for consideration and report. Rejection of a proposal that a memorial be declined is not itself a reply. It is the responsibility of the convener of the committee to ensure that if the Conference rejects the proposed reply of the committee under clause (1) above or fails to adopt any resolution under clause (3) above consideration of the matter is not closed until a reply has been adopted. For the convener of the committee see S.O. 101(1). (5) The committee may recommend that the Conference instead of replying to a memorial refer the questions raised to Synods and/or to Circuit Meetings for consideration or action without itself expressing a judgment on the substance of the issue. In such a case, the committee shall recommend whether Synods and Circuit Meetings are to report their conclusions to the Conference and, if so, a timetable for such report.
134 District Resolutions. (1) [. . .] Resolutions and reports submitted under Standing Order 419(2) in due time shall be printed in the Agenda. If a report is included the cost of printing shall be a charge on the District. (2) [. . .]
(3) Such resolutions shall be moved and seconded in the Conference by representatives of the District and shall, subject to any recommendation from the business committee, be debated. (4) If it appears likely to the business committee that the Conference will not, in the time available, be able to debate all such resolutions adequately, it may recommend to the Conference that one or more of such resolutions be dealt with instead as memorials. If the Conference adopts such a recommendation, the convener of the Memorials Committee shall, after such consultation as he or she thinks appropriate, frame a proposed reply, which shall be printed for the Conference in an order paper. For the Memorials Committee see S.O. 138 and for its convener S.O. 101(1).
135 Closed Sessions. (1) The Conference may at any time meet in closed session and shall do so when hearing any appeal arising out of any charge within Section 02. (2) [Revoked] (3) During any closed session other than one for the hearing of an appeal within Section 02 no-one may be present except members of the Conference entitled to vote on the business under consideration and any other persons or classes of persons whom the Conference may for the time being resolve to admit. As to closed sessions for the hearing of appeals see S.O. 024A(4), 027A(6) and 028A.
136 Conference Business Committee (1) The Methodist Council shall appoint annually a business committee for the Representative Session of the ensuing Conference, consisting of an ex-President or ex-Vice-President who is a member of the Conference as chairman and six other voting members, all of whom shall be Conference-elected or synod-elected members of the Conference and one of whom at least shall be in each of those categories. The Secretary of the Conference shall be the convener but without a vote and the connexional Press Officer shall attend as consultant when required. (2) The committee shall meet before and during the sessions of the Conference as may be necessary and shall have the following responsibilities: (i) to draw up the order of business in the Conference and to allocate time to each item; (ii) to recommend to the Conference which notices of motion should be debated in the Conference and at what time, and which should be dealt with in some other way, and for what reason; (iii) to review at the end of each day the business allocated to the day but not completed and to advise the Conference how it should be dealt with; (iv) to advise the Conference on the cost and work implications of any proposal before the Conference in a notice of motion. (2A) (a) The committee shall consider which resolutions to which this clause applies are unlikely to become provisional resolutions or to give rise to opposition or debate or to require amendment other than within sub-clause (e) below. It shall, no later than the opening of the Representative Session, table a list of such resolutions with notice of its intention to invite the Conference in due course to adopt all such resolutions en bloc. (b) This clause applies to all resolutions in the Agenda or otherwise circulated before the opening of the Conference except those for the confirmation of provisional resolutions, or for the adoption or confirmation of special resolutions under Standing Order 126, and except resolutions relating to Conference Statements under Standing Order 129. (c) Subject to sub-clause (e) below any resolution which becomes the subject of an amending notice of motion shall be removed from the list. By giving notice to the Secretary of the Conference in writing before the close of business on the third day of the Representative Session, any six members of the Conference may require any item or items to be removed from the list. The committee itself shall be free at any time before the resolutions are moved to remove any item or items from the list. (d) The resolutions remaining in the list shall not earlier than the fourth day of the Representative Session be moved en bloc and voted upon without discussion. (e) A need to make minor corrections to the text of any resolution on the list shall not necessitate its removal, and it may be moved under sub-clause (d) above as corrected. The committee shall decide all questions as to the application of this sub-clause. (2B) The committee may recommend that the Conference deal with any business by referring the questions raised to Synods and/or to Circuit Meetings for consideration or action without itself expressing a judgment on the substance of the issue. In such a case, the committee shall recommend whether Synods and Circuit Meetings are to report their conclusions to the Conference and, if so, a timetable for such reports. (3) All recommendations of the committee shall be reported daily to the Conference for approval or amendment. The President shall have the power to limit the length of any debate on procedural questions arising from the committee's report.
137 Committees of Reference (1) There shall be for each session of the Conference a Committee of Reference, consisting of one or more sections each composed of nine members of that session appointed by the Methodist Council, each including a convener. (2) There may be referred to the committee for consideration and report any matters which the relevant session of Conference or, if arising before that session meets, the President may think fit. (3) Unless the Conference or the President, as the case may be, otherwise directs in making a reference, it shall be dealt with by any one section of the committee.
138 Memorials Committee. (1) The Methodist Council shall annually appoint a committee to consider all memorials from Synods and Circuit Meetings and make a recommendation on each to the Conference. See S.O.s 133, 419, 491(2) and 516. (2) In addition to the convener appointed by the preceding Conference the Committee shall consist of: (i) the ex-President, who shall be chairman; (ii) the President-designate, Vice-President-designate and Secretary of the Conference; (iii) the four Co-ordinating Secretaries or their representatives; (iv) one district Chairman, and one synod secretary, each appointed for a period of three years; (v) three ministers and ten other persons, each nominated by a district Policy Committee according to a rota. (3) Each member nominated by a district Policy Committee shall serve for a period of three years and shall in the first year of appointment be an elected representative of the District to the ensuing Conference. If any such member should cease to be a church member or minister in the District or should otherwise be unable to complete the full term of membership, the district Policy Committee shall nominate a substitute for the remainder of the term. [. . .] (4) The convener may invite other persons to attend the meeting of the committee in order to give information or otherwise assist the committee. Persons [. . .] invited under this clause have no vote. (5) The committee may, instead of proposing answers to particular memorials which it considers to be of special importance, recommend to the President, Vice-President and Secretary of the Conference that arrangements be made for a resolution or resolutions based on one or more of them to be moved and debated in the Conference. See also S.O. 133(2). (6) The convener of the Memorials Committee shall divide the memorials into two lists, according to their subjects, (i) for the Representative Session and (ii) for both sessions of the Conference. In case of doubt as to the list to which a subject may belong the decision shall rest with the President. Memorials from Synods must be sent immediately after the spring Synod so as to reach the convener by the Wednesday after the second Sunday in May (S.O. 419). Memorials from Circuit Meetings must reach the convener by the 5th April (S.O. 516(4)). As to which memorials should be considered by both sessions of the Conference see cl. 24 (c) and (d) of the Deed of Union (Book II, part 1). (7) The committee shall meet in London shortly before the meeting of the Conference and its report shall, if possible, be printed for circulation in the Conference. If, however, in any particular year it should seem advisable to the convener of the committee and the Secretary of the Conference the committee may meet in the Conference town on the first day of the Conference. (8) In respect of memorials remitted by the Conference for consideration and report by the Methodist Council or other committees the reports shall be included in the Agenda of the next following Conference unless the Conference specifies some other year.
139 Scrutineers. Each session of the Conference shall appoint from among its own voting members a Committee of Scrutineers of not less than twenty persons to count and record the votes of the Conference as arranged by the convener of the committees. The convener is appointed by the preceding Conference (S.O. 101)
140 Conference Arrangements Committee. The District or Districts entertaining the Conference shall appoint a committee which, in consultation with the Secretary of the Conference, shall be responsible for all arrangements for the accommodation of the Conference, the Methodist Council and conference committees [. . .], hospitality for its members, public services and meetings in connection with the Conference and all financial and other matters relating thereto, except as provided in Standing Orders 141, 142 and 146.
141 Expenses of Representatives. (1) Representatives elected by the Conference (whether or not pursuant to Standing Order 103) may receive the amount of their travelling expenses from the Methodist Church Fund [. . .]. (2) Each Synod shall be responsible for meeting the travelling expenses to and from the Conference, the local travelling expenses during the Conference and the cost of lunches of the Chairman of the District and of all representatives elected by the Synod. (3) The travelling expenses to and from the Conference, the local travelling expenses during the Conference and the cost of lunches of the representatives of connexional bodies specified in Standing Order 102 shall in each case be met by the funds administered by the body concerned, or if none by the Methodist Church Fund.
142 Charges. (1) The Methodist Council and each committee or institution requiring accommodation on the Conference premises shall contribute for the same to the Conference expenses fund. (2) The Methodist Council and each, committee or institution holding a public meeting in connection with the Conference shall he responsible for the expenses involved and shall, in addition, contribute to the Conference expenses fund a quota of the amount received by way of collections. The quota shall be determined by the Conference Arrangements Committee.
144 [. . .]
145 Publicity and Publications. (1) Any member of the Conference reporting the public proceedings of the Conference for the news media shall be personally responsible to the Conference for the information given. [145(2)]
(2) No pamphlets, advertisements or other literature shall be distributed within the Conference hall unless required by the business of the Conference. Letters shall be distributed only if they are addressed to Conference members by name, and the Conference Arrangements Committee shall not be obliged to distribute envelopes, even if addressed by name, which they have reason to believe are not bona fide personal mail. In any case of uncertainty the decision of the President shall be final.
146 Printing Expenses. The cost of producing the Daily Record, the Conference Service, leaflets for the opening of the Conference and the reception into full connexion of ordinands, scrutineers' lists and voting papers shall be a charge on the Methodist Church Fund. For the Daily Record see S.O. 123. See also S.O. 361(3)(i),(ii) and (ix).
147 [. . .]
150 Business Committee. (1) There shall be a business committee for the Ministerial Session of the Conference. (2) The committee shall consist of: (i) the ex-President; (ii) three other ministers appointed by the Conference in its Ministerial Session to serve for three years, one retiring each year, with power for the Methodist Council to fill casual vacancies. (3) The Secretary of the Conference shall be the convener, but without a vote. (4) The committee shall meet before and during the sessions of the Conference as may be necessary and shall have the following responsibilities: (i) to draw up the order of business in the Conference and to allocate time to each item; (ii) to recommend topics for pastoral consideration or conversation under clause 23(f) of the Deed of Union and subjects in the Agenda of the Representative Session or other subjects within the jurisdiction of the Conference for discussion under clause 23(m) of the Deed of Union, and in that connection, where appropriate, to frame resolutions for debate; (iii) to review at the end of each day the business allocated to the day but not completed and to advise the Conference how it should be dealt with.
151 Permission to Attend the Conference. A minister who is not a member of a Synod and who wishes to attend the Ministerial Session of the Conference under clause 15(a)(ii) of the Deed of Union requires the permission of the President in order to do so. See Cl. 15(a)(ii) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part I).
153 Obituaries. (1) On the first day of the Ministerial Session of the Conference and after the address of the President there shall be held a service of commemoration and thanksgiving for those ministers and probationers who have died since the last preceding Conference.
(2) The names of the deceased ministers and probationers shall be read by the Secretary of the Conference during the service. (3) The Secretary of the Conference shall each year receive from the secretaries of the Synods the obituaries of deceased ministers and probationers which have been approved by the spring Synods, and from circuit Superintendents those of ministers and probationers who have died subsequently. The Secretary of the Conference shall, if necessary, revise the obituaries and shall include them in the Agenda. They shall be presented to the Conference in its Ministerial Session for adoption, with any further revision accepted by the Conference. (4) Obituaries received too late for inclusion in the Minutes for the current year shall appear in the Agenda of the succeeding year. For procedure in the Districts see S.O. 487.
154 Annual Inquiry. In The Ministerial Session, when inquiry is made into the character and discipline of ministers and probationers, the names of the Districts shall be called one by one and the respective Chairmen shall answer on behalf of their Districts. The right of any member of the Conference to bring a charge under Section 02 shall not be affected by the operation of this Standing Order.
160 Summons. In case of great emergency, so judged by the President, he or she may summon an additional meeting or meetings of the Conference in the interval between the conclusion of its ordinary meeting and the assembling of the next ensuing Conference.
161 Place and Date. Any such additional meeting shall be held at such place and shall commence its sittings on such date as the President may, after consulting the Vice-President and the Secretary of the Conference, direct.
162 Constitution. For the purposes of such an additional meeting the Conference shall consist of those persons who were members of the Conference at its last preceding ordinary meeting.
163 Status. Any such additional meeting shall, so far as may be, have effect and be conducted as an adjourned meeting of the last preceding Conference for all the purposes of the Deed of Union and Standing Orders. See, for example, cl. 3 of the Deed (Book II, Part 1) as to the duration of office of the President, etc., and S.O. 131 (15) as to rescission of resolutions.
170 Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association. (1) The Conference shall annually appoint officers of the Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association in accordance with the Association's rules, namely: (i) the President-elect; (ii) if the last President-elect was unable to take up office, the President; (iii) the Senior Honorary Secretary; (iv) two other Honorary Secretaries; (v) the Honorary Treasurer. (2) No person shall be proposed for appointment under head (i), (iii), (iv) or (v) of clause (1) above unless nominated by the Aggregate Meeting of the Association or by such other body as may be specified in its rules, or under head (ii) unless serving as acting President in accordance with those rules. (3) The annual report and accounts of the Association shall be presented to the Conference and their adoption moved by a representative of the Association. (4) The Conference shall annually appoint two representatives to the General Committee of the Association and the Methodist Council shall bring nominations for such appointment. (5) Standing Order 131 shall apply to any debate upon the motions for the adoption of the report and accounts referred to in clause (3) above but except as expressly provided in this Standing Order the Conference shall have no authority in the affairs of the Association.