2016 Wesleyan Discipline:District Conference: Procedure

2. Procedure

1126. Rights. The rights of the district conference are declared in the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1-10; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:325; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:327:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:350:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:3c, e; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2, 4, 6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:385).

1129. Quorum. A majority of all the ministerial voting members and lay delegates of the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1083-1086) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

1132. Delegates. Once a delegate has been seated at the annual district conference, an alternate delegate cannot thereafter be seated in place of the previously seated delegate.

1135. Voting (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:317). The ministerial and lay members of the district conference shall deliberate and transact business as one body. However, on the final vote on any question, one-fourth of the members may call for a divided vote. The house shall then be divided, and the ministerial and lay members shall vote separately, with a majority vote of each branch required to pass the question on which the division has been called.

1138. Rules of Order. District conference business shall be conducted according to the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except when otherwise ordered by The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1156).

1141. Suspension of Rules. The district conference may by two-thirds vote suspend any rules of order for a certain item of business, provided such a suspension does not contravene The Discipline or other General Conference legislation.

1144. Appeals on Questions of Order. The chair shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the district conference body. If any matter is ruled out of order by the chair on the basis that it is unconstitutional or in violation of The Discipline, the decision of the chair may be appealed by any member of the district conference. If the appeal is seconded, the chair shall clearly state the question and the reasons for the decision, and the one moving the appeal shall state the reasons for the appeal. The vote shall then be taken without debate. A two-thirds vote of the district conference, present and voting, shall be required to overrule the decision of the chair. If the chair is overruled, the action of the district conference shall be suspended until a ruling shall be given by the General Superintendent as provided for in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2064.

1147. Legislation. Rules and resolutions adopted by a district conference shall continue in force until amended or rescinded, unless such actions are by nature temporary or unless an action of the district conference is declared unconstitutional or contrary to The Discipline as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2064 and 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:2 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:6).