2016 Wesleyan Discipline:11. Church Discipline Hearing Notices and Postponements

11. Notices and Postponements

5042. All notices and citations to appear shall be given as directed by the chair of the judicatory and shall be in writing, in the name of the official body having jurisdiction ordering the hearing, and signed by the chair. An official notice of the date, time and place of the hearing (the names of the persons appointed to the judicatory), together with an official copy of the accusation and specifications, and a citation to appear shall be delivered to the accused; this shall be done at least thirty days before the hearing unless both the manager and the accused agree to a shorter period. No subsequent changes in such charges and specifications shall be permitted. Notices to appear shall be given to such witnesses as either party may name, and shall be served at least thirty days before the hearing. Members or ministers of The Wesleyan Church shall be cited to appear, but others may only be requested to appear (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5038). An official notice of the names of the persons appointed to the judicatory shall be delivered to the accused at least thirty days before the hearing.

5044. The manager or the accused shall have the right to petition the chair of the judicatory for a postponement of the hearing date, and the chair may grant such a petition if deemed essential for proper preparation or other necessary reasons, provided that the other party shall be notified before the postponement is granted. A postponement shall not be granted for more than fifteen days, except for extenuating circumstances.