ARTICLE I. The Association shall be called Southwestern District Missionary Baptist Association, known as an advisory council.
ARTICLE II. It shall be composed of such persons as have been duly elected by such church as may belong to this union to represent them in body.
ARTICLE III.The messengers representing the different churches shall at the opening of the Association present their letters of correspondence which shall state their appointment as messengers, together with the number of members in fellowship, the number baptized, received by letter, dismissed by letter, excommunicated, restored and dead during the year.
ARTICLE IV.Every church belonging to this body shall be entitled to three messengers.
ARTICLE V. Churches of this union failing to represent themselves at one Association will be expected to state reasons for their failure at the next Association, and if any church fails for two consecutive meetings, the Association shall send a committee to inquire into their state.
ARTICLE VI.New churches may be admitted into this union by signifying their wish by messenger and letter, provided they be deemed orthodox, and are willing to walk in fellowship with us.
ARTICLE VII.The Association shall have a Moderator and Clerk, who shall be chosen at each annual meeting, as soon as the letters from the different churches are read and their member's names enrolled, provided, also that all newly constituted churches petitioning for union with us shall have full right to vote for Moderator and Clerk, and nothing shall be construed as to prohibit them from voting.
ARTICLE VIII.This Association shall have no power to adopt rules that shall at any time infringe upon the independence and rights of the churches. It shall however be at liberty to advise churches belonging to it, or it may separate from churches as are known to walk disorderly.
ARTICLE IX.The Association shall have a fund for its expenses, and the churches shall be at liberty to send up such contributions as they may think proper.
ARTICLE X.Any church of this union having a difficulty that she cannot settle may call for help from her sister churches, or may present the case to this body for advice. Such cases must be presented in the letters of correspondence, stating the reason why it had not or could not be decided by the church.
ARTICLE XI.When churches of this union have members supposed to possess ministerial gifts, they may call from two or more churches for the aid of their ordained ministers and deacons to examine the individuals and, if thought advisable, to ordain such member or members to preach the gospel which shall be reported at the next association and entered upon the Minutes.
ARTICLE XII.The minutes of this Association will be read, corrected, and signed by the Moderator and Clerk before the session rise. And no Association shall adjourn, unless in extraordinary cases, until it has finished all its business.
ARTICLE XIII.The Clerk shall read the Rules of Decorum on the first day of each Association meeting.
ARTICLE II. It shall be composed of such persons as have been duly elected by such church as may belong to this union to represent them in body.
ARTICLE III.The messengers representing the different churches shall at the opening of the Association present their letters of correspondence which shall state their appointment as messengers, together with the number of members in fellowship, the number baptized, received by letter, dismissed by letter, excommunicated, restored and dead during the year.
ARTICLE IV.Every church belonging to this body shall be entitled to three messengers.
ARTICLE V. Churches of this union failing to represent themselves at one Association will be expected to state reasons for their failure at the next Association, and if any church fails for two consecutive meetings, the Association shall send a committee to inquire into their state.
ARTICLE VI.New churches may be admitted into this union by signifying their wish by messenger and letter, provided they be deemed orthodox, and are willing to walk in fellowship with us.
ARTICLE VII.The Association shall have a Moderator and Clerk, who shall be chosen at each annual meeting, as soon as the letters from the different churches are read and their member's names enrolled, provided, also that all newly constituted churches petitioning for union with us shall have full right to vote for Moderator and Clerk, and nothing shall be construed as to prohibit them from voting.
ARTICLE VIII.This Association shall have no power to adopt rules that shall at any time infringe upon the independence and rights of the churches. It shall however be at liberty to advise churches belonging to it, or it may separate from churches as are known to walk disorderly.
ARTICLE IX.The Association shall have a fund for its expenses, and the churches shall be at liberty to send up such contributions as they may think proper.
ARTICLE X.Any church of this union having a difficulty that she cannot settle may call for help from her sister churches, or may present the case to this body for advice. Such cases must be presented in the letters of correspondence, stating the reason why it had not or could not be decided by the church.
ARTICLE XI.When churches of this union have members supposed to possess ministerial gifts, they may call from two or more churches for the aid of their ordained ministers and deacons to examine the individuals and, if thought advisable, to ordain such member or members to preach the gospel which shall be reported at the next association and entered upon the Minutes.
ARTICLE XII.The minutes of this Association will be read, corrected, and signed by the Moderator and Clerk before the session rise. And no Association shall adjourn, unless in extraordinary cases, until it has finished all its business.
ARTICLE XIII.The Clerk shall read the Rules of Decorum on the first day of each Association meeting.