QUESTION ANSWERED by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1878

QUESTION ANSWERED.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Ques. “Can a church receive or disfellowship a member when there is no ordained officer present? If not, how can a church that has no ordained officer do any business at quarterly meeting? A.”

Ans. First, there is much to be done at the church quarterly meeting besides receiving or expelling members, or celebrating the ordinances. Any church can read their list, examine their members, write to absent ones, &c.; and all other business pertaining to a quarterly meeting can be done without an ordained officer.

Second, I know of no reason why persons cannot be received into the church in the absence of an ordained officer. If their cases are clear, and there is no objection, the church may vote them in as well without an officer as with. And just so with regard to expelling members. If the case is clear, and all the church united, they can be expelled as well without an officer as with one. Difficult cases should always be referred to a competent minister.

D. M. Canright.