several Church Boards of Lay Activities. The Circuit Lay Leader shall be responsible for the circulation of the Methodist Layman in his circuit.

¶584. After consultation with the pastor, the Church Lay Leader shall call together the Church Board of Lay Activities as soon as practicable after the adjournment of the District Board in stations, and after the adjournment of the Circuit Board on circuits, to plan and promote a program of lay activities in cooperation with the District Board of Lay Activities and under its direction to carry out the program as outlined under the direction of the General, Conference, and District Boards, and Circuit Boards in Churches belonging to circuits; also to plan a program of cultivation for the benevolences, and a businesslike method of securing them, and to promote such other work of the local Church Board of Lay Activities as may be deemed necessary. After consultation with the pastor, the Church Lay Leader shall call the Board in session each month and as often as deemed necessary. The Church Lay Leader in stations shall make a written report to his Church Board of Lay Activities and to the Quarterly Conference, and to the District Lay Leader at the close of the Conference year, which report shall include the name and correct address of each member of his Church Board

of Lay Activities. In Circuits, the Church Lay Leaders shall make a written report to the Circuit Board of Lay Activities and also to the Circuit Lay Leader at the close of the Conference year, which report shall include the name and correct address of each member of the several Church Boards of Lay Activities. The Church Lay Leader shall be responsible for the circulation of the Methodist Layman in his Church.

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CHAPTER XX

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SECTION I

DEVISES BY WILL OR DONATIONS

Question. What shall be done for the better security of donations, bequests, or devises made to the Church?

¶585. Ans. 1. There shall be located at Nashville, Tennessee, an incorporated Board of Trustees, under the name of "The Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South," composed of ten members, five ministers and five lay members, appointed by the General Conference on the nomination of the Committee on Boundaries and Finance; of whom two ministers and three laymen shall hold office for four years, and three ministers and two laymen for eight years, all vacancies to be filled quadrennially by the General Conference. Vacancies occurring during the intervals of General Conferences shall be filled by the Board, and persons so selected shall hold office until the next session of the General Conference.

¶586. Ans. 2. The duty of this Board shall be

to receive, collect, and hold in trust for the benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, any and all donations, bequests, devises, legacies, and grants of lands, personal estate, or funds in trust, etc., that may be given or conveyed to the Board, or to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as such, for any benevolent, religious, or charitable object, and to administer this property and its proceeds in accordance with the directions of the donor or testator, and of the interests of the Church contemplated by such donors or testators under the direction of the General Conference: provided, that any sum thus given, devised, or bequeathed, but not specially designated for any benevolent, religious, or charitable object, shall be held subject to the orders of the General Conference: and provided, further, that the Board shall not be required to accept any gift or bequest or trust which for any reasons it may see proper to decline; and, having accepted in good faith under the conditions imposed any gift or bequest in trust for any one or more of the benevolent, religious, or charitable societies, or other institutions under the patronage or direction of the Church, the Board shall be responsible only for its careful and economical administration, and shall not be held to account to the beneficiary or beneficiaries thereof, either for the fund or the annual income

therefrom, or interest thereon, beyond what may be secured through good faith and ordinary diligence, and all necessary expenses arising from the care of administration of any trust shall be charged to that account.

¶587. Ans. 3. All persons wishing to make donations, devises, or bequests for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or for one of its Annual Conferences, are requested to make their donations, devises, or bequests directly to "The Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South."

¶588. Ans. 4. When any such donation, bequest, or devise is made to this Board or to the Church, it shall be the duty of the preacher in the bounds of whose charge it occurs to give notice thereof to the Board, which shall proceed without delay to take possession of it.

¶589. Ans. 5. The Board shall make a full, true, and faithful report of its doings, and of all funds, moneys, securities, or property on hand at each session of the General Conference.

SECTION II

FORMS OF DEVISES

¶590. Form of Devise by Will.

In the name of God-Amen.

I [A.B.], being of sound mind and memory, do constitute this my last will and testament: