Page:Mennonite Handbook of Information 1925.djvu/28



The Mennonite General Conference is presumed to be the supreme governing body in the Church and, besides the Mennonite bishops in attendance, is made up of a certain number of delegates according to the number of congregations and membership in each of the district conferences giving it support. Though it is the highest court of appeal in the Church, yet it is not within its province to exercise any attitude of direct authority over any district conference, except by the consent of said conference.

Its authority is vested chiefly in the direction and over-sight of all boards and committees represented in the publication, educational, charitable, missionary, and every other spiritual activity of the Church at large; also to serve in an advisory capacity with reference to district conferences. The General Conference has functioned in these various capacities in bienninal sessions since the year 1898.

The district conferences adopt rules and regulations for governing the Christian life of individual members as they are affected by local conditions in their various states and districts. Some of these