¶4.1 If the General Superintendent, an elder, a member on trial or a local preacher is accused in writing of any of the offenses enumerated in ¶1.1, or a local church is accused in writing of any of the offenses enumerated in ¶3.1, and said accusations are submitted to the proper agents and/or agencies, the Interchurch Council shall appoint a Conference Investigation Committee.
¶4.2 The duties of a Conference Investigation Committee shall be as follows:
1. Perform a preliminary investigation.
2. If, as a result of the preliminary investigation, a majority of the Conference Investigation Committee believes there is reasonable ground for said accusation, it shall initiate a formal inquiry.
3. If, as a result of the formal inquiry, a majority of the Conference Investigation Committee determines that a trial is justified, it shall order one.
4. In cases involving individuals for whom a trial has been ordered, the Conference Investigation Committee has the authority to suspend the accused pending the trial.
The details of the duties of the Conference Investigation Committee are described in greater detail in ¶1.1 through ¶1.17 and ¶3.1 through ¶3.7.
¶4.3 The composition of a Conference Investigation Committee shall be as follows:
1. Three (3) members, representing both laymen and elders, except in the case of an accused local church where the Interchurch Council shall act as a Conference Investigation Committee.
2. The chairman may be an elder or layman and shall be appointed by the Interchurch Council.
3. It may represent from one (1) to three (3) local churches, except in the case of an accused local church in which all churches except the accused shall be represented.
4. Members must certify that they are not personally involved in any dispute with the defendant(s) and that they can perform their investigative duties without bias or respect of persons.
¶4.4 The Chairman of the Conference Investigation Committee shall preside throughout the proceedings, and shall certify and declare the judgment of the Committee.