¶6.1 The Conference Court of Appeals shall be appointed as needed by the Interchurch Council.

1. It shall be composed of seven (7) members, including at least four (4) lay members.

2. It may represent from three (3) to seven (7) local churches.

3. 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 to persons.

4. One member shall be elected chairman.

A quorum of four members of the Court of Appeals shall be necessary in order to function. The Interchurch Council shall fill by appointment any vacancies which may occur in this body. This court shall have jurisdiction to hear and to determine all appeals from the decisions or actions of any Conference trial court.

¶6.2 The Court of Appeals shall determine two questions only:

1. Does the evidence sustain the charge or charges?

2. Were there such errors of procedure or interpretation as to invalidate the verdict?

The questions shall be determined by the records of the trial and the arguments of a representative of the trial court and the counsel of the accused. The court shall in no case hear witnesses nor admit new evidence.

¶6.3 In all cases of appeal, the appellant shall, within thirty (30) days following the decision of a trial court, give notice of intent to appeal to the Interchurch Council, who shall appoint a Court of Appeals per ¶6.1. The appellant shall then furnish the Court of Appeals with a written statement defining the grounds on which his appeal shall be made. The hearing of the court shall be limited to the grounds set forth in said statement. It shall be the duty of the chairman of the Court of Appeals, on receiving a notice of intent to appeal, to fix the time and place within thirty (30) days of receiving notice for consideration of the appeal and to notify all persons involved by certified mail.

¶6.4 Appeals, properly taken, shall be heard by the Court of Appeals, unless it shall appear to the said court that the appellant has forfeited his right to appeal by misconduct, such as result to abide by the findings of the Conference Investigation Committee or of the trial court, or by withdrawal from the church, or by failure to appear in person or by counsel to prosecute the appeal. The right of appeal, when once forfeited by neglect or otherwise, cannot be revived by any subsequent appellate court.

¶6.5 An appeal shall not affect a suspension of the decision or action of a trial court. The finding of the trial court must stand until it is modified or reversed by the appellate court.

¶6.6 The Court of Appeals may refuse to admit an appeal as lacking proper grounds. It may reverse, in whole or in part, the findings of the trial court, or it may remand the case back to the trial court for a new trial. It may determine what penalty, not higher than that affixed at the trial, may be imposed. If no such modification or reversal is made by the appellate court, the judgment of the trial court shall stand. The appellate court shall not take remedial action because of errors of procedure or interpretation by the trial court which did not affect the verdict.