¶5.1 Admission on Trial. A candidate for admission on trial into the Annual Conference shall have completed prescribed studies. He shall be recommended by the Board of Ministerial Relations and receive a favorable vote of the General Conference.

¶5.2 It is recommended that all candidates for the ministry complete a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

¶5.3 A candidate who is admitted on trial is actually on trial for two years. His character, competency, and preaching must prove to be advantageous. Before he can be admitted for full ordination, a candidate on trial may be discontinued without any reflection on his character. He is a member of the conference without voting privileges.

¶5.4 Elder’s Orders. A candidate for full ordination, as an elder, shall have been employed at least two years in the active ministry and shall have completed prescribed studies. He shall be recommended by the Board of Ministerial Relations and a favorable vote of General Conference.

¶5.5 The General Superintendent, or his appointed representative, shall call the class to be admitted into full connection, and receive them into conference membership after asking the following questions of the Discipline. (Here follow the questions which every Bethel Methodist preacher from the beginning has been required to answer upon becoming a full member of the conference. These questions were formulated by John Wesley and have been little changed throughout the years.)

1. Have you faith in Christ?

2. Are you going on to perfection?

3. Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?

4. Are you groaning after it?

5. Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and His work?

6. Do you know the general rules of our church?

7. Will you keep them?

8. Have you studied the doctrines of the Bethel Methodist Church?

9. After full examination, do you believe that our doctrines are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures?

10. Will you preach and maintain them?

11. Have you studied our form of church discipline and polity?

12. Do you approve our church government and polity?

13. Will you support and maintain them?

14. Will you diligently instruct the children in every place?

15. Will you visit from house to house?

16. Will you recommend fasting or abstinence, both in precept and example?

17. Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God?

18. Are you in debt so as to embarrass you in your work?

19. Will you observe the following directions:

a. Be diligent. Never trifle away time; neither spend any more time at one place than is strictly necessary.

b. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time.

c. Do not mend our rules, but keep them, not for wrath, but for conscience sake.

This examination of the ministers and the passing of their characters should be business of the same session. Then they are entitled to the floor and a vote.

¶5.6 Upon election by majority vote of the General Conference, the candidate for admission into full connection as an elder immediately becomes a full member of the General Conference. He will then receive ordination by the laying on of hands at the time set by the General Superintendent.

¶5.7 Receiving Ministers from Other Churches. Ministers from other churches who are ordained and desire to unite with us as traveling preachers may be admitted into the General Conference as elders by transfer. They must be recommended by the Board of Ministerial Relations and the General Superintendent. They must also have read the Discipline carefully and shall have passed the examination required by the Course of Study Committee. They shall give evidence of their agreement with The Bethel Methodist Church in matters of doctrine and policy, and hold no credentials in any other church.

¶5.8 Ministers from other churches who desire to unite with us as local preachers may be received by transfer, in cases of emergency, by the General Conference upon giving satisfactory evidence to the Board of Ministerial Relations that they are suitable persons. They must be recommended by the General Superintendent.

¶5.9 Supernumerary Preachers. A supernumerary preacher is one who is so disabled by affliction as to be unable to preach constantly, but who is willing to do any work in the ministry he may be able to perform. A supernumerary relation shall not be granted by a General Conference except on the recommendation of the Board of Ministerial Relations.

¶5.10 Superannuated Preachers. A superannuated preacher is one who has retired from active service. A superannuated relation shall not be granted by a General Conference except on the recommendation of the Board of Ministerial Relations.