2624. Charges--Charges against bishops, clergy members, clergy on honorable or administrative location, local pastors, diaconal ministers, and lay members shall be subject to the following guidelines:
1. A charge shall not allege more than one of the offenses set forth in 2623. Each charge must be written with specifications containing facts such as time, place, and specific events alleged to have occurred. More than one charge against the same person may be presented and tried at the same time. A vote on each charge and each specification shall be taken separately.
2. Amendments may be made to a bill of charges at the discretion of the presiding officer; provided that they do not change the nature of the charges and specifications and do not introduce new matter of which the respondent has not had due notice. When an amendment or amendments to a bill of charges is or are denied by the presiding officer, it or they shall not be introduced in the form of testimony in the Trial Court. Charges or specifications previously considered and dropped by the committee on investigation shall not be introduced in the Trial Court in the form of evidence or otherwise.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2624
1996 United Methodist General Conference