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Note 7.—The relations between pastor and the church may be dissolved at the option of either, by giving three months’ notice; or otherwise, by mutual consent. Between the deacons and the church, the relations may be dissolved at the option of either without previous notice.

Note 8.—A church clerk is elected annually, at a business meeting, by a majority vote. It is an office of convenience, for keeping the minutes and preserving the records of the body. Also trustees are elected by the church, or if the law so requires, by a society. Their duties are the care of the property and the management of finances. But these are not considered Scriptural church officers; deacons might properly discharge all the functions of these offices.[2]

Note 9.—The offices of trust and service in a church should be as widely distributed among the members as possible, consistently with the welfare of the body. This rule should seldom be disregarded. No one man should hold more than one office at the same time, unless the interests of the body absolutely demand it. If offices are honors, they should be widely dispensed; if they are burdens, they certainly should be. For the same man to hold two or three offices is as unjust to him as it is to his brethren.