2. It is the duty of a deacon to baptize, to officiate in marriage ceremonies, to assist the elder in administering the Lord’s Supper, and, when appointed to a charge, to perform all the duties of a traveling preacher.

     ¶ 204. Traveling Elders: 1. Every traveling deacon shall exercise that office two years before he is eligible to the office of elder, except in the case of missions, when the conference shall have authority to elect him to the elder’s office sooner if they judge it expedient. A traveling deacon shall be constituted a traveling elder by the election of a majority of the conference and by the laying on of the hands of the president and some of the elders present, after having passed a satisfactory examination in the required course of study.

     2. It is the duty of an elder to administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to officiate in marriage ceremonies and all parts of divine worship, and, when appointed to a charge, to perform all the duties of a traveling preacher.

     ¶ 205. No elder or deacon who ceases to travel, without the consent of the annual conference, certified under the hand of the president of the conference, except in case of sickness, inability, or other unavoidable circumstances, shall on any account exercise the peculiar functions of his office, or even be allowed to preach among us; nevertheless, the final determination in all such cases is with the annual conference.