¶ 828. The
treasurer of the council shall pay monthly the claim for the official travel of
each bishop upon presentation of an itemized voucher with such supporting data
as may be required by the General Council on Finance and Administration.
Official travel of an effective bishop shall be interpreted to include:
(1) all visitations to local churches and to institutions or enterprises of The
United Methodist Church within the area; (2) such travel outside the area, but
within the jurisdiction, as is approved by the College of Bishops; and (3) such
other travel as may be consistent with guidelines approved by the General
Conference as being within the meaning of official travel. No part of the
expense and no honoraria for any such visitations shall be accepted from local
churches or enterprises or institutions of The United Methodist Church, such
expense being a proper claim against the Episcopal Fund. Nothing in this
interpretation is intended to preclude special or nonofficial engagements of a
bishop other than the oversight of the temporal and spiritual affairs of the
Church, such as series of lectures in educational institutions, baccalaureate
addresses, and preaching missions for several days' duration when such
engagements do not interfere with official duties, nor does it preclude the
acceptance of honoraria for such services.