CHURCH UNION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17113, 7 April 1921, Page 3

CHURCH UNION.

PKBSBYTEBIANS AND CONGREGATIONALISTS. At the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church last year suggestions, made by the Congregational, Union as a basis upon which the two Churches might be amalgamated were'fully discussed and finally referred to tlhe Union Committee. The committee has been considering the matter, and has now drafted a basis for union, embodying, as far as possible } the suggestions of the Congregational Union. A copy of their conclusions was received by the Dunedin Presbvtery this week, aiong with a letter from the convener of the committee (Dr. Gibb} in which he says: "It is, perhaps, needless to point out that the General Assembly, at its next, meeting, is in no way committed to accept this basis as a whole or in any Eart, but it is 'hoped that either' the asis now submitted, or as amended by presbyteries—should there be any amendment—will be definitely adopted and sent down to presbyteries, under the Barrier Act. Assuming that the churches of the Congregational Union approve of the Assembly's finding and the returns under the Barrier Act are satisfactory, the union may be an accomplished fact and the first meeting of the united Churdhes take place in 192; i. Presbyteries will, of course, remember that no union can or will be effected until a Bill has been carried through Parliament giving the United Churcn the full and title to all its properties." The suggested agreement for union contains nine articles, tlhe first of which declares that the name ef the United' Church shall be "The Piesbyterian Church of N,ew Zealand. - ' The remaining articles are as follows: — That the basis in doctrine and polity of the United Church shall be the doctrine and polity of the Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand at the date of the union.

That the Synod of Otago and Southland shall, with respect to its ecclesiastical functions and to the trust properties and funds administered by it, retain the position and rights in the United Church held bv it in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand previously to the union. That all ministers of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at the date .of the union, and all ministers of the Congregational Union of New Zealand at the date of the union shall be ministers of the United Church.

That all the properties held and owned by the churches of the Congregational Union of New Zealand, at the date of the union, shall be vested in the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees in terms of the Presbyterian Church Property Act, 1885. That any proposal to close a church .deemed superfluous shall be considered by a. special committee of the General Assembly; and no church shall be closed without the. consent of the majority of the members and the recommendation to this effect of the Assembly's Committee. • .

That the disposal of funds derived from the sale, consequent upon union, of any properties shall be determined bv the Assembly on the recommendation of a special .committee, consisting of members representing the two churches at the time of t : he union, and that, in the disposal, such proportion of thoso funds as may be agreed on shall be added to .the Congregational Pastors' Provident Fund with a view to its . ultimate equalisation with the Presbyterian Beneficiary Fund. That the Beneficiary Fund of the Presbyterian Church and the Pastors' Provident Fund "of the Congregational Church shall be amalgamated as speedily aa possible on a basis to be determined by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of a committee representing the-uniting churches; and until amalgamation is ■ .effected; the funds shall be kept distinct and shall be administered separately by a committee of the United Church in terms 6f existing regulations, ministers having 1 claim only on-the '-fund wherewith they were connected at -the date of the union.- . • •'.'■: v

That the missionary funds of the two churches shall be amalgamated,and devoted to the support of the missions carried on by the Presbyterian' Churchj; but in addition to this, provision shall be made by the. General Assembly for continuing "the support-now given to the London Missionary Society by the ■Congregational' Union. Conies of the above will be printed and 'circulated in the Presbytery so that tho matter may be fully discussed.