CHURCH UNION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17418, 31 March 1922, Page 7

CHURCH UNION.

CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY. important resolutions ADOPTED. (By Cable—Preea Association—Copyright.) (Australian, aud N.Z. Cable Association.) Si'DNEY. March 30. The conference of delegates representing the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches continued the discussion as to whether thp episcopacy should be forced on all the churches in the event of union, or whether a modus operandi could be found between the episcopacy and t-fle Presbyterian Church. A motion was carried that, in view of all the circumstances, it was expedient that the policy of the re-united Catholic Church bo episcopal, provided that the appointment £>f bishops be shared in by the ministry and the laity; that in all administrative actions the bishop be responsible to .1 representative assembly, synod or conference; that acceptance of the episcopacy did not necessarily imply that ministerial authority would not otherwise be obtained, or that the episcopacy was the only channel of Divine graoe. A motion also was carried welcoming the assurance implied in the Lambeth appeil that each group would be free to retiin its own characteristic method of worship and service so long as it was not inconsistent with the fellowship of the whole.

A resolution was passed stating that the conditions for mutual recognition of episcopal ana non-episcopal orders and commissions be thoroughly explored by the respective churches. The conference recommended the appointment of a committee to ascertain tho possibilities of arriving at a common mind. The conference also agreed to the appointment pf an interim joint committee to consider and recommend definite schemes of co-operation. The following were elected to tho committee: Anglican Church —Bishop of Willochra, Canon Hughes, Dean Talbot. Presbyterian—Professor Harper, Rev. George Tait. Methodist—Rev. W. H. Beale, Dr. Carruthers.

.Congregational—Rev.'E. Davies and Rev. F. V. Pratt. ,

Two secretaries were appointed—the Revs. P. A, Micklemi and A. !P. Campbell.

Tho Bishop of Bradford advocated the Nicene Creed as the obvious standard of the Reunited Church. He said he was satisfied that it had stood every test of catholicitv, r.:ia that it would serve as a standard for 'the ordination of the ministry as outlined, for tho instruction of all members of tho Church, and as a confession for congregational worship. A motion was carried stating that, whilst the conditions of membership ot' the Reunited Church would bo satisfied by the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed would he appropriate as a commost standard precedent to union.