Church Controversy Presbytery Meets In Private

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 1

Church Controversy Presbytery Meets In Private

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, May 11. The Auckland Presbytery met in private to discuss controversial articles written by the principal of its theological college, Professor L. G. Geering. ,

A report to the meeting by a special committee said: “The article on the resurrection suggests that the biblical records of an empty tomb and of physical resurrection appearances by our Lord are the writer’s way of describing events which might be described today

rather differently.” The report said, in Professor Geering’s view, to insist on a literal interpretation of the biblical accounts was to cause needless difficulty and mystification. The report also stated that some members of the committee dissented from the opinion that the articles remained within the proper limits of theological inquiry. They believed that while it was true that theological debate within reasonable

bounds contributed to the health of the Church, Professor Geering’s articles stood so far from biblical Christianity that it was no exaggeration to describe them as a “radical departure from the Christian faith.” It continued: “There is a suggestion that the life of Christ finally ended in death and was not continued and renewed in the resurrection.

“This interpretation, with its rejection of the apostolic witness, cannot be described as biblical Christianity, and if this teaching is given prominence at our theological hall we believe our Church’s future stands in great jeopardy.” Those attending the meeting were bound not to divulge any of the debate that went on without the permission of the president.