Church Seeks Bill To Change Service

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 14

Church Seeks Bill To Change Service

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 22. To permit the experimental use of new or amended forms of service—including a new and revised form of holy communion—a fiveman commission appointed by the General Synod of the Church of England will seek to introduce a private bill to Parliament this session.

The bill—the Church of England Empowering Amendment Act—is also aimed at removing any doubts whether the General Synod is entitled to authorise different forms of service in different parts of New Zealand. Notice of the bill was gazetted today. The commission includes the Primate of New Zealand (the Most Rev. N. A. Lesser), the secretary of the Anglican Board of Missions (the Rev. W. W. Robinson) and three lawyers. A Wellington lawyer. Mr W. Olphert, said it was hoped the bill would be introduced in August. Mr Olphert said the Church

of England's constitution—originally laid down in the time of Bishop Selwyn—suffered from rigidity. “Consequently, it is difficult to make changes in the constitution's formula,” he said. The constitution was last amended in 1928, under the Church of England Empowering Act which authorised the General Synod to approve certain alterations. “The main purpose of this present amendment bill is to give the Church of England in New Zealand the power to experiment with new forms of service,” said Mr Olphert. He said the General Synod had approved plans for a new and revised form of holy communion.