DISPUTE OVER APPOINTMENT OF VICAR

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1946, Page 5

DISPUTE OVER APPOINTMENT OF VICAR

- Press Association

CHURCH TO BE KEPT LOCKED NEXT SUN.D.AY

Bv Telegraph-

■ HAMILTON, July Jt. A decision that 110 Chureh services frbe held in the church on Kunday, that [this fact he advertised, and that tlie church remain locked, has heen reacheu I by the vestry of Wt. Aidan's Ohurch, ' Claudelands, as the latest development in the clispute over the appointment ot ! a vicar. Yesterday members of the vestry recei ved the i'ollowing let.ter from the ! Bishop of Waikato, the Right Rev. OA. Clierrington : — ' ' Assuming the published statement about -St. Aidan's affairs to be correct, I gather that, as a member of tlie vestry of Bt. Aidan's Church, you are still unwilliiig and unabl.e to accept tlie vicar appointed by me 011 behalf of the Board of Nomination. I must theretore ask for your resignation of the office or i vestrvman forthwith, in accordance with thp uridertaking signed by you 011 ■May 20 in obedience to the declaration of submission to General Synod, which you also signed 01.1 that date. " The menibers of the vestry are. Mrs. H. Ross, .M.R., Messrs L. Ghampion j (vicar 's warden and treasurpr), J. I. I Paterson ( people 's warpen, who tendered his resignation last week in accordance with a promise made in synod), a. E. Moore, II. H. Muir, W. IR Blake way, (}. Ilorrox, E. L. Wilkins, C. V. Xicklin, j F. A. Lovve (absent on leavej, and E. I A. Butt (se.cretary). " ! "It is regrettable that in these days ' the authoiity deemed it necessary j to take this extreme step," comI mented Mr. J. I. Paterson, who recent1 Iv resigned from all offices of Bt. Aidan's Church as a result of the dispute. !"The bishop is demanding the resignations of men and women who have labj'oured for years on a purely voluntary 1 basis to spread the Ohristian faith, ann [a monument to their work is the sounct | position of Bt. Aidan's." The declaration referred to in the Bishop 's letfer is one that is signed by all Church oflicers every year ! acknowledging the authority of General Bynod and agreeing to abide by its rules. The vestry members ha\*e not decided 011 their reply to the Bishop 's letter, but will ask for a direetion as to their next move from a meeting of paiishioners which has been called for next week.