METHODISTS VOTE FOR CHURCH UNION

Chronicle (Levin), 25 February 1947, Page 7

METHODISTS VOTE FOR CHURCH UNION

WELLIKOTOX, Feb. 24. By an alniost uuanimous vote, tht Methodist Conference meeting in Wellington tonight approved of the proposedliasis of union for which it is negotiating with the Presbyterian and Congregational cliurehes of New Zealand The following motion was carried: "That this conference approves the basis as an outline of doetrine and poi iey on which we can unit'e with the Presbyterian and Congregational churciies and submits same to the quarterly meetings of June 1948 for approval. " There were only 3 or 4 dissentients in a vote of between 250 and 300. Present for tlie discussion on the questioD were the Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Rt. Eev. Ii. Davies. Rev. J. G. S. Dunne (clerk of the Assembly), Mr. H. dl. Mill-er (cliairman of the Congregational Union) and Revs. C. G. H. Bycroft and E. N. Gordon, of the Congregational phurch. The president of the Methodist Conference, Rev. W. G. Slade, presided. Rev. Davies and Mr. Miller expressed pleasure at the result of the voting. Rev. Davies said the General Assembly had already approved the basis of union and that presbyteries were now being consulted on the question. He hoped it would not be long before the union came about. Speaking on behalf of his cliurcli, Mr. Miller said the obstacles in the way were greater for them as they were noi ';50 much a church as churches. .They had ag-reed to the idea .of a union and now tjiey iiad to adopt the' basis for it, but before they could da this a full Statement of it ha.d to go to every member. The eonvener of the Methodist union committee, Rev. W. A. Bu-ley, introduced the motion and gave a brief summary of the basiS itself and inoved^ its adoption witliout any * reservatioii Methodists were proud of their name and their past history, he said, but they sliould desire to be absorbed in a united church which would be something even bigger than Methodism of the past', ,