Minister's Difference Will Congregation

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1948, Page 5

Minister's Difference Will Congregation

Press Association)

(Per

DANNEVIRKE, July 20. As the outcome of strained relq,tions over some months between the mijiister and members of the congregation of Knox ChurcJu } Dannevirke, I£.ey. R. B. Spence, who has been in charge of Knox for some years, ahd who served for three years as a chaplain with tAe New Zealand forces in the Middle East in the recent war, is leaving the service of the Presbyteria'n Church- anR enter|ng bu^i^qss at Mangere, near Aupkland. H,e stated this at a social" gathering iast evpliing tendered him by friends. Mr. Spence, who ha§ noUin recent weeks occupied the pulpit ^Lt Knox Church, said he would proj)ably return to Ghristian work at a later date. "I have had a hard decision to make, but I am discontented with the Bresbyterian Churph?" said Mr. Spence. " He alleged that tlie Presbytery of the church in Hawke's Bay h3,d become rpprihund, and that he and Rev. R. W. Lange, his former assistant had been sacriflced for public opinion. * Mr. Spence said tha{> he retained his faitli in hiUfejjQyimeh anji considered that if the dispute' which had caused him to leave the chureh stimulated Christian interest, whether in the Prpshyterian or in aq.other church, it would be for the benefit of the Christian way of lifje. Mr. Spence was the recipient of a substantial monetary gift from tlqe gathering, which comprised rgprek sentafivps pf the Salyation Army, Orange -Lodge, Mechodist Church, Womeh's .ChrMian Temperance [Jniqn and to^yn aqd copntry representatiyes of the Presliyteria'n Church. No'oflicial statement has been ^made by the Bresbytery pr, thp church authorities' as to the na|:ur.e pf tpe jji^erewces bptweeri !thp minister and his congregation, and atteippts to qfttain qne have met with pp iesppns,e. " . _ ' .