Is Broadcasting Of Church Services Doing Good?

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1949, Page 7

Is Broadcasting Of Church Services Doing Good?

WELLINGTON, May 16. Speakers tonight at the General Synocl of the Church of England in New Zealand, expressed opposition to the tendeney which, it was said, existed to transfer religious broadcasts from churches to tlie studios of broadcasting . stations. The debate, which was on a motion to ask diocesan eommittees to eooperate with the broadcasting service and with the eommittee on broadcasting appointed by the previous Synod for the teeh'nieal improvement of religious broadcasts, raised the question of whether the broadcasting of normal church services won the people to Ohristianity as well as catering for church adherents who were unable to . attend services. On this point there was a division of opinion. Expressions of opinion on whether studio broadeasts were preferable, were invited by Arehdeacon E. J. Rich (Wellington), chairman of the eommittee on religious broadcasting appointed by the previous synod, who moved the motion. He said great developments in broadcasting were impending with the increase in supply of labour and material. Stations were being increased in power and new stations built. The broadcasting service had favoured broadcasting of the normal church service even if the broadcast originated in a studio but that policy had been' challenged by a section of the people interested in the subject. Angliean services were more difficult to broadcast than some others but he believed the difficulty would be overcome with the use of additional equipmentj., Arehdeacon Rich praised the interest the former Director of Broadcasting, Proxessor Shelley, had taken in religious broadcasting. Dean O. S. O. Gibson (Waiapu) said that under the apparent indifference of the community to reiigion, was a great longing. Many eagerly listene.d to the services Sunday after Sunday. Dean G. H. Gavin (Waikato) urge.d a change of policy, saying the church was not evangelising as it should, Forceful radio speakers were required and he suggested that records of great speakers dealing with questions of the day, be obtained from England for broadcasting in New Zealand. The Rev. K. Scoller (Polvnesia) also asked for records from England. A suggestion that a short service I such as that given in the morning, which was appreciated, be broadcast at night when more people could hear it, was put forward by Mr. J. N. Stephenson (Nelson). ' ' I don 't really believe you can do evangelistic worjt with these services because the people you want to evangelise are not listening." said the Bishop of Dunedin, the Rt. Rev. Fitchett. What was wanted was a broad normal service with a true religious atmosphere. The Bishop of Waiapu, the Rt. RevLesser, said he did > not- much like the idea of records. There must be men in the chureh in New Zealand who wanted to speak of their own vital experience of God. The motion was carried and' the fol'lowing - broadcasting eommittee Was appointed for the ensuing three years: The Bishop of Nelson, Dean A. K. Warren, Dean Gibson, Arehdeacon Rich, An-hdeacon T. N. C. Partridge, Canon

W. A. Curzon-Siggers and tlie Rev. A, C. F. Gharles.