EVER TO BE MERGED?'

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1150, 10 June 1911, Page 10

EVER TO BE MERGED?'

METHODIST HOPES. THE FULL UNION REALLY FACED. SIGNS THAT GO BEFORE. As was briefly reported in The Dominion' yesterday, a joint committee, representing tho Wcslcyan Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches of New Zealand, after deliberations killing for two days, . arrived, unanimously, on Thursday evening, at a basis of union. Following is the full text of an official report of the proceedings and of the decision arrived at by the joint committee;— Tho two committees set up by the con- 1 ferences met conjointly this week at tlie Taranaki Street Methodist. Church, to formulate a basis of union to be recommended to the conference, which will as- . setnblo early next year. The utmost har- 1 inouy and gbod feeling prevailed throughout, and the. decisions were in every case finally adopted by a unanimous vote. The main features of the basis cf union agreed upon for submission to the courts j of the respective churches are as follow-.— • The Church is to be known as "The ' Methodist Church ol New Zealand." j Members in good standing in either of j tho uniting churches at the date of union shall hold the same status as they pre- ( viously held in their respective chnrchcs. ] The United Conference is to consist of ! (< n equal number of ministers and lay- ' men, with the exercise of powers simi- 1 lar to those now in operation in both churches, except (hat, in the United Church, it is proposed that there should be a committee of ministers for the examination of candidates and probationers. There is also to be a mixed Committee of Complaints and Appeals, with a seltci committee, of ministers only, for inqiiir- i iiiK -into' specific matters pertaining to ; ministerial character and efficiency. The United Conference. Tho officers of the conference arc to be , it president—ivlio in all cases is to be a minister of the Church—a lay vice-presi-dent, and a secretary, who is also to be a minister of the Church. In the event of the death or incapacity of Hie presi- : dent, his'duties are to be performed by the ex-president. Annual district synods will be held as at present, the representation to be substantially the same as that now obtaining in both Churches. Provision is made for a Ministerial , Committee at each Synod, to deal with all questions affecting ministerial character and efficiency, and the examination of candidates and probationers. Their reports and recommendations sre to he Sent direct to the conference. A District' Committee of Emergency is provided for, to consist of tho chairman of the district and four other ministers; those concerned having the right of ap- : peal to the Supreme Court of the Church. ; Quarterly meetings will continue to be the highest courts in the circuits or sta- ! (ions, and will be representative of all departments of the Church; the supcrin- ( tendent minister to be the chairman of this and all other official meetings in his circuit. Preachers' meetings ami leaders' meetings will be continued, with the same functions as at present in each Church. Church meetings, consisting of members : in full standing, are to be held as at j present. These will elect the stewards < and other representatives to the quarterly ■ meetings. Coiiuexiuial funds of various i churches.,are provided for. In regard to the supernumerary funds, a special comimttee luvs been" appointed by each section of the .committee to consider all.matters relating thereto, and h> report to ihonext - conference. Tho Children's Fund, Contingent Fund, Home Mission and Church Extension Fund, Church Building nnd Loan Trust and the fire Insurance Fund, wil. bo continued, the- capital of the existing funds to be amalgamated. Foreign Missions. .A : Forcigh .Mission. Society .will,be,j es-, tablished. as ' soOn as" possible. ' In,"-the' . meantime, tho arrangement in regard to foreign missions by tlie Methodist Church of Australasia, in conncction-with the . formation of an independent church in New Zealand, is to bo adhered to. All church property will bo vested under a common Trust Act as soon as union is consummated. No properly is to be sold without the approval of the circuit quarterly meeting and tho committee of tho Church Building and Loan Fund, or tile Conference. All matters relating to the organisation of Sunday Schools and Young People's Societies are referred to a joint committee representing the two churches. The Stationing Committee is to consist of,the president and secretary of the Conference, the chairman of districts, .and. ,D)Ve minister -elected from each district, and an equal number of laymen, one of whom shall bo tho vice-president. Ministers and Laymen. No changc shall bo made in the basis of union affecting constitutional questions or the rights and privileges of the ministry or laity cxcept such changes shall liavo been previously submitted to the annual district synods and confirmed by a resolution of the succecding conference, a 55 per cenl, majority being required. Other committees have been set up to adjust the laws and regulations of tho Church in harmony with tho proposed basis, to obtain information ill regard to statistics, properties, etc.,' to provide against overlapping by neighbouring Churches, to consider the adjustment of circuit boundaries and aggressive work, and to cultivate a fraternal spirit, preparatory to actual union, by holding united conventions and other meetings. ' It is recommended that the conference of 1912 make provision for the examination of candidates and probationers in tlie following year by a combined committee representing both Churches. If the basis of union is accepted by tho two conferences of 15112, they arc to bo requested to make arrangements for acquainting each other with the decisions . arrived at and to provide for holding the first united conference as soon as possible. The following figures taken from the official returns indicate tho strength of 'the uniting Churches:— : Churches and other preaching i places ■■■ 1,121 ■ Members, Catechumen, and Communicants 2G,512 Ministers, Probationers, and ; Home Missionaries 217 Local Preachers P. 15 ■ Class Leaders 211!) ' Snndav School Teachers 3,0?5 i Sunday School Scholars M.wn . Adherents 1)8,503 I Approximate, value of Church 1 Property J.'510.74l ! Present Debt on Property ■£!)■!,053