THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1669, 8 February 1913, Page 9

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

IMPORTANT NEW LEGISLATION,

Highly important, legislation was introduced at the Anglican General Synod' in Nelson, revolutionising' tho method ' of appointment to parishes and parochial districts. Tho present system of election to parishes involves tho uso of boards of diocesan and parochial the tyishop having'no voice in tho proceeding. On tho other hand; tho. bishops

havo held the patronage of paroohial districts. Much fault, has been found with the system, and the Bishop of Christchurch put before the synod a measure which simplifies the procedure, including tho Bishop >of the diooese ex officio:in a .board of nominators for tho whole diocese, tho other members being a fully ordained clergyman and a layman elected annually by ■ their . respeqtivo. orders at synod time, or in default by the standing committee. On a vacancy occurring in a parish, the bishop, having satisfied himself that'tlieifo is maintenance -.enough for the clergyman, is to convene a meeting of tho vestry with , tho board, after which tho board proceeds to. find,.the 'clergyman.' It is to'present not.nlore than tlirco names to the vestry for choice, and if for any reason none of tho three names is accepted within ' three 'months'' of tho last, nomination, the right of selection lapses to tho' board, though this excludes the.right to nominate any of the rejected clergy. If'tho Bishop be then satisfied as" to the fitness of tho : accepted priest, lie is' to institute the latter; but if the bishop bo not satisfied, ho is to ndviso fho board and givo his.reasons to the rejected man.' Tho remaining members of the board or tho clergyman may appeal to the' Bench' of Bishops within oi)o month, and a two-thirds majority of iho Bench'is necessary to/securo the'institution against -the will of the diocesan Bishop. But'candidates'for positions is forbidden by tho sentiment of Anglican Church, and.it is possible that after all this procedure tho clergyman clcctcd may muse tho position, and then the negotiations begin do novo. The vostrv and tho board have authority-, to delegate their power <}f «olection\ A significant clause provides that tlio synod may. vest the rignt of first presentation in a private benefactor. 'Tho 'bishops, for tho sake of uniformity) liavo given up thoir right of patronage in tho parochial districts and vested it in the'board, which,

however,' may delegate selection to tlio Bishop. It is anticipated tlint those radical alterations will simplify procedure very, materially, tho demooratio spirit of the-constitution, in Riving a duo weight to tho authority of (ho three orders, being i l ' , ft" 10 fu "y conserved—Auckland "Star."