METHODIST CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2395, 26 February 1915, Page 6

METHODIST CHURCH

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED; (By IWeeraDh.—Press Association.) ! Chrlstchurch, February 25. : The annual conference of the Method* ist Church of New Zealand opened its sessions to-night at a' public gathering in Durham Street Church, 250 dele-, gates being present. An address was delivered by tho retiring president, the Hev. S. SerpelL The following officers were elected:— President, Rev. J. Dawson; vice-pTesi-dent, Mr. H. Holland, Mayor ofChristchurch; secretary, Rev. W. A. Sinclair.

A distinguished visitor was present at the conference in the person of tie Rev. Dr. George Brown, F.R.G.S., President of tho General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia. It is fifty-five years ago since Dr. Brown left New Zealand as a young missionary to enter upon a career as a missionary pioneer in the Pacific. Notwithstanding his advanced years he still preaches and speaks with remarkable vigour.

The chief subject at the conference will be the proposal to modify the present law of the itinerary in relation- to the appointment of ministers. At piesent it is not legal to appoint any minister'to a circuit for a period beyond 1 five years. It is now proposed that such a restriction shall be abolished so that where it is thought desirable a minister's stay may be protracted without, any limit whatever, always providing tliat tho conference retains tie right of an annual appointment. This 'was the practice that obtained in the Primitive Methodist Church prior to the consummation of the Methodist TJnion in 1913. ' ,

Important action will also have to be taken in connection with _ the relation, of the conference to foreign missions. At present, although the New Zealand Church is no longer affiliated to the Church in Australia, it continues to maintain its interest in foreign missions _| through the Australasian Board of Missions. It has been, decjded,,however, that a portion of the mission field in the South Sea Islands shall be allocated to New Zealand as its special sphere of work, and the conference will be called upon to face the obligations which, such a prospective arrangement invblv.es. • METHODIST CHURCH IN SAMOA! By Teloerarli—Press Association—OopyrieM (Rec. February 25, 11.5 p.m.) ■ •, Sydney, February 25. The Methodist Conference has adopt ed tie ' reiport of its .'Committee, in favour of granting_a 'separate constitution for tho Samoa district, but has decided to leave the administration'in its present lands, and make no ministerial appointments for at least twelve months.