CHURCH UNITY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2936, 23 November 1916, Page 7

CHURCH UNITY

TO RE DEBATED BY PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

NOTICES OF MOTION

As reported recently in Tun Dominion, the Wellington Presbytery has sent forward lor discussion by the Presbyterian Goueral Assembly, now in session, an important overture 011 tho question of Church Union, in which it requests that a committoo bo set up with instructions to confor with representatives of sister churches and to report to noxfc Assembly, (a) "Whether a corporate union is in any caso desirablo and practicable ; (b) AVhethcr in the absence of a corporate union or until such union can bo effected, any schemo of co-operation can lio devised which will increaso the efficiency of tlio co-operating churches and so help to bring the world to Him in Whom alono is salvation; aiid (c) Whether any schemo of mutual eligibility of ministers and other church workers can be introduced which would help to break down the existing barriers between the_ churches or to tako such other action as tho Assembly in its wisdom may determine. At yesterday's meeting the Rev. Dr. Gibb gave notice that ho will move, as an amendment:— "That the General Assembly, while deeply sympathising with tho ideal of an incorporating union of all churches holding the same evangelic tradition* whilo regarding it as the duty of this church, is nevertheless persuaded that, to initiate a union movement without definite assurance that tho peoplo of our own and tho other churches concerned aro in truo and living sympathy with tho proposal, and prepared to make sacrifice for its achievement, would only end, as did the last movement, in a fiasco, with tlio result of securing a proper' lino of clcavago between us and our brethren, and resolves, therefore, that for tho present nothing shall bo done other than to mako inquiry at Presbyteries, Kirk Sessions, and congregations, and appoint a committee to tako such stops as may be needful to gain the desired information. Tho committee shall, be further empowered to communicate this decision of the Assembly to 1110 representative officials of tho evangelic churches that they, if it seems good to them, may adopt a similar course of action in thoir own communities." Against the Proposal. Tho Rev. J. K. Elliott gave notice to move:— "That whereas the proposal for corporate union with other churches in New Zealand was keenly discussed in very recent years in tho Assembly, and in. our. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries, and disclosed such strong "antagonism to the proposal as constrained the promoters to end negotiations; and whereas, apart from tho request of onoPresbytery, this Assenjbly lias no evi-~ denco that the mind of our people lias changed on this subject; and whereas' during this time of war the Church should bo allowed to carry on its difficult task without the distracting element of needless controversy; and whereas the cry for visible corporate union ignores in a moasuro spiritual union already existing between Churches and belittles our doctrine of tho true invisible Church, and misrepresents tho meaning of tho prayer of our Lord; and whereas the proposal that'tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand should not itself part from tho historic world-wide Presbyterian Church would create further disseiisiou and not union—it is hereby resolved that 110 committoo bo set up to negotiate in the controversial' proposals of the overture, but that this Assembly placos on record its appreciation of the good work done by sister Churches in the land, and prays that they and wo may seek to win the land for God, without rivalry and-without competition, and thus, bj' showing' tho unity of spirit in the bond of pqace, fulfil tho prayer of our Lord' and witness for Him to tlio world."