CHURCH UNION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 4

CHURCH UNION

congregational proposals GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSSION TENTATIVE UNDERSTANDING REACHED TJio question of union ivitli tho Conyrega tiuual Church was debuted at some Jongtji yesterday by the General .Assembly of the Prcsbyteriuii Churi\k of New Zi-aUnul. in the report presented to last Assembly, it was legiDitully ndmittiid that tile state of the ■ voto for and against the proposed union with the Methodist and Coiigiegtiljonal Cliurehes wn-5 not such as to ju.-;t.i)y the Presbyterian Church i)ruK<.':iin/ to negotiate with those Churchi's, with a'view to the formation i.-[ a basis .in iwlity anil doctrine for a unitjd Church. Tho Assembly i»ndoi>:-:'d this. .ittiitolde, but oontinuokl the Union Csmmittao in office with n view (1) to elfeet co-opeiw tion if possible with the Jfathoilist Church in so'tinl service .and educational work; (2) to foster the union cause ,in.its."own. Church,, and if the fitting time should to- .bring to tho ;Assembly proposals for the formation of a united polity and doctrine committee without further procedure in the subordinate courts; anil (.3) to consider certain proposals which it was understood would be submitted to the committee 'by the Congregational Church. The Committee's Report.- . "With respect to the first of. these issues the committee- unhappily has," ran' the. report, "nothing of a' definite natui-Q to report. Possibly some practi'cal sclieme of. corporative effort, may bo evolved-by the time of nest Assembly. With respect tio tho sceoiul point nothing -lias-'-occurrod -to ustify i'rreli action by .the- Assembly.- 'With respect

to Hie . third Jsseu a -very interesting situation has developed, and the hope is well founded tli.it in a, brief period ■mi organic union may be effected between us and the Congregational body in New Zoaland. Before dealing with this, however, tho ■ committee wish-to express their deep regret at the failure ■lo" carry forward the larger union to a practical* point!, and -record their unalternMe conviction that the union _of tile eraugelical churches of tho Dominion must como' if our testimony is to bo effective, and our work in" this land crowned with success. • The Lambeth ''pronouncement -n:ay furnish ground for hoping in illio ultimate' reunion of ''Christendom, though its immediate proposals, as far as. wo aro concerned, will not for a moment be entertained; Init the Lambeth conference, is. assuredly right in declaring Hint tho Kingdom Of God will iiot como in ite glorious full ness, till there is in all the world bilt one flock and one Shepherd. In tins mission fields tho movement for union grows apace. . In. Scotland ■ the Estab•lishcjd Church and. tilfe United Pwp CliurCh are- now on the very verge of. n.ll incorporating union.. In. Canaan! it is widely recognised that if union does not ccjne i|pwdil,v liie Presbyterian Church stands to .lose the whole of the West, In Australia the cause has for the 'moment 'suffered arrest, but it will ' lie : 'only, for the moment. Union must come- in Australia—it 'must como everywhere. •' A Definite Proposal. "Happily, however, as indicated above, tlie committee is in a position to do nuore thian indulge in predictions (of ooniing union either hero or elsewhere. The developments among tho Congregationalists anticipate! in last report have .issued in., a dofmiwK, proposal of that Church to come over in-a body into our own. Practically, it amounts to this, for they'propose to.accept our doctrine and .polity, without reserve, asking only ; for a few immaterial adjustments, which -we are sure the Assembly-will cordially .concede. . "Tho proposals of the -Congregational .Union's committee ,-havo ;.boen endorsed by the congregations of that Church, 'and are as fdlow:— . . 1. That, until the larger union is eonmimmated, and the name of the United Church ■ agreed upon, the Presbyterians-shall place upon their notioe boards, documents, etc., the words 'Presbyterian Church of New Zoaland, with which is united the Congregational Union of New Zealand,' and that tho notice boards of- tho present Congregational ■ churches shall bear the words 'Con.grogationaf.' Church, united with tlio ■ Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.'. <-• '

2.' That, wliilo remaining in tlio pastorate He occupied n,t the timo wh«n union was effected, every Congaticinal minister now jji tlie Congregational Union of New Zealand shill bo received into the minisay / of the United: Church without fur- • tlier induction service. 8. That every church' within the union shall bo free to follow its own ordor of service. 4. That tliero ehnll bo one standard - of ministerial training; but that the Congregational 'extra-mural conivo sliall bo rjcogniscd for those taking "it nt the time of union! . 5. That the question of the disposal of funds derived from (lie sale of any' Congregational properties consequent upon union shall bo left to ■ the United Church, with the recom- ■ mendation that such a proportion of those funds as may be dee-minl necessary bo used to augment the Congregational Pastors' Provident fund with a viow to its equalisation with tho Prcsbytorian Ministers'. Retiring • Fund; and.that a committee of ex- - ports, representing tho uniting denomination?, be Pet up to sccuro an • aotuarial and cquitablo adjustment. o.'That, in view of tlve fact that existing Congregational cliurohos hivye ' deo interest • in tlie great and his- ' torio London . Missionary Society, which interest lhey <l<wo to .con-, 'servo, provision to this end bo made, -cither (1) by voting an.animal sum 1 rnual to tlio averago contribution of ■- tho five 'years preceding union, euoii arrangem'ont to bo reconsidorcd'nt tho end of fivo years, and, if need be, , readjusted; or (2) that. the London Missionary Society be granted tlio same facilities as existing Presbyterian missions for appealing to tho, congregations of-tho United .Cliurcii. Tho Barrlor Aot. Tlio report added that a deputation representative of tlio Congregational Church would state tho case for that body. Tlio Assembly would libto an opportunity of discussing tho proposals, and would bo asked thereafter to send thorn down to Presbyteries undar tlio Barrier Act. If the Presbyteries in terms of tho Aot wore favourable, the union of tlio Presbyterian' and Congregational Churches of thia .Dominion would bo speedily effected. In two years' timo at tlio longest the Cliurcli enould i ■mcflt as one. From one. point of view Mi is would bo . but a small instalment of union, but frojn another point of. viow the transaction would bo deeply signilica.nt. It would bp the first definite achievement in tho causo of undou between fcwo bodies of widejy divergent polities, and would encourage tho hearts of the friauds of union everywhere. A first etop. It would iw foLowed by othar steps in this and other countries. Tho report coiioludod with tliQ following expression of joy;—"JJut apart from this the Assembly cannot but give thanks to God that these two Churches are likely in tho immediate future to stand together in tho sight of God and mon as one in doctrine, polity, and ecclesiastical organisation, as tiiey have long beoji one in heart and irimil in tho proclamation of tho ovangol and devotion to tho King and Head of the Church. To Whom bo tlu> glory and the praise I" . In moving the adoption of tho report, tho convenor, I>r. flibb, pointed out that tho Lambeth pronouncement marked an advance, which glndoned tlie hearts of all. The proposals made by tho COll- - Churon of New Zeai.and in iU eight articles set out in the report, practically asked nothing of tho Assembly, and he oommendod th«m to all. It

waa aprecursor, ho trusted, of union* to oomo, and would lend ..to their, union with tho Methodist Cluivch. The motion was seconded by (lie Jicv. J, Pafcerson (Christchurch), who stated Mint nono of the eight articles Qncronched in any way upon the principles of tho Presbyterian Clmrcli. Deputation Received. Tlio report was received, and a deputation was hoard from the Consreeational Church. Tlio deputation was warmly welcomed by tho Moderator (Roy. S. \y, Currie) who stated that although tho Cougregatjonalists were a small Church as iar ds the Dominion was concerned, the}' represented a very strong Church, 0110 that had done great work in the past, Several members of ( the deputation then addressed the Assembly. Itov. W. Saunders (Dnnejin), in the course of a rpirited address, commend-' 0(1 the proposed union, and ridded that Hie creod and polity of tlio Presbyterirtn Churoh vtre well-nigh perfect. The polity scrawl to him to liq so perfect that whether union was cffectcd or-not ho would certainly suggest that it bo adopted by his Church.- The Congregationalisms brought hs their greatest asset tlio London Missionary • Society, which was second to none! This would give the young people of the Presbyterian Church larger fields in which to servij tho Master. Mr. Peter Barr said that tho Congregationa'.ists believed that the • two Churches wero drawing closer together and -.becoming mono like each other. Differences that existed in tlio past oh doctrinal matters had become less and' less, until to-day ho questioned whether any remained. There were 110 essential differences between two Churches. Union was necessary if only, to combat the argument of the outsider who was constantly twitting churchgoers with tho differences existing between the Churches, and who spoko of tlio Christian Clmrcli. as consisting of so: muuy different religions, Tlio Rev. J. Beed GCeisson said that, K'esb.vterin.Tiism was 'only , organised Congregationalism. So far as'polity was concerned, the Congregational Church had been moving in the direction of the Presbyterian Church for some timo past. Mr. -Tolui EwQ.n also addressed'the Assembly. , The Report Discussed. In tho course of a general discussion, l?cv. J. H. M'Kcnzie drew attention to tlio legal difficulties for bot.ii Churches involved in the change of name. • Other'members, while not expressing opposition to the proposed union, were inclined to think that tho committee had acted with unduo haste. Dr. Gibb,i in reply to this point, explained that the union would not Ixs. consummated until they got an Act of Parliament, adjusting all matters:relating to properties.

. Mr. W. 11. Rose moved' that the report lie referred baok to the Union Committee.' It was, ho said, unfortunate that members of the committed were not in ngreomont. Til's motion was ruled out of order. Clause 1 ivns put to the Assembly, and carried 011 (lie voices. , After further discussion the I?cv. T. Mitler moved tho adjournment of; .-the Assembly on tho ground that member* had not lind sufficient time to consider the report. Further ilifciißsion on tlie proposals wis accordingly adjourned till 11 o'elouk 011 Monday morning. '