CHURCH UNION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 192, 10 May 1921, Page 6

CHURCH UNION

PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE’S PROPOSALS

A SERIES OF ARTICLES 'Articles which may form a basis of eftdon between the Presbyterian Church and the Congregational Church have been drafted by the Presbyterian General Assembly’s Union Committee, and will shortly bo considered by presbyteries. The General Assembly at* its next ~ meeting is not in any way bound to accept the articles, but it is hoped that either as now submitted or os amended by the presbyteries, they will ultimately be adopted and sent down to presbyteries under the Barrier Act. Then if the churches of the Congregational Union approve of tho assembly’s finding and the returns under the Barrier Act are satisfactory, the first meeting of the united churches may take place, according to tho convener of the assembly’s committee (Rev. Dr. Gibb), in 1023. Nd union can or will be effected until a Bill h> l9 been carried through Parliament giving the united church the full right and title to all its properties. .The proposals now drawn up by tho assembly's committee were framed after ’consultation with tho Union Committee of the Congregational Union. They will be discussed, by the Wellington Presbytery at its meeting to-night. Following uro the articles suggested :— Article I.—That the United Church 4iiall include and' consist of the Presbyterian Church. of New Zealang as existing previously to the union, and of the Congregational Union of New Zealand os existing previously to the union, and that the name of tho United Church shall be “The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand." Tha3 the notice boards and flhe headings of official correspondence of Presbyterian churches prior to the union shall bear tho words: "Pres- - byierian. Church, with which is united the Congregational Union of New Zealand" ; and tho notice boards and the headings: of official (correspondence of Congregational churches prior to the union shall bear the words: "Congregational Church, united with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.” Article ll.—That the basis in doctrine and polity of the United Church shall be the doctrine and polity of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at the date of the union. Article lll.—That the Synod of Otago and Southland shall, with respect to its ecclesiastical functions and to the trust properties and funds administered by it, retain the position and right's in the United Church hold by it in the Presby- . terian Church of New Zealand previously to the union. Article IV.—That all ministers of the Presbyterian Church, of New Zealand at the date of the union, and all ministers of the Congregational Union of New Zealand at the date of the union, shall be ministers of the united church. Article V.—That all the properties held and owned by fllie churches of the Congregational Union of New Zealand, at the date of the union, ehall be vested in the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees in terms of the Presbyterian Church Property Act, 1885, Article Vl.—That any proposal to close a church deemed superfluoim shall be considered by a special committee of the General Assembly; and no church shall be closed without the consent of a majority of the members and the recommendation to this effect of 'the Assembly’s Committee. Article Vll.—That the disposal of funds derived from the sale, consequent upon union, of any properties shall be determined by the assembly on. the recommendation of a special committee, consisting of members representing the two churches at the time of the union, end that, in the disposal, such proportion of those funds as may be agreed on shall be added to the Congregational Pastors' Provident Fund with a view to its ultimate equalisation with the Presbyterian Beneficiary Fund. Article VlTT.—That the Beneficiary Fund of the Presbyterian Church and the Pastors’ Provident Fund of the Congregational Church shall be amalga--1 mated as speedily as possible on a basis to be determined by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of. a cnmfnittee representing the uniting churches; and until amalgamation, is effected tho funds shall • e kept distinct and shall be administered separately by a committee of the united church in terms of existing regulations, ministers having claim only on the fund wherewith they were connected at the date of the union. Article IX.—That the missionary funds of the two churches shall lie amalgamated and devoted to the support of the missions carried on by the Presbyterian Church; but, in addition to this provision shall be made by the .General Assembly for continuoing the support now given to the London Missionary Society by the Congregational Union. Congregational Proposals. At the meeting between the two union committees the Congregational Committee put forward certain suggestions, of . which they had no power to accept any modifications. On' learning this and, moreover, considering them ae suggestions merely, some of which from their very nature could not be.embodied in a basis of union, the Presbyterian Committee unanimously agreed to approve thenj as they stood. They are embodied, ais 'far ' as' possible, in the barfs tof union brought down by the Presbyterian ' Committee which states that they may b regarded as m some sort an interpretation of certain clauses in the basis of union.