CHURCH UNION

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 6

CHURCH UNION

BISHOP'S PROPOSAL

A PERMANENT COMMISSION

OC NELSON, July 25. The subject of church union in New Zealand was discussed by the Bishop of Nelson (the Rt. Rev. P. W. Stephenson) in his charge to the Nelson Diocesan Synod. The Bishop suggested that the Council of Churches might set up a more or less permanent commission to take up the whole question with a view to action within a reasonable time.

"I will dare to let my imagination play a little on this theme," said the Bishop. "Here in New Zealand we have a small community, small enough for daring experiments. I could wish that the Church of New Zealand would be willing to take its courage in both hands and ask itself whether what is taking place in. South India should not also take place in New Zealand. "I know that there have been conversations in the past between the various churches in which differences have been explored. But such academic discussions might go on for centuries without issuing to any practical action. Could not the Council of Churches set up, with the approval of the participating churches, a more or less permanent commission to take up this whole question with a view to action within a reasonable time? Such a commission would do two things. It would examine the South India proposals and would explore our common heritage and our agreements, rather than our differences.

QUESTION OF MINISTRY,

"I am not altogether unaware of the questions involved or of the historically hardened opinions or prejudices which would have to be met. These I cannot; touch on here, but I know that quite early the question of ministry would by many be seen to be a stumbling block. I know also that in many country parts of New Zealand, as iar as our Church is concerned we arc already ministering to people of other denominations, not only in the Word but also in the Sacraments. This is inevitable if we are to be loyal to our Lord in a country such as this where good Christian people are cut off from the ministrations of their own ministreis. To me the proposed solution of South India meets this question of ministry. All ministers of the contracting churches will xbe ministers of the United Church, but all future ordinations will be an episcopal ministry.

"START SHOULD BE MADE."

"In this way the whole Church within a generation will have an episcopal ministry. If the brethren of the non-episcopal churches are willing to accept this situation we should rejoice. Whether they would be willing to do so in New Zealand is a matter for investigation, but I believe a sincere start should be made. It would be a great thing for the cause of Christ, in New Zealand and in the world, if not only one of the younger churches was able to make this experiment, under the guidance, we believe, of the Holy Spirit, but also if one of the older churches, namely, the Church in New Zealand, could also find itself led by the Holy Spirit to a similar decision. May God guide us aright."