MINISTERIAL STIPENDS

Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 3

MINISTERIAL STIPENDS

DISCUSSED BY DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY The Presbytery of Christchurch has written to the Presbytery of Dunedin in regard to tiie financial position of ministers and home missionaries of the church in New Zealand. It proposes to submit an overture to the next General Assembly. In the course of a short discussion at last night’s meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery it wks pointed out that the economic status of the ministry had declined to a considerable extent while the cost of living had risen in a corresponding degree. The stipends of ministers were really less to-day than they were 20 years ago, and this lowered economic status of the ministry was having a serious effect upon the work of the church. It had become apparent that ministers were breaking down before the normal ago of retirement, and this was due very largely, it was considered, to the economic conditions under which they had to work. It was further pointed out that Die methods adopted to raise the Assembly funds were carefully organised, hut the minister was controlled by his deacons’ court. There was, it was urged, a good case for setting up a central fund from which all stipends should be paid.