MISSION FINANCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20125, 20 December 1939, Page 11

MISSION FINANCES

RETRENCHMENT DANGER PRESBYTERIAN PROBLEM AUCKLAND DISCUSSION One of the principal matters before the last meeting of the Auckland ‘Presbytery was the consideration of the mission ‘finances of the church.

The general treasurer of the church reported that the total amount allotted to the Auckland presbytery to raise for assembly schemes during the current year was £4107 and that the total received in the first Quarter was £342. The director of missions, the Rev. D. 'N. IMacDiarmid, wrote .bringing before presbytery the recent decision of the assembly that in the event of the church failing to meet the budget fund the missions -committee embark upon a scheme of retrenchment by reducing or eliminating medical work and reducing expenditure in home and Maori fields. Presbyteries were instructed to organise a campaign to inform the church of the consequences of retrenchment.

The convener of the presbytery’s missions committee, the Rev. W. J. Pellow, reported recommending that to meet the crisis in the church’s mission enterprise teams be appointed to meet the various congregations and that a month of self-denial be held from the end of ’February.

Mr. Mac Diarmid said the church was facing a very critical position both at home and abroad, and if it had to retrench abroad then it would also go back in its work in New Zealand. Drastic action would be required to bring the whole position l before the church.