DECLINE SHOWN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 19, 15 October 1937, Page 6

DECLINE SHOWN

-Piesa Assocxation.)

Baptist Church Membership REPORT TO N.Z. UNION

(By Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. A decline of 40 in church membership during the year was noted in the annual report of the Baptist Union of New Zealand to-day. The membership a.t the end of August this year was 898'3, compared with 9023 at the same date last year, stated the report. Baptisms 'during the year also declined, the total being 392. The councii urgea every Minister and member to see if some campaign could not he entered on to regain the lost ground and make a definite advance. "A committee has been set up to go into' church membership," said Mr. E. McGregor (Morrinsville). In moving tbe adoption of tlie report, Mr. J. Jackson Purdie (Dunedin) said that the decrease in nuinbers was disquieting, but it bad to be renrembered tbat there bad been a severe. purging of tbe rolls in several ehurches. Althougb 'tbe numbers had declined, the giviug was the highesfc on record. , Mr. H. P. Des Moulins (Dunedin) suggested that more useful inl'ormation for the Assembly would be provided if a record of average church attendance, in addition fo the roll number, was provided in the annual reports. The secretary' s jeport stated that there were credit balances in all accounts except tliat of the Missionary Society, and even there the figures were the best for seven -years. The response to the Self-Denial and Thanksgivin^ Offering had been £3318. The trnstees and members of the Auckland Tabernacle were tlianked for their gift of £1150 for various denominational funds. it was stated that a record number of young men were #ipplying for admission to the Baptist Theological College.