PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—RULES OF PROCEDURE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2685, 30 April 1885, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—RULES OF PROCEDURE.

[xo the editor.]

Sir— The following rules, taken from the “ Rules and Forms of Procedure,” will be interesting in the present condition of the Presbyterian Church, Kumara :

1. “The Board of Management have no power to contract debt on the security of the property.”—Rule 12 page 16. ’

2. “ Should a Manager be suspended from privileges by the session, or leave the congregation, or have his name removed from the roll of adherents, he ceases to be entitled to act as a member of the Board.”—Rule 7, page 16. “ It belongs to the Presbytery (inter alia) to receive demissions and loose ministers from their charges.” I can find no mention of the law referred to and made so much of by Mr Campbell, and would be obliged to him to point it out. I have examined all the books on church law in my possession, and have not met with a law requiring that before a resignation is accepted, the congregation affected must be consulted. Ordinarily it would no doubt be p ru l dent and proper so to do : but the Presbytery is the judge as to when and in what circumstances this is to be done or omitted.—l am, &c.,

W. Douglas, Hokitika, April 28, 1885.

P-S.—l append a portion of the formula signed by the Rev. Mr Hay at his nomination ;—“ I promise that through the grace of God, I shall firmly and constantly adhere to the same, and to the utmost of my power, shall in my station assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church by Sessions, Presbyteries, and General Assemblies; and that I shall, in mv practice, conform to the said worship, and submit to the said discipline and government, and I promise that I shall follow no divisive courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline or government of this church.” Perhaps I may be accused of “ insolence ” and “ intimidation ” in making the above extracts \V. D.