WOMEN in the CHURCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 210, 24 November 1927, Page 17

WOMEN in the CHURCH

Presbyterians Discuss Eldership

PUBLIC OPINION FAVOURABLE

SHOULD women assume a greater share in the government and administration of the Church-

New Zealand Presbyterians had this question before them at the General Assembly in Christ church, this week. The right of women to share with men the honour of serving the Church was championed with considerable spirit. The Auckland Presbytery, as a matter of fact, rejected this proposal, though members will be given another opportunity of discussing it.

TAESPITE this verdict public, opinion in Auckland Is, on the whole, decidedly favourable both to women elders and women ministers. A distinguished woman minister, the Rev, Margaret Sutton-Sharpe, who was in Auckland last week, said that women in the ministry had proved of real value. The Unitarians, to which sect the Rev. Margaret belongs, has several women preachers. Miss Maude Royden, probably the best known women preacher of the day and deservedly renowned for her work at the City Temple, London, i 3 expected in Auckland before long. The Church of England has long recognised its order of deaconesses. The Presbyterian and Methodist Churches have women workers giving spiritual and material assistance both in home and foreign missions. Other churches have availed themselves of women’s services in different spheres. Yet few have granted their daughters the privilege of ordination and recognition from that 'point of view. Invited to give their opinions by THE SUN, citizens replied; Mr. H. B. Burnett (president of the Presbyterian Church Officers’ Association) : We cannot keep the women out of it. Their admission to eldership is bound to come. It will have to come. If it does it will mean an alteration to our rules as at present the association bars wontten from membership. This matter will come up for consideration at the next General Assembly. It is certainly an interesting point. The Rev. W. Macdonald (Presbyterian minister, Epsom): I stood out against it for a while, but now I believe, on looking round, that it might do a great deal of good. As for the ministry, that has been discussed in Scotland, but I do not think it lias been considered here. I feel that it, too, will come in time. We are living in a great age. and we must progress. All the doors seem to be opening to the womenfolk. Miss Ellen Melville (Audsjand City Councillor and a Presbyterian) : Yes, I have always thought that women were just as capable as men of being spiritual leaders. I do believe in women elders, though I am not personally aspiring to that office! I am emphatically in favour of both elders and ministers. The Rev. J. Lamb Harvey (Minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church): I have always been in favour of both women elders and ministers, and was very sorry indeed when the Auckland Presbytery decided against women elders. My view is that St. Paul legislated for his own time and not for ours. Miss Royden at the City Temple in London has been a marked success as a preacher of the gospel. Mrs. Nellie Ferner (Justice of the Pijace and a member of the Children’s Court): As lam not a member of the Presbyterian Church, I would rather not discuss the matter.

The Rev. Evan R. Harries (Presbyterian minister): T would rather not say anything at all at present. The subject will again come before Presbytery as a message from General Assembly. Canon Grant Cowen (Vicar of St. Matthew’s): Seven years ago.a special committee of the Lambeth Conference

presented a report in regard to deaconesses and their special work in the Church. The Church of England offers woman ail opportunity to take part in her work —to undertake baptisms and other duties. Yet Ido not think there has been the response from women that one would have expected. Councillor Alice Basten (Auckland City Council): Though not a Presbyterian, I approve of the a'dmission of women to some official status in the actual government of church affairs. The time for this reform in most denominations is long overdue. The women are the mainstay of every church. The Rev. T. Haliiday (Presbyterian Minister, Grey Lynn): There are exceptions, of course, to every rule, but my humble opinion is we should leave these offices to the men. There is work for both men and women in the church. Mrs. John Cook (Justice of the Peace); Personally, I am against women elders, except 'in extreme cases, as. for instance, in the backblocks, where suitable men might not be available. Women preachers Ir, ye already proved their worth both in the home and foreign missions. Miss M. Royden is a woman who has proved an outstanding success as a preacher. Queues line up to hear her.