TRAINING MINISTERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 646, 24 April 1929, Page 1

TRAINING MINISTERS

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH NEEDS COLLEGE A GREAT WORK Speaking at a banquet at the Beresford Street Congregational Church last evening, the Rev. R. C. Roberts, 8.A., 13. D., dean of the Congregational College Committee, placed before the gathering facts concerning what had ueen done and is at present beingdone in the way of providing educational facilities with a sound, practical and adequate educational training, equipment and preparation of men for tho ministry. “At present the scholars are under the wing of such outstanding scholars as Dr. Laws, Dr. Ranston and Mr. C. R. Laws, of the Methodist College,” he said. “After completing the course at the Trinity College they will continue for a year or more under my tuition. When they have finished their courses and are presented with a certificate of proficiency they will have x'eceived as thorough, comprehensive and exacting a course as any in any university or school of theology on the face of the globe. “It is our rural men that present the greatest problem, and I can assure you that I have applied myself wholeheartedly, assiduously and conscientiously to assist these men,” said Mr. Roberts.

They have the charge and responsibility of churches upon their shoulders. There is thus a constant and incessant demand upon their time, resources and energies in so far as their pulpit preparation and pastoral duties are concerned. Our problem is to hammer out a syllabus, offer facilities for study, and put in operation machinery which will equip these men educationally not only to do their work efficiently, but which will warrant us as a denomination, at some future date, accepting these men as fully accredited, fully qualified Congregational ministers. “New Zealand must produce as far as possible her own preachers. To do that she needs a college. As Congregationalists we have always been to the fore in every educational movement.

“Here is a piece of work already accomplished, but not yet finished, which will rank among the great triumphs of those who work by faith and live by faith. If my efforts will assist in the advancement of the great work I shall ever praise my Maker for bringing me to New Zealand,” concluded the dean.