CHURCH CO-OPERATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1049, 13 August 1930, Page 16

CHURCH CO-OPERATION

DISCUSSION BY PRESBYTERY EXPERIMENT IN WELLINGTON Closer co-operation between the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last evening. Proposals were raised in the form of a report on an experiment in cooperation between these churches that has been organised in Wellington, but in view <*f the importance of the issues involved full discussion was deferred until next meeting of the Presbyterv. Tho Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, convener of the public questions committee, outlined the three proposals. They were:— (1) To establish a join committee of representatives of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, four from each. (2) That in any case of church extension in areas worked by the two churches, the matter be refered to tho joint committee for consideration and advice. (3) That in districts where only one of the churches could supply services, the other church recommend its members to link up with tho existing church. CHURCH EXTENSION The definition of “church extension” was the big difficulty, said Mr. Marsh. Local conditions varied so much that it was not desirable to tie the hands of the congregations by the action oi Joint committees. There was the possibility of both disaster and great promise In the proposals. As far as the linking up of members of one church with the other was concerned, the committee found that the formal adoption of the Wellington proposal would merely give official recognition to what was more or less the common practice in these circumstances. Tho committee was of opinion that no good purpose would be served by making steps toward union at present. The most promising basis for present discussion were the recent proposals of a federal council. At tho suggestion of Mr. Marsh it was decided to postpone discussion of the items in the report until the next meeting of the presbytery.