CHURCH UNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1940, Page 9

CHURCH UNION

4 METHODISTS COMMEND PRINCIPLE. CONFERENCE RESOLUTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, March 1. A resolution commending the principle of church union was adopted at today’s concluding session of the Methodist Conference. A special committee was set up to consider the whole question and report to the next, conference. Conversations between the Methodist Church and the Congregational Church of New Zealand about a possible basis of union, were reported on. It was also stated that some communication had been received from the Presbyterian Church, with the result that it was deemed advisable to defer action for a year pending more detailed information on the subject. The following resolution, moved by the Rev M. A. Rugby Pratt, was carried: —

“Conference declares its conviction that it is the will of God for his Church that she should seek to express her unity in Christ Jesus in terms unmistakeable to the world, and also that she should use her resources in a manner that will transcend all denominational rivalry and best promote the interests of the Kingdom of God. We rejoice in the growing unity and mutual understanding manifest among Christian people, and declare our readiness to co-operate heartily in any effort initiated with a view to bringing about a measure of church union with Presbyterian Congregational, and/or other churches. Should the response of the Presbyterian and/or Congregational Church, through their chief courts, be favourable to the.approach of conference, initiation of a movement toward union should at an early date be submitted for approval of local church courts.”

A special committee, to' be located in Christchurch, was set up to consider the whole question, of church union, and to report to the next conference.