PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1940, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES. PROBLEM OF SALARIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N.. November 21. The sessional report of the maintenance of the Ministry committee, which was dealt with in committee by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and has now been released for publication, expresses the opinion that some immediate relief should be given io ministers and home missionaries by increased salaries. Several recommendations were approved by the assembly to be referred to all presbyteries, deacons' courts and committees of management for consideration and report. These included the following:— That the maintenance of the ministry take immediate steps to improve the standard minimum stipends of ministers and stipends of home missionaries. That the maintenance of the Ministry committee be authorised to appoint an executive committee comprised mainly of laymen and that this committee be located in Christchurch and include at least one representative from a South Island presbytery other than Christchurch, and three from the North Island.

That Presbyteries be instructed to set up presbytery committees composed mainly of laymen to act in conjunction with this executive committee in Christchurch with the immediate objective of raising stipends of ministers to £330 and proportionately the stipends of home missionaries. That a campaign be inaugurated as soon as possible for the collection of funds for the augmentation of stipends. That the general treasurer be authorised to pay out of the home mission capital account (£3333 at credit) on instruction from the missions committee for subsidising home mission stations and aided charges to raise stipends for married ordained home missionaries unordained men to £lB3, single unordained men to £174, and ministers to £3OO. That the maintenance of the ministry committee, in consultation with the finance committee, recommend to the next, assembly the amount at which the minimum stipend should be fixed for 1942-43. That presbyteries be instructed to consider and report to the committee on the question of children’s allowances. for report to next assembly.