METHODIST CHURCH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 9

METHODIST CHURCH

CONFERENCE AFFAIRS MISSION SUPERINTENDENT OFFICERS APPOINTED CHRISTCHURCH, Friday Several Important appointments were made at the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand to-day. The offices filled were those of superintendent of the home mission department, three youth directors, and a tutor at the theological college to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of the Rev. A. J. Seamer. The Rev. G. I. Laurenson was appointed general superintendent of home missions, the Rev. H. J. Odell 1 was appointed assistant superintendent, an office previously held by Mr Laurenson and the Rev. E. P. Blamires, who relinquishes the post of young people's director after 17 years’ service, was relieved of circuit work for a year to enable him to visit the United States iand England. i The following three new directors were appointed by the conference:—■ The Rev. C. T. Symons, of South Australia, Mr A. E. Bate and lhe Rev. M. iA. McDowell. The appointments are • for six years from next April. The Rev. E. W. Hames, M.A.. was ■appointed resident tutor at Trinity ; Methodist Theological College, Auckland. to take the place of the Rev. W. T. Blight, who has resigned after eight years' service at the college. Theological Training Eight candidates were accepted for the ministry. Six of these will enter i Trinity Methodist Theological College in Auckland for training, and two will be admitted as probationer ministers. The candidates to enter the college are Messrs J. J. Lewis. W. .T. Morrison Auckland), R. F. Clement (South Auckland). C. TI. Skuse. L. Y. Willing (Wellington and A. F. Collins | (Otago-Southland).

j The probationers are the Revs. H. A. Cochrane (Auckland) and R. Grice ! (Hawke's Bay-Manawatu). In addition to the iwo new candidates the following were accepted as probationers from ihe college:—The Revs. L. A. ,D. Hayman. G. P. Lucas. C. B. Old- ; field, J. S. Waite and J. K. Watson. Stationing Committee I Ministers accepted for ordination by th f ' conference were the Revs. O. E. Burton. C. L. Dude”. J. L. G. Hanna, C. T. .T. Luxton, \V. A. "Mills, R. Thornley and A. R. Whiteford. Except. Mr Thornley. who is in England, ! and whose ordination wil take place j there, they will be ordained at a serjvien on Monday evening. I The following lay representatives were appointed to the stationing committee*—Messrs S. E. Chappell, F. E. Sutherland (Auckland). P. Rush ton, j. T. Bryant (South Auckland). C. E. Bellringer. E. Dixon (Taranaki-Wa-nganui), L. A. Davis, Miss L. Hodder (Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu), N. R. Seddon, E. Ileggie (Wellington), H. J. Savage. M. Wratt (Nelson). M. Kershaw. W. C. Francis (North Canterbury), J. Holdgate, H. C. B. Withell (South Canterbury). D. -T. Wesney, G. S. Gapper (Otago-Southland), and D. C. Cameron (Solomon Islands).