METHODIST CHURCH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 12

METHODIST CHURCH

OUT-THOUGHT BY MARXISTS CRITICISM AT CONFERENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. Friday A series of decreases, especially in youth work, was reported to the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand to-day. The conference viewed the position with grave anxiety and Mr R. C. Clark vigorously contended that the Church was beintg out-thought by the disciples of Marxism. Statistics were presented as follows:—lncreases: Schoolrooms, 4; ministers and probationers, 6; home missionaries, 1 ; members on probation, 25; junior members, 60; infant members, 480; communicants, 175. Decreases: Churches, 3; other preaching places, 6; local preachers, 5; class leaders, 50; members on roll, 147; Sunday school membership had declined by 787 and young men’s and women's Bible classes by 1446. “Milk and Water Gospel” “We are materially minded. Until Christianity is shifted on to a different plane there will be no hope of making up the leeway,” said Mr Clark. “Nothing has been said at this conference about the unity of Churches, than which there is no more pressing problem in the world to-day. We are being out-thought by the Marxists, who have a gospel and platform compared with which our Gospel is a milk-and-water thing altogether.” More and more he was., coming to the opinion that unless the Methodist Church re-thought itself within 30 or 40 years it would cease to exist. * A more careful supervision of membership rolls was urged by several speakers.