CENTENNIAL CHURCH CONGRESS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 552, 20 January 1950, Page 8

CENTENNIAL CHURCH CONGRESS

ETWEEN May 16 and May B 25, 1950, a Centennial Church Congress will be held in Christchurch. Canterbury is, of ‘course, an Anglican foundation, and was in 1923 the centre of the atl other Anglican Church Congress ‘that has been held in New Zealand. What is the purpose of a Congress, and what good does a Congress do? Such questions were asked after the first Congress. a "It was a move towards unity," said the New Zealand Churchman of July i, 1923. "It brought the six Dioceses of New Zealand together, and gave clergy and laity the chance of meeting as one Province. Then it was an opportunity for intercourse between Church people. It did much to break down the reserve which is characteristic of Anglican churchmanship. Again, it was undoubtedly an inspiration, especially to those who came from small and scattered districts. The crowds, the optimism of most of the speakers, the new ideas which came from hearing the experiences of others, all helped to send us home with new hope, and fresh courage in our work of extending the Kingdom of God. Last, but not least, it was a source of instruction. Everywhere there was. something to be learnt. New light was thrown on old difficulties. New methods were expounded by those who had successfully worked them. E To this second Congress, the theme of which will be God’s Word and God’s World, are coming Church members from

many parts of the Commonwealth, and from the Episcopal Church of America, and from Japan. Although the official Centennial celebrations do not start until August, it has been found more convenient, on account of travelling and accommodation difficulties, to hold the Congress in May. Morning and afternoon sessions will be taken up with addresses and discussions on special -divisions of the main theme, while large meetings will be held in the evenings, to which members of the general public will be invited. At the official reception, on the morning of Tuesdav, May 16, the Archbishop, of New Zealand will make special reference to the part played by the Church of England in the settlement of Canterbury. The titles of some of the lLother addresses are: "The Prophetic View of History," "The Christian Assault.on Secularism," "God, Man, and Marx," "Christ’s Challenge to Civilisation," "Christ and the Pacific."

Among the Church leaders who will deliver the addresses will be The Most Reverend H. W. K. Mowll, Archbishop of Sydney and. Primate of Australia, an Englishman who has had academic and pastoral experience in the forces, in Canada, and in Western China, where he was Assistant Bishop from 1922 to 1926, and Bishop from 1926 to 1933, in which year he went to. Sydney. An American who will be addréssing the Congress will be the Right Reverend Stephen Bayne, of the Diocese of Olympia, in the State of Washington. He was born in New York City, and was ordvained deacon in 1932 and a year later priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America. Since 1942 he has been Chaplain of Columbia University, and during 1944- 46 seryed as. Chaplain, U.S.N.R, The Churches of. the Eastern Pacific are to be represented by the Right Reverend . Michael Yashiro, Presiding Bishop of the Church in Japan, and it is hoped that the Missionary Bishops of Melanesia and Polynesia will also be present. As well as to the evening meetings, the general public will be invited to a luncheon meeting for. men, a women’s meeting under the auspices of the Mothers’ Union, and to a youth tea hour meeting. It is. hoped that these meetings will emphasise. that asin 1923 the 1950 Congress is an occasion for all Church people, clergy, and laity, to congregate and exchange ideas. ~* The NZBS is making arrangements to broadcast important sessions and services during the Congress.