CHURCH UNITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9545, 10 March 1919, Page 2

CHURCH UNITY.

METHODIST APPROVAL.

CHiIISTCHURCH, March 8

The Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand yesterday, in response to a communication from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, decided that steps towards Church unity should be taken.

The Rev. C. H.<Laws, convener of a committee appointed, to consider the question, moved the following; motions :—

"(1) The Conference desires to express its appreciation of the action of the Presbyterian Assembly in sending a deputation to convey its fraternai 'greetings and to bring before the Conference the question of Church .union and cordially reciprocates the greetings thus brought to it. . "(2) The Conference receives with satisfaction the communication of the Assembly, through its clerk, conveying the discussion on union in the, recent Assembly, and desires to assure the Assembly of its willingness cordially to receive and consider any overture in favour of union that may be forwarded to it by the Assembly at a subsequent' date.

-■ "(3) The Conference is impressed by the widespread sentiment in favour, of Church union that is stirring throughout the Christian Church to-day, and especially by the success that has thus far attended the negotiations for the corporate union of the Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Methodist Churches in Canada and in Australia. "(4) The Conference affirms its adherence to the principle of union between the Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist Churches in New Zealand, providing that a satisfactory basis of union both as to creed and policy shall be equitable to the several united Churches'. ' ' .

"(5) The Conference is fully persuaded that such a union would be a practical step towards the recovery of the New Testament ideal of the unity of ,the Christian Church, and would also remove serious causes of disability and weakness and add greatly to. the power and effectiveness of the Evangelical Church in. the Dominion, and prays that the wisdom of God may continue to guide His people, until this' eiid is reached." y

The motion, was carried, and it was decided to send copies to the. Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly and the chairman of the Congregational Union.