CHURCH UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 32, 17 November 1939, Page 3

CHURCH UNION.

PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST. . CONVERSATIONS TO BE HELD. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Methodist Church of New Zealand has formally invited the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to join in conversations to explore the possibility of a union of the two churches. The Presbyterian General Assembly has decided to appoint a. committee to enter into conversations with the Methodist Church and to report to the next assembly. The invitation was warmly welcomed by several members of the assembly, who ui’ged a further effort to achieve a union of the churches. However, the Rev. Frank Wilkinson expressed doubt whether the church as a whole was ready for such a step. There was widespread and regrettable apathy, he said. , The Rev. J. T. Macky urged that the Church of England should be included in any proposal for church union. Partial union of the Protestant churches would only hinder complete unity ~ , The Rev. M. W. Wilson said the assembly was not asked to commit itself, but was merely responding to an invitation. There was no question at present of inviting any other church. METHODIST*CONGREGATIONAL. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A basis for the union of the Methodist Church in New Zealand and the churches of the Congregational Union of New Zealand has been approved by the North Canterbury (Methodist Synod. A long schedule of doctrine, rules, and property was received and it was decided to ask the Dominion Methodist Conference to appoint a committee to make further reports to the synods and conference in 1941.