COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1922, Page 14

COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

WORK OX BEHALF OF YOUNG PEOPLE. A conference of representatives of denominational youth work organisations and Sunday school unions was heldin Christchurch this week. Delegates froni the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational Chnrchcs, the Church of Christ, and the Sunday school unions of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and. Otago attended. Mr. J. W. Court (president of the Auckland Sunday School Union) occupied the chair. It was resolved to set up a New Zealand Council of Religioxis Education, to comprise eighteen members to be appointed by the youth work departments of tbe churches and twelve nienibersr.to-t>e appointed by the Sunday school unions. The proposed body is to hare no administrative authority, but will be advisory only.

The following suggested platform was drawn up, and will bo submitted to a conference to be held in Wellington, about September next: —(1) The securing of a more adequate moral and religious education of the childhood of this Dominion; (2) the admission of Nciv Zealand as a section of the world's Sunday School Association; (3) the promotion of national and provincial youth religious work conventions; (4) the arrangement of visits of overseas- experts as opportunities occur: (5) to survey the national field in Sunday school interests; (G) to study the literature and lesson course problems in New Zealand; (7J to consult regarding the standardisation and efficiency of (a) Sunday schools, and (b) teacher training; (S) to attach educationists in sympathy with our work for leadership training; (1)) to enlist community effort for the general object of the council; (10) to explore the possibilities of Sunday school enterprise in the mission field in coordination with Australia; (11) to make representations to the Government or to local authorities on questions affecting the moral and religious life of the yuung; (12) to appoint a general secretary to organise and supervise the activities of the council.

Mr. TV". C. Pearce, associate general secretary of the World's Sunday School Association, was present, and gave valuable advice in the decisions arrived at.