CHURCH AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 16

CHURCH AFFAIRS.

ASSEMBLY DEBATES.

REMARRIAGE OF DIVORCED. FIXED POLICY NEEDED. Complaint against the inconsistent attitude* adopted by different ministers towards remarrying divorced persons was voiced by several speakers yesterday afternoon when the lieneral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of NewZealand had under discussion the report of the committee on marriage and divorce. The Rev. J. A. Allan, of Mount Eden, convener, declared the committee had found itself sharply divided on some of the issues faced. Of the questions on which recommendations had been unanimously made, one was whether the assembly was to reject definitely the system in some countries where marriage was a State ceremony and where the parties, if'they wished, could have a religious ceremony afterwards. Along the line* of the committee's recommendation, the assembly expressed its opposition to the system of two ceremonies, civil and religious. Next Mr. Allan proposed that the committee be instructed to prepare a statement on marriage suitable for use in dealing with those about to marry, and to prepare a booklet dealing with the relations, physical and moral, between husband and wife. The Rev. J. D. Smith asked that as an amendment there should be drawn up a statement of the # Cliristian ideal of marriage, which parties would be expected to sign if they were to be married by the Presbyterian Church. Supporting this proposal as representing the considered judgment of the Dunedin Presbytery, the Rev. Principal J. Dickie declared" the Church should say it would not unite in holy wedlock any who did not accept the view of marriage as a lifelong physical and spiritual union. The amendment was rejected and tlumotion carried. A further motion, drafted by Mr. Allan, was adopted for submission to presbyteries. It expressed opposition to the granting of divorce for incompat ability or separation, by mutual consent—divorce could only be rightly sought on such grounds as adultery and desertion, which involved a positive offence against the marriage relation. The view was expressed that the Church ought not to solemnise the remarriage of any persons when she could not approve the grounds of their divorce..except in cases which exhibited repentance and purpose of amendment based on genuine Christian conviction. Mr. Allan said something needed to be done to make clear the Church's attitude and practice. The Rev. L. M. Rogers also urged the need for agreement in practice among ministers.