THE CHURCH AND BROADCASTING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 10

THE CHURCH AND BROADCASTING

. * METHODS EMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN SUGGESTIONS TO COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Criticism of the present system of broadcasting church services is expressed by a writer in a recent issue of the "Church News," and the suggestion is brought forward that each religious denomination should have its own broadcasting station. The text of the article is as follows: — The Presbyterian Church is evidently not very cordially in agreement with the policy of broadcasting ordinary Sunday services. The General Assembly committee reported that while it was probably too late to press for a reversal, the British Broadcasting Corporation practice had much to commend it, in that except for special national services, the rule against broadcasting services during ordinary hours of church worship was strictly enforced. The British Broadcasting Corporation ordinary Sunday broadcast is usually from its own studiochapels between 8 and 8.45 p.m. There is a central advisory committee, whose executive director is the Rev. i\ A. iremonger (formerly editor of the "Guardian") and the broadcasts are provided under the committee's supervision, the participating denominations being the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian. Methodist, Congregational, and Baptist. There is no strict rota, but an average distribution of preachers is maintained. In Scotland, however, there is a monthly Sunday evening broadcast from St. Culhbcrt's, Edinburgh. The report stated that the facilities showed that the larger bodies were not receiving opportunities proportionate to their census strength. One with a population percentage of 0.9 uses 8.1 per cent, of the total number of broadcast services; another with 0.6 has 9.6 per cent.; while the largest denomination, holding 41.2 per cent., has only 21.6 per cent, of the services. It is reasonably argued that an improvement upon the present rotas might well be made in view of the above facts, says the "Outlook," but the committee had a wider vision than mere proportional rights to the microphone. It commended the British Broadcasting Corporation scheme of serial broadcast religious addresses. "Our church has men highly competent for such work, and so have some of the sister churches." The suggestion has been sent on for consideration by the New Zealand Council of Religious Education in default of any other suitable inter-church body. Courses suggested are education for Sunday School teachers and youth workers; as so much sporting information is broadcast, the religious community has a fair claim to at least a weekly session of church news. The logical outcome of the discussions is that the churches, or each church, should have a station of their or its own. "Indeed, we regard the ultimate establishment of such a station as inevitable and necessary to the church's witness in this modern age." Something might be done by acquiring one of the B stations which are hanging on in hopes that Parliament .will sanction sponsored programmes. A half share of a low-power B station is said to have a commercial value of about £SOO. In New South Wales there is a well-conducted Roman Catholic station; the Council of Christian Congregations also have one. the Theosophical Society a large one, reputed to be the best eauipped private station in Australia, under conditions returning a handsome profit.