TRAINING OF MINISTERS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 8

TRAINING OF MINISTERS

+ DISCUSSION BY SYNOD ASSESSMENT ON PARISHES NOT FAVOURED “If you put such a burden on parishes, they will get to the stage where they will no longer be able to afford curates,” said the Ven. Archdeacon C. L. Mountfort, discussing a resolution proposing that Synod should agree to the principle of an assessment on parishes tor the training of clergy, at the annual Synod of the Christchurch Diocese yesterday. He moved an amendment “that Synod agrees that money is necessary for the training of the clergy, and that the Standing Committee be asked to investigate ways and means of making the money available for that purpose.” The amendment was carried. The discussion arose during consideration of a resolution moved by the Rev. D. M. Taylor, aimed at improving the recruitment and training of ministers. The resolution was the outcome of the report of the Synod committee on the training and supply of ordinands, which said that the Church of England was not attracting enough first-class men to her ministry, and was giving students inadequate education.

Canon A. H. McC. Acheson said he was in favour of assessing parishes only as a last resort. “I feel pretty strongly that the best investment for the Church at the present time is in men and buildings, and not in stocks and shares.” he added.

Archdeacon Mountfort said that the resolution had in mind only the academic training of the ministry. “Practical training is just as important,” he sepd. ' "If you put another £52 on to my parish I will have to think very carefully whether I can afford a curate or not,” he added.

“Poor Pay the Cause” Discussing the clause in the resolution which recommended increasing theological exhibitions to £l3O a year, the principal of College House (Canon S. Parr) said it would be better to give ordinands a cash sum on their ordination. “A deacon going out doesn’t even get the basic wage. A layman told me this morning that poor pay was the cause of the shortage of curates,” he said. Increasing exhibitions would not increase numbers in the ministry.

It had rather been suggested that College House was inadequate, added Canon Parr. “On the whole, the standard of College House, and I will say it in my last words, is well up to the examination standard in the Dominion. We have taken a consistently high place in the results. College House has produced a ministry which would be coveted by the most exacting diocese. If you require evidence, look around you,” he added.

As a layman. I welcome the amendment, ’ said Mr H. M. Burgin (Rangiora). “I would be very happy to have had the expense of the clergy training scheme tacked on to the centennial church extension fund. I cannot see any point in raising £53,000 to build more churches if you have not the clergy to serve those churches when they are built. I do not think many of us can stand many more assessments in our parishes.” he added.

Mr A. J. Scott, who was a member of the special committee which made the report and recommendations, said that the committee had done its best.

“Apparently a number seem to think it was a poor best,” he added.

The Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop West-Watson) said that Synod was most grateful to the committee, which had gone to a great deal of trouble in preparing a report. Before the amendment was put to the vote, Mr Taylor said that one of the reasons for suggesting the assessment of parishes was that it was felt that huge amounts should not be raised for future generations to pay. “We felt that it was a terrific job. and that it was only for our own day that we had to raise the money. We also wanted the income to be steady,” he said.

The resolution was passed with slight amendments. In the clause recommending that theological exhibitions be increased to £l3O, the figures “£130” were deleted.

OFFICERS ELECTED

The following officers were elected at the annual Synod of the Christchurch Diocese yesterday: —standing committee, clePgy: the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. A. K. Warren), the Ven. Archdeacons W. W. Averill, C. L. Mountfort, W. T. Williams, and E. A. Osmers, the Rev. Canons A. H. McC. Acheson and A. C. T. Purchas. and the Revs. F. O. B. Lane. W. C. Wisdom, and H. A. Childs. Laity: Messrs J. C. Guinness, G. W. Walker. J. W. N. Salisbury. A. J. Scott, L. R. Burgess, R. S. D. Harman, L. A. Charles. E. H. S. Hamilton. H. V. Ward, and S. R. Cuming. St. Margaret’s College Trust Board: the Rev. Canon S. Parr. Board of governors of Craighead School: the Rev. L. A. Barnes and Messrs L. A. Charles and A. E. Lawrence. Christchurch Diocesan Youth Council: the Rev. Canon H. M. Cocks, the Revs. W. W. Robinson. C. W. Kent-Johnston, and K. Schollar. Miss D. Redgrave and Mr N. A. Collins. Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls’ College Council: the Rev. Canon G. N. Watson, and Messrs F. G. Stanbury, G. O. Greenwood, and John Stewart.

Representatives on local committees of church primary day schools. —Victory Memorial School: Messrs C. M. Sheppard and J. N. Carrodus. St. Michael’s: Mrs M. Smith and Mr Hor-

ace Hamilton. St. Mark’s: Messrs W, Hammett and W. E. Alsopp.

Robert and Elizabeth Watson and Amelia Bullock-Webster Pension Fund Board, the Ven. Archdeacon E. A Osmers and Mr A. Heald. Church Property Trustees. Messrs H. M. Burgin and C. D. W. L. Sheppard. Clergy Pension Trust Board: the Rev. W. C. Wisdom and Messrs D. S. Murchison J H. Rhodes, and A. Heald.

Diocesan Nominators.—Clergy: the Very Rev. A. K. Warren, the Rev Chnon A. C. T. Purchas. Laity: Messrs H. V. Ward and E. H. S. Hamilton

Public and social affairs committee: Canon H. J. Knight, the Revs. I. L. Richards. D. D. Thorpe. R. P. Taylor, and Messrs R. C. Madsen. J. W. ,N. Salisbury, R. Thurlow Thompson, L. R. Burgess, and L. Armstrong.

The following special committee was appointed for the Church Con-

gress to be held in Christchurch in May. 1950:—Archbishop West-Watson (chairman), the Ven. Archdeacons C. L. Mountfort. E. A. Osmers. W. T. Williams, the Revs. W. A. Orange, I. L. Richards, R. P. Andrews. H. G. Norris (secretary), Dr. D. E. Hansen, Commander R. R. Beauchamp. Mesdames A. C. Purchas, C. L. Young, Messrs H. S. Williams, L. H. Wilson (treasurer).

Chairmen of committoes appointed were:—finance, the Ven. Archdeacon C. L. Mountfort; hospitality, the Ven. Archdeacon W. T. Williams; publicity, the Rev. R. P. Andrews.

Representatives on the women’s committee of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Churches were appointed as follows:—Mesdames S. B. Bennett. B. Bickwell, H. D. Broadhead. M. C. Hendrie, L. V. Lawrence, and W. A. Purdie.