THEOLOGICAL STUDY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26470, 11 July 1951, Page 8

THEOLOGICAL STUDY

CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGES IN N.Z. SYNOD REJECTS PROPOSAL FOR REDUCTION (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 10. Differences in churchmanship within the Church of England were discussed during a debate in the Wellington Diocesan Synod to-day on theological training. A motion that there should be one theological college for New Zealand and that it should be devoted entirely to theological study was narrowly defeated. The motion said also that the college should be St. John’s College, Auckland, and proposed that funds should be raised to increase its staff, library, awl buildings. The staff would be "so selected as to allow a fair representation of the various schools of thought that have a place in the Church.” At present there are Church of England colleges at Auckland. Christchurch, and Dunedin, and they are not attended exclusively by theological students.

The mover of the motion. Canon G. M. McKenzie, said that if the motion were passed it would become the synod’s opinion, but would not be dictation to the Bishop that he must send candidates for ordination to the one college. One college could train an increased number of students without proportionate increases in costs. Also, the Church could not afford to encourage the growth of parties, which might result from the continued existence of several colleges. Students were broadened bv mixing with students of other schools of thought. Archdeacon E. J. Rich opposed the proposal. ' Certain theological bursaries were not tenable at colleges attended only by theological students, he said. Pointing to the expansion of university colleges in recent years, Mr H. G. Miller said the theological training was behind, and it could advance only if energies were concentrated on one college. Dean D. J. Davies said that a valuable characteristic of the Church of England was its comprehensiveness, even if -it were illogical, Jike th* British nation, and he doubted whether that characteristic could be fostered in one college, which would inevitably have one colour. Bishop’s Views '

The Bishop of Wellington (the Rt. Rev. R. H. Owen) said that if there were only one college it might become hopelessly overcrowded, and a college should be a small family of about 20 students. A college tended to have the colour of its head, but the Church should embrace' all schools of thought. There should be at least two colleges.

Several speakers said that the differences on churchmanship were irrelevant, and that in practice high church people and low church people had no difficulty in their relationships. A college staff should be chosen for qualities other than the school of thought to which each belonged.

The chancellor (Mr H. E. Evans, K.C.) gave a caution against destroying the work being done at College House, Christchurch. Personal contacts in a small college, he said, must be more valuable than any available in a larger institution. Of the clerical members 32 voted for the motion and 25 against, and of the lay members 26 voted for it and 35 against it