FAREWELL TO CHURCH CONGRESS DELEGATES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27380, 19 June 1954, Page 6

FAREWELL TO CHURCH CONGRESS DELEGATES

The Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren), the Dean (the Very Rev. Martip Sullivan), and the diocesan registrar (Mr L. H. Wilson) were bidden farewell by the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.), at an informal function yesterday. They will represent the diocese at the Anglican congress to be held in August at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States, and afterwards will ‘ attend another conference, that of the World Council of Churches at Evanston, near Chicago. There would be about 426 delegates at the Anglican congress, particularly from Asian countries, said the Mayor. It was very gratifying to know that Asia would be so strongly represented. Mr Macfarlane said the Bishop could take great pride in the fact that he was to preach at Westminster Abbey during his visit to England before going to America. Referring to the present world position, which he said was getting more serious, the Mayor spoke of the difficulty of penetrating the barrier against Christianity which had been put up by Iron Curtain countries. Mr E. C. Champion spoke on behalf of the laity. In his reply, Bishop Warren said that while standing in the pulpit of Westminster Abbey he would be facing the tomb of Sir Gilbert Scott, the architect of the Christchurch Cathedral, who was famous for his restoration of seven cathedrals, including Canterbury Cathedral.

The Anglican congress at Minneapolis would be the first such gathering outside England, the Bishop continued. The Anglican communion had its origin in England, but its influence spread over the whole world. It was hoped that the congress would provide the most up-to-date view of what was facing the Anglican church. Each communion must be aware of its specific tasks in the union of the Christian churches. At the first conference of the World Council of Churches in 1948 it had been decided that at all costs the churches must stay together. “The churches are staying together, but this second assembly is faced with a second problem —to ensure that the Christian churches not only stay together but advance together,” Bishop Warren said. International problems, evangelism, racial and ethnic problems and the problems of the ordinary man would be discussed at the conference, said Dean Sullivan. The delegates would meet men with various messages, which would be a great stimulus and very encouraging. Mr Wilson also spoke of the Asian countries where the Christian church was “going through the fire.” The Most Rev. A. W. Averill, a former Archbishop of New Zealand, who is now living in retirement in Christchurch, paid a tribute to the Mayor. He then spoke of the drawing together of the churches in the present age. The Bishop and Mrs Warren will leave Christchurch on Monday.