NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27400, 13 July 1954, Page 12

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

MOLUCCAS APPEAL CLOSED An appeal to assist the re-establish-ment of church work in the Moluccas region of Eastern Indonesia is being closed by the National Council of Churches in New Zealand, according to a statement released by the secretary (the Rev. A. T. McNaughton). Parishioners of the nine denominations linked with the council have subscribed a little more than £3OOO to the 1953-54 appeal, most of which has already been sent to the Rev. Christopher Mataheru, Moderator of the Protestant Church of the Moluccas. In the Moluccas area, where there are about 300,000 Christians, most of the church buildings were destroyed by war and civil war, from 1942 to 1951.

When the council holds its annual meeting at Tyndale House next week, the executive will recommend that the 1954-55 appeal of this nature be devoted to helping the enormous problem of human reconstruction in Korea. Further consideration will be given at the annual meeting to plans, already well advanced, for the holding of a faith and order conference in Christchurch in May of next year. At this conference more than 100 delegates from the council’s constituent bodies will consider the present state of cordial collaboration among the churches of New Zealand and progress towards still closer fellowship in Christian work and witness, Mr McNaughton said.