METHODIST SYNOD OPENS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 7

METHODIST SYNOD OPENS

Church Activities In North Canterbury

SUBMISSION OF REPORTS “The truth of the Christian Gospel is not to be sought in the pages of the New Testament. It is written where everyone can read it if they will—in human experience, in the lives of men and nations,” said the Rev. H. L. Fiebig, in an address at the opening of the representative sessions of the North Canterbury Methodist District Synod in Christchurch yesterday. “The columns of the newspapers are filled with word pictures of men and nations in the grip of elemental forces which they are utterly unable to cope with. They portray for us great areas of human experience untouched by the Christian truth of the reality and power of faith, hope and love,” he said. A slight increase in church membership was shown in the general returns presented by the secretary (the Rev. R. 4 E. Patchett). In July, .1954, there were 4057 members in the district. There were 4042 last year, and the highest membership had been 4060, in 1952, said Mr Patchett. The district had 40 ministers.

Reporting on the Local Preachers’ Associatidn, Mr E. A. Woodfield said that 21 members of the church had passed the local preachers’ examinations. Because of transfers, there had been a decrease" in the number of local preachers from 83 in 1953' to 73 in 1954. Expenditure on church extension and improvements in New Zealand had amounted to £480,170 in the last nine years, said Mr Fiebig, who, as president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference, presented a special report from the church council on extension policy and priorities. Of this, £348,038 was spent on new buildings £71,753 on major improvements, and £60,379 on new sites. This did not include social service ‘properties. A tribute was paid to the Rev. A. M. Costain, of the Cambridge Terrace Church, who will be recommended as a supernumerary at the annual meeting of the conference in Christchurch in November. In the North Canterbury district, the 973 members of the 46 women’s guilds raised £2542 last year, said Mrs M. A. Pratt, presenting the report of the New Zealand Women’s Guild Fellowship. There were 297 guilds in New Zealand; with about 4000 members. Last year £15,348 had been raised. The ministerial committee of the synod, which met before the representative sessions yesterday, to recommend the ordination of Messrs

D. W. Edmonds and J. A. Penman to the annual conference. The Rev; N. Billinghurst, of the Lincoln Road Methodist Church, a flrst-year probationer, will be recommended to be passed in his year. ■' . The synod Will resume this morning. This evening a synod service will be held in the Durham Street Church. The preacher' will be' the Rev. F. A., Willmot. 'The concluding sessions of; the synod will be held tomorrow.