N.Z. METHODIST CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27502, 9 November 1954, Page 14

N.Z. METHODIST CONFERENCE

VISITORS PRESENT FOR ECUMENICAL REPORT

"If in New Zealand we only get part of the way towards unity in our time and accomplish a union between the Presbyterian, Congregational, and Methodist churches, then we shall have a combination of Presbyterian solidarity, Congregational independence and, if I may say so, Methodist fire,” said the president of the Methodist Church of-New Zealand (the Rev. C. O. Hailwood) when welcoming representatives of the Presbyterian and Congregational 'churches to the Dominion Methodist conference last evening. . ■ "We invite you here in a spirit of hope and confidence for the future,” he said. x Representatives from the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, who attended the conference to hear a report from the ecumenical committee. were the Revs. R. J. Griffiths and C. R. Sprackett (Presbyterian), and Messrs H. Sturge and H. Dawber (Congregational). ■> Speaking for their churches, both Mr Griffiths and Mr Sturge said that they looked forward to union. The conference appointed the following persons as its representatives to tiie Faith and Order Conference called by the National Council of Churches for next May:—the president of the conference (the Rev. C. O. Hailwood), the Revs. J. J. Lewis, J. D. Grocott, E. W. Hames, J. Silvester, W. R. Laws, W. J. Morrison, G. I. Laurenson, H. C. Dixon. R. F. Clement, B. M. Chrystall, E. S. H. Hoddinott, W. R. Francis, M. A. McDowell, the Rev. Dr. Raymond Dudley, and Mrs A. B. Cochran. ‘ The president-elect (the Rev. M. A. McDowell) was appointed New Zealand representative to the World Methodist Conference to be held at Carolina, United States, in 1956.