DEACONESS’S WORK

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28422, 31 October 1957, Page 2

DEACONESS’S WORK

Services To Church

An indication of the vast field of work undertaken by the Deaconess Association of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was shown in a report presented at the annual meeting of the association yesterday. Trained women undertook work in congregations—they gave their services to children's homes, to homes for the aged, overseas missions, the church's youth department and many other organisations within the church, the report said. The association also had direct representation on the executives of the church’s women's groups. 1 Deaconesses also serve on Assembly and Presbytery committees. One deaconess was a representative elder. Through the National Council of Churches and other related groups, some members joined in ecumenical service and studies. Others gave service through community organisations, the report said. 36 Deaconesses The president of the association • Sister Alice Townrow) welcomed the Very Rev. J. M. McKenzie. Past Moderator, and representatives of church organisations. Twenty-six deaconesses from parishes through the Dominion attended the meeting. Tribute was naid to the memory of the late Mrs G. H. McNeur. one of the three O’i<?inal students of the Women’s Missicn iry Training Institute who worked in the mission fields of China and New Zealand for many years. Before the meeting. Mr McKenzie conducted a short service. The executive was re-elected as follows:—President Sister Alice Townrow: yice-president. Sister Gladys Smith; secretary. Sister Helen Dewar. After the meeting, the deaconesses went into retreat at Sumner. This will be the first Dominion retreat of deaconesses in the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand.