NEW ZEALAND VIEWS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28805, 28 January 1959, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND VIEWS

Church Leaders’ Statements

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 27.

The Archbishop of New Zealand (the Most Rev. R. H. Owen), commenting tonight on the Pope’s proposed ecumenical conference, said: “The Church of the Province of New Zealand welcomes any step that may be held toward the greater unity of Christendom. The World Council of Churches, whose work is done in New Zealand by our National Council of Churches, Jias made spectacular progress in encouraging the Churches to work together. It would surely welcome any move by the Roman Catholic Church to join in this noble work.” In Dunedin the president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (the Rev. G. R. H. Peterson) said:—“We should be most interested to hear the scheme the Pope has in mind for the reunion of some of the denominations with Rome, and to learn of his plans for the discussions at the ecumenical conference he has called.

“It is too early yet from published reports to determine exactly how wide he Intends to go in issuing invitations to other branches of the Church, but it seems hopeful that the World Council of Churches will be invited at least to Send observers to the conference, just as Roman Catholic Church observers come to the World Council’s assemblies/’

Asked whether he thought the Methodist Church would be prepared to accept an invitation to the conference, Mr Peterson said that there would be a division of opinion within his Church over whether reunion with Rome was feasible, but there could be no harm in discussing differences with a view to resolving some of them.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. J. D. Salmond, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, was not prepared to comment on the Pope’s proposals. “We need far more information than has come through before I could think of making a statement on the matter.” he said.

He thought any approach should and would be made through the National Council of Churches in New Zealand.