Presbyterian Work Among Maoris For Discussion

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 18

Presbyterian Work Among Maoris For Discussion

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DUNEDIN, November 15. The extension of the Presbyterian Church’s ministry to the rapidly increasing Maori population will be discussed at a conference at Ohope Beach if possible in late March or early April, 1962. The General Assembly of the church gave authority to the Maori Synod to convene tbe conference with the joint committee, with two representatives from each of the North Island presbyteries, and one for each South Island presbytery. The need for adequate staff to do work to which the Maori Synod is already committed and to expand the work will be given urgent attention by presbyteries and sessions.

The appointment of a Maori minister to work in the Wellington area was authorised by the assembly. He is the Rev. T. Ha wee, a graduate of the Maori Theological College of the Presbyterian Church. “A public duty as well as a Christian duty to preserve the great conununity heritage of Sunday was acknowledged by the assembly on the recommendation of the public questions committee. "In everybody’s defence as well as that of practising Christians, the community has a duty to present and future generation* to preserve Sunday as the week's

“quiet day," said the committee’s report. Members of the church will be used to exercise a sense of Christian stewardship in the use of Sunday, because of their obligation to God, their need for spiritual health and their reeponsibLlity to the community