Need Seen For Prayer Book Suited To N.Z.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30269, 23 October 1963, Page 15

Need Seen For Prayer Book Suited To N.Z.

Zealand needs, and one which would be ready to serve a world vastly different from the world of 1662, the Rev. B. R. Carrell told the diocesan synod when moving a motion requesting that the synod commend the proposal put. forward by other diocesan synods that they press for the appointment of a New Zealand prayer book commission. The language of the present prayer book was not always understood, especially by worshippers who did m attend church regularly. Nor did it contain the pray-

ers for special occasions and services, said Mr Carrell. Ministers often used the “blue book" and the prayer book of 1928 for this purpose, but if one continued to use these other manuals then there would not be a common book of prayer, he said. The problem would be to see that the revisers produced a book at least as satisfactory as that of 1662, and the new revision should solve problems and not create them. The revision would also have to take into account the effect of church unity on the types of prayers used, Mr Carrell said. The object of the motion wa> to allow the synod the opportunity to express the need for prayer book revision, he said.

The object was to expedite the revision and to discover suitability through usage, said Canon R. J. Witty, seconding the motion, discussing the second clause, which called on the diocesan representatives to general synod to ask that authority be given to permit controlled experimentation in the use of rites which were in accord with the doctrines of the Church of the Province of New Zealand.

"I hope that this will be the start of a new break through in communication in our set forms of worship.” said Mr N. H. Buchanan speaking to the motion, which was still before the synod when it rose from the day’s business. Discussion will continue today.

Postal Sunday School.— Thirty children in the Chatham Islands are among the 222 children served by the mail bag Sunday school, says the report of the Diocesan Board of Christian Education, received by the Christchurch Diocesan Synod yesterday Thirty-two voluntary teachers mark the work of the students. The mail bag lessons are also used in 26 country Sunday schools by 650 children.