Synod Told Of Challenge In Missionary Field

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 19

Synod Told Of Challenge In Missionary Field

The Rt. Rev. M. L. Wiggins, Bishop of the new VictoriaNyanza Diocese in Tanganyika and a native of Christchurch, emphasised when he spoke to the Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch the opportunities and the challenge which lies in the missionary field today. One of a number of speakers who addressed the synod on local and international missionary efforts, Bishop Wiggins spoke of an awakened Africa, “dreaming dreams and seeing visions,” which needed guidance and assistance. The Anglican Church must, he said, “give Africa the help it needs in a day of opportunity.” He reported that the Tanganyika Government had formally invited the Anglican mission group to enlarge its efforts, because the Church’s educative work was considered so valuable. Emphasising the need in missionary work for the reassurance of support from home. Bishop Wiggins pointed to the tremendous effect of modern techniques and equipment on primitive peoples. He also told of a programme to place Christian converts in key government

positions, likening the effort to that of St. Paul in Asia Minor. Maori Mission Bringing the appeal closer to the New Zealand dioceses, the Rev. L. N. Morris, of Woolston, mentioned a need for Maori mission work, saying that the Maori was in many ways forgotten in the mission field. He described the Maori as a naturally religious person, but spoke of the problem of communication, calling on priests to use “not necessarily the jargon you use on Sunday night.” And although he praised such recent efforts in Maori work as the visit of the Rev. T. H. Kaa, he emphasised the urgency of the Maori situation, warning that unless funds were increased the Anglican Maori Mission School might have to be closed. Later the synod heard Canon Kaa echo the plea for increased attention to the Maori work. The Rev. W. W. Robinson, of Wellington, general secretary of the New Zealand Board of Missions, said that “a new surge of interest and power” had taken place throughout the country, manifested in a popular, par-ish-level interest in missions. “A church,” he said, “which has lost the sense of mission is an emasculated church. No mission is foreign; it is always God’s mission to His own people.” Mr Robinson also spoke of tha "vast challenge” of the non-Christian religions, saying that statistics indicate Christians to be a diminishing portion of the world’s population. Speaking on behalf of the Diocese of Polynesia, the Rev. B. O. Richards, of Spreydon, said that the Gospel and forms of worship must be adapted to the cultural patterns of the converted people. He also urged clerical training for indigenous Christians.