Methodist President On Church Union

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30590, 5 November 1964, Page 8

Methodist President On Church Union

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, Nov. 4. Negotiations for church unity, carried out in almost total isolation from any specific and progressive acts of commitment or joint action, were like, carrying on a courtship by correspondence only, the annual Methodist Conference was told by its president (the Rev. G. H. Goodman) in his inaugural address tonight. In human circumstances this was sometimes unavoidable, but sooner or later the parties had to come together in the beginning of committed personal relationships if marriage were to take place, he said.

For the marriage of the churches, said Mr Goodman, “we can surely dare to believe that it has been planned in heaven and because of this we can go forward in humble trust and confidence to plan and do together the things that will hasten the glorious day of consummation.” Mr Goodman enunciated seven guiding principles on church unity:— Union was not a matter of expediency but of obedience to Christ. The 1957 vote of the four negotiating churches (Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregaional and Churches of Christ) was a sacred trust.

“Patience, forbearance and understanding” should be used to gather into one church all those not now seeking visible unity. Negotiating churches must declare for the Christian tradition and accept one another as Christian churches holding one apostolic faith. Differing forms and practices in worship, sacraments, and ministry must be accepted as valid though imperfect expressions of one apostolic faith. No church should be required to submit to any new forms of practice or give up its present forms to violate sincere convictions.

While some developing uniformity of practice was desirable, necessary and inevitable, any essential uniformity should, be the outcome of future experience and not a condition for the inauguration of a unified church. He offered five suggestions to the proposed Joint Commission on Church Union:— The appointment of a full-

time convener for the commission to co-ordinate its work and stimulate action in every possible way. A form of solemn covenant should be used in joint services in as many communities during a week to be chosen in 1966.

A formula should be urgently sought. to make possible common recognitions of all existing ministries, to encourage full union parishes, appointment of inter-church chaplains in the armed forces, hospitals, prisons and universities, the exchange and sharing of ministers, and the sacrament of baptism and holy communion for members of other churches. The early and urgent amalgamation of all church papers to provide a united voice and forum. New Methodist President (N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, November 4. The new President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (the Rev. G. H. Goodman), was born in Nelson on January 19, 1908. His full-time service began as a home missionary at Ohura in 1930. From 1931 to 1933 he was at Trinity College, being senior student during his last year.

In 1934 he served his first year of probation as associate to the Rev. W. Walker at Pitt Street, in Auckland, and the following three years at Taihape. His first appointment as an ordained minister was at Cambridge for two years. In 1943 he returned to circuit work in Masterton, and after five years there he became superintendent erf the Wellington East circuit After nine years as minister at Hataitai, Mr Goodman became minister of Trinity Church, Palmerston North, in 19571