U.E. NEEDED FROM 1966

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 22

U.E. NEEDED FROM 1966

Students For Ministry (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 6. From 1966, university entrance will be a necessary qualification for all students acepted for training as Presbyterian ministers and deaconesses, except those at the Maori Theological College, the Presbyterian General Assembly decided today. Alternatively, students who showed by testing that they are capable of university work and qualified for provisional university entrance, might be accepted. In a report, the Rev. T. M. Corkill, of Dunedin, said that there had been a record number of students in the hall this year, but several of the 82 students at the university stage were having trouble with their studies. The continuation of several more was doubtful for other reasons. The administrative secretary of the theological hall, the Rev. R. Byers, said that though the intellectual capacity of students was not the only qualification for the ministry, if the standards of entry were low, the ministry might be despised. “There is a class of person giving us a great deal of concern,” he said. “These are men of real zeal and pastoral ability. But they just haven’t the brains to do the course. The committee worries a lot about these people. We don’t know what to do about them.” Several members spoke against the motion.