‘Use Of Money To Dictate To Church’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31166, 16 September 1966, Page 1

‘Use Of Money To Dictate To Church’

The use of money to dictate to the Church was the most regrettable thing about the Presbyterian Laymen's Association, the Very Rev. M. W. Wilson, a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, said in Christchurch vesterdav.

The use of big names disturbed him very much. Mr Wilson said.

I le was commenting on newspaper reports from Auckland naming Sir William Goodfellow and Sir James Fletcher as patrons of the association.

Mr Wilson said he thought the issue between the association and the Church had been magnified a bit, > and that the laymen in Auckland would find that it did not | have much support generally. From laymen he had discussed the matter with in Christchurch he had ascertained that the association would not have much support( here. Mr Wilson said.

I He thought that the assoiciation would eventually peter out. Mr Wilson said. The article by Professor L. G. Geering, principal of the i Knox Theological College, casting doubt on the physical ; resurrection of Christ had i stimulated great interest I among theologians, said the Moderator of the General Assembly (the Rt. Rev. J. M. Bates) according to a Press Association message from Gisborne. Mr Bates said he would not. as Moderator, comment on ( the points raised in the article.

I Mr Bates said it had become clear that interest in the question of the resurrection had become very great.

“Many have been sent back to their New Testaments to check and re-examine their own ideas with a more alert mind.” he said. “It is a sort of reformation situation, and good will come of it.

“It would be an indication of decadence in the Church if there could not be careful, substantial reconsideration of even the most fundamental points of Christian doctrine. “1 make no pronouncement as Moderator on the points raised by Professor Geering, but I do say that it must be possible to discuss such matters in the Church, and that it is more than time the (Church brought itself up to (date in this field.” Mr Bates said few Presbyterians would take seriously the proposal that the staff of the Knox Theological College resign if their thinking was not compatible with the faith of the Church. “Off The Mark” “The charge that the staff are not true to the faith of , the Church is so seriously off I the mark that the average instructed Presbyterian is inclined not to take it very seriously,” he said. The teaching in Knox College differed from certain ideas and methods of interpretation of the Bible dear to some, both inside and outside jthe Church. “The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church has j made up its mind on this matter and has. by the appointment of professors it has Chosen over a long period, indicated that it does not accept this very narrow view of scripture,” Mr Bates said. “Nevertheless, it allows room within its ranks for those who feel persuaded that this minority view is to be preferred.” Mr Bates said the General Assembly believed that it ■should be possible for Christians to live in one house, (even though they differed about points of interpretation. I He said he would not com(ment at this stage on the (formation of an Association (of Presbyterian Laymen to “challenge control of the church by the excessively (liberal-minded.”