Bold Thought By Clergy Defended

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31169, 20 September 1966, Page 13

Bold Thought By Clergy Defended

To make the mernage of the Bible relevant for today new ways of expressing old spiritual truths must be sought; and the layman must be prepared for some unorthodox results, at least by present-day standards, said the Bev. C. Brown, in Christchurch Cathedral on Sunday evening.

“Moreover, the right of the clergy to think boldly, to write and speak freely must be defended. Any other procedure, such as the adoption of repressive measures, must be unthinkable,” he said. “If Christianity, the Church and the Bible cannot stand on their own merits, if the Church cannot find room for radical theologians, then the sooner we discover these things the better,” said Mr Brown.

“But I believe that nothing is to be lost by allowing the widest possible freedom in the church. To sidestep the most rigorous challenges to the Bible and Christianity is to display a deplorable and irreligious lack of courage and integrity of faith.” Mr Brown said it was to be hoped that if and when the Anglican equivalents of Professor L. G. Geering, principal of Knox Theological college, emerged they would find

not only critics but also those who, without necessarily agreeing with them at all points, would defend their right to explore new ways of making the Bible relevant, and to do so while remaining within the fellowship of the Church. Earlier Mr Brown had said that Bible study had to be done in the light of Biblical criticism. If the clergy was to lead in this matter, as it should, then the laity should not allow the clergy to give up reading and thinking. "Above all, the clergy must have more time in order to do those things which keep them in contact with the non-clerical, non-churchy world,” he said.