BARRIERS TO CHURCH CO-OPERATION

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 14

BARRIERS TO CHURCH CO-OPERATION

The very things which members of churches had worked hardest for, such as buildings, were proving barriers in their efforts to cooperate. the Rev. W. B. Watt, convener of the Presbyterian Assembly home ministry com-

mittee, told the monthly meeting of the Presbytery of Christchurch last night. There were many practical difficulties attached to two or more denominations using the same building for worship, he said.

Mr Watt said that interchurch co-operation was not moving as fast as it should, and that he believed there could not be any real breakthrough until there was an acceptance of each other’s ministries by ministers, and intercommunion.

Presbyterians in some marginal areas, including the West Coast, were giving up to 25 per cent more than their fellow members in the North Island, to maintain their buildings, he said. The taking out of the halfcrown had quite materially affected giving throughout churches in New Zealand, Mr Watt said.

He said he thought the Presbyterian Church should be creating some publicity, so that it could benefit from the decimal conversion and the introduction of a coin equivalent to ss.

Speaking of manpower, Mr Watt said that it was better than two or three years ago, and there were only 40 vacant parishes. Towards the end of this year, however, the church would be faced with very heavy retirements, and this would continue for some years. Recruitment possibilities were not good. e