GEERING CONTROVERSY Moderator Reserves His Judgment

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31335, 4 April 1967, Page 1

GEERING CONTROVERSY Moderator Reserves His Judgment

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, April 3. It would be most improper for the presiding official of the supreme court of the church to make a statement and thereby to prejudge the issue, the Moderator of the New Zealand Presbyterian General Assembly (the Rt Rev. S. C. Read, of Wellington) said in Dunedin today.

Mr Read was referring to a call from the New Zealand Association of Presbyterian Laymen for him to give his views on the sermon of Professor L. G. Geering, principal of Knox Theological College, Dunedin, given at the Victoria University service in Wellington.

The association has also asked Mr Read to convene a special meeting of the Assembly so that the association could prefer charges against Professor Geering. The letter requesting a special Asembly meeting sent by the chairman of the association, Mr R. J. Wardlaw, on Thursday, said the laymen wanted a special meeting so that the association could pre[fer charges against Professor

Geering Involving “doctrinal error and impropriety.” “I have been requested by the association of Presbyterian laymen to give my views on Professor Geering’s sermon at the university service in Wellington,” Mr Read said today. “Owing to the activities of the association, the situation has changed since I counselled patience two days after the service. Not Received “I learnt through press reports four days ago that the association has sent me a requisition for a special meeting of the Assembly, but so far I have not received it.

These two requests are mutually exclusive. “It should be pointed out that all the documents presented to the last Assembly on the Resurrection issue are now being dealt with by the doctrine committee, which Will report to this year’s meeting in November. “Further, a long report on theological education was sent down by the last Assembly to presbyteries and sessions, and their findings will also be presented in November.

“The request for a special meeting of the Assembly will be considered when I receive the document,” said Mr Read.