Discussions On Union Urged

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 14

Discussions On Union Urged

“The bulk of church people have not been brought face to face with the impending fact of church union,” said the Vicar-General (the Ven. H. M. Cocks) at the annual meeting of the Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch last evening. He tabled a report from the Diocesan Church Union Committee, which was received.'

“There is a great need for wide involvement throughout the Church. Two thing have become increasingly apparent,” said Archdeacon Cocks. One was the need for a permanent secretariat to act largely as a clearing house for discussions taking , place throughout the country. The

second need was for a far greater involvement in the discussions by people in the parishes. “The sub-committee on action in the parishes was con-

cerned to find how little the parishioners were asked to face the question of union,” said Archdeacon Cocks. “I am one of those who would like the Anglican Church to go on for ever, but I know union is a logical necessity,” said the Rev. S. W. Vincent (Waihao Downs). “What happens to a man,.

r ordained, if he does not feel B he can join In the Combined B church?.! have heard no satisfactory answer to this.” i- ■He said that after the

second report of the Joint Commission on Church Union there could be np going back. The Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. W. A. Pyatt) said the matter was under continuing debate. “The report is just asking if there is sufficient agreement for us to write something down and carry on from there. “It has been suggested that the. commission’s report is not explicit, but we thought it best not to be too definite and so shut up ideas in a cell,” said Archdeacon Cocks. “I think there will be as big a variety of church services after union as now. I cannot see how union would destroy the traditions of the churches, but more work has still to be done on this aspect of union.” The Rev. G. Fitzgerald

(Linwood) succeeded with a motion that the Synod ask the Provincial Commission on Church Union to have the section on holy communion in the, report reconsidered in view of the tensions within the church.

A motion that the Synod considered that the section on holy communion and confirmation provided sufficient basis for further discussion was passed. Mr Fitzgerald considered the section was not a sufficient statement of the doctrine of holy communion for the reason that the problems and tensions raised within the church had not been satisfactorily resolved.

“Over-definition is the last service we should provide towards church union,” said the Rev. Canon R. O. Williams (Papanui).

He was speaking to a motion that the statement in the report of the commission of the “Ministry of the Church” was sufficient to enable the commission to proceed. The motion was passed.