METHODIST CONFERENCE Theological Study Plan Criticised

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 18

METHODIST CONFERENCE Theological Study Plan Criticised

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 6. An indictment of the syllabus for theological training was delivered by a Dunedin minister at the National Methodist Conference in Dunedin todav.

The Rev. R. H. Wood, of the Dundas Street Methodist Church, was speaking during consideration of a Methodist Board of Studies report on the syllabus to be adopted by the five Churches negotiating for union.

The young men the Church needed were being “driven away by the institutionalised Church, with its properties and hierarchies,” Mr Wood said, urging the adoption of a syllabus with more emphasis on modern needs.

training was an important area in which the Churches could work together. The common syllabus was designed to give students knowledge of the Bible and Church history, a grasp of theological problems and the ability to communicate with people by meeting them where they were and how they were. Adopted The conference passed a resolution that the syllabus should be adopted for use in the Methodist college, the Trinity Theological College tn Auckland. The conference also decided to approve the appointment of a Joint Board of Theological Studies (repre senting the five negotiating Churches) and to approve the constitution of the board. Representatives of the Methodist Church appointed to the board are Dr D. O Williams (principal of Trinity College), Dr Lewis (viceprincipal), and the Rev R. G Bell (secretary of the Methodist Board of Examiners).

“It appears to me that the syllabus as we have it is born out of the old Church, not the Church as we would want it to be,” he said. “This old Church is the very one the young men are objecting to.” Emphasising that he was not casting a slur on present candidates for the ministry, Mr Wood said the young men who were coming forward were prepared to accept the Church as it was. The syllabus for theological study was prepared by a sub

committee of the Joint Com mission of Church Union, which represents the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches, and the Associated Churches of Christ. It is expected to come into use in theological colleges run by the five Churches in 1969 The secretary of the Methodist Board of Studies (Dr J. J. Lewis) said he appreciated the depth of Mr Wood’s remarks, but, he said, the ideas of the men who prepared the syllabus were not in conflict with Mr Wood’s ideas. “We need the basic equipment to look afresh at modern needs,” Dr Lewis said. Earlier, he had told the conference that theological