N.Z. Delegates For Deaconesses’ Talks

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31723, 5 July 1968, Page 2

N.Z. Delegates For Deaconesses’ Talks

Nearly 100 deaconesses and other women church workers from different denominations throughout South-East Asia and the Pacific, and including about seven from New Zealand, will attend the SouthEast Asian and Pacific area deaconesses conference in Melbourne from August 26 to September 2. It will be the first conference for women church workers in the southern hemisphere. The Rev. W. A, Chambers, minister of the Fitzgerald Avenue Methodist Church, who will attend the conference as warden of the Methodist deaconesses in New Zealand, said that its aim was to discuss the role of women church workers in the future.

Many of the younger churches particularly, would have much to contribute, he said.

Speakers will inelude delegates attending the fourth assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden, and official visits will be made by federal and state heads of churches. The official representative of Diakonia, the International Federation of Deaconesses Associations, will be Sister A. Ebert, of the Lutheran Church of America. Deaconesses from New Zealand will include Deaconess J. G. Henderson, of St James’s Church, Lower Rieeartoh, who will represent New Zealand Anglican deaconesses, and Sister P. Simmers, of Hamilton, who will represent the Presbyterian Church. Deaconesses who will represent the Methodist Church will be Sister B. Miller, at present Working in Hokianga Harbour, and Sister C. Fell, a worker with tho Auckland Maori Circuit