N.C.C. "Part Of N.Z. Church Life”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31754, 10 August 1968, Page 14

N.C.C. "Part Of N.Z. Church Life”

The National Council of Churches in New Zealand no longer had to try to justify its existence; it had become so much a part of the coun-

try’s church life that few would be unaware of its activities in one sphere or another, said the assistant general-secretary of the council (the Rev. R. M. O’Grady) in the report to be presented to the annual meeting in Christchurch from August 15 to 17.

This acceptance carried with it, however, the danger of the N.C.C. becoming an institution and council members must continue to remind themselves they were part of a movement always probing for fresh frontiers, he said. Mr O’Grady said that each year the council tried to find how best to express the work of the ecumenical movement at the local level. The discontent felt by many of the 24 branches was evidence of the desire for a much stronger expression of inter-church co operation in cities and towns. While this work was depen dent on voluntary assistance from already over-loaded people, however, it was hard to see how branch work could be made more effective. Investigation had continued into the possibility of establishing a more permanent committee to cover the wide issues, of church and society, said Mr O’Grady. A small committee to investigate possible avenues of research into social issues affecting the New Zealand churches had been set up.