‘Geering Man’ Approved

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32320, 11 June 1970, Page 1

‘Geering Man’ Approved

(N Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 10. A report in the “Dominion” today that 30 per cent of the parishioners of the Wadestown, Wellington, Presbyterian Church did not agree with the appointment of the Rev. W. J. Schrader, of Christchurch, because he was a “Geering man” was wronsr. the clerk of the Wellington Presbytery (the Rev. G. E. Dallard) said today. The call for Mr Schrader was signed by 70 per cent of

the communicant parishioners, Mr Dallard said. Of the j remaining 30 per cent some were away from town, sick, [or did not take the opportun- . ity to sign the call. > “Anything over two-thirds is generally regarded as a ■ pretty good signing of a call,” , he said. I “This is the sort of thing , that happens almost every time a Presbyterian minister i is called. Every member of , the congregation has the right > to say what he thinks about > the man.” j At a meeting yesterday of the business committee of the Wellington Presbytery, an • elder of the Wadestown Church, Mr B. L. Purdie, said the majority of the 194 parir shioners would be loyal to the f decision, but it had become

• apparent that a minority i would not. He hoped that once this , minority got to know Mr Schrader most would find their fears were not grounded. » Another elder, Mr J. W. ; Tanner, told the meeting: “I ' feel that though there is an element who do feel uneasy ; because there is a Geering man coming, I think they will ' support him in due course.” Professor L. G. Geering, the : principal of Knox Theological Hall, is known for his controversial statements on church ■ doctrines. Mr Schrader, the chaplain at St Andrew s College, will succeed the present minister, the Rev. F. R. Hamlin, the . newly appointed Director of ; Christian Education.