Bishops call for assets dispensation

Press, 22 June 1984, Page 25

Bishops call for assets dispensation

PA Auckland The three Anglican bishops of Auckland want their Church to give more of its assets to the needy. Archbishop Paul Reeves and his two assistants, the Rt Rev. Godfrey Wilson and the Rt Rev. Edward Buckle, have written to the Anglican clergy in the Auckland diocese expressing their concern about the Church’s use of its material resources.

In the letter the bishops said the Church should seek ways to share with people who have little. “As a Church we will not find it easy,” says the letter. “We are not accustomed to giving our material assets

The bishops have asked that the letter be discussed at the annual Auckland synod next month.

Archbishop Reeves said last evening that he would be disappointed if the Anglican people of Auckland did not take the bishops’ comments seriously.

He said he was not in a position to tell parishes what to do with their land, money, or personal resources. It would be entirely up to them to decide whether they shared more.

The letter was not intended as criticism of the Church in Auckland. “We are asking how we can share our resources — be they land, money, or people — with those who are struggling,” Wsaid.