REUNITED CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 159, 31 March 1922, Page 5

REUNITED CHURCH

POLICY SHOULD BE EPISCOPAL DECISION OF CONFERENCE AT SYDNEY COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND DEFINITE SCHEME BY TELEGRAPH— Press ASSOCIATION. —OOPYBIGHT. Sydney, March 30. The conference of delegates from the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches continued the discussion on. the question whether Episcopacy should be forced on all the churches in the event of union, or whether a modus opnrandi could be found between Episcopacy and Presbyterianism. A motion was carried: “That, in view of all the circumstances, it is expedient that the policy of the reunited catholic church should be episcopal, provided that the appointment of a bishop should be shared m by the ministry and laity; that in all his administrative actions the bishop should bo responsible to a representative assembly, synod, or conference; that the acceptance of Episcopacy doos not necessarily imply that ministerial authority cannot otherwise be obtained, or that Episcopacy is the only channel of Divine grace.” Another motion was adopted, welcoming the assurance implied in the Lambeth Appeal that each group would be free to retain its own characteristic method of worship and service, so long as it was not inconsistent with the fellowship of the whole.

The conference adopted a resolution that conditions for mutual recognition of episcopal and non-episcopal orders and commissions should bo thoroughly explored by the respective churches. It recommends the - appointment of a committee to ascertain the possibilities of arriving at a common mind; and also agreed that an interim joint committee should be appointed to consider and recommend definite schemes for co-operation. The following were elected: —Anglican: The Bishop of Willochra, Canon Hughes, Dean Talbot. Presbyterian: Professor Harper, the Rev. George Tait. Methodist: The Rev. W. H. Beale, Dr. Carruthers. Congregational: The Rev. E. Davies and F. V. Pratt. Secretaries: The Revs/P. A. Micklom and A. P. Campbell. Bishop Radford advocated the Nicene Creed as tho obvious standard for the reunited church. It had satisfied every test of catholicity, and would servo ns a standard for ordination of the ministry and as an outline for tho instruction of all members of the church, and as a confession for congregational worship. A motion was carried, “That, whilst the conditions of membership of the reunited church are satisfied by the Apostles’ Creed, the Niccne Creed is appropriate as a common standard precedent to union.” —Press Assn.