WOMEN AND THE CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 6

WOMEN AND THE CHURCH

PRESBYTERIAN ELDER--SHIP Dominion Special Service. Auckland, July 10. Reporting on a proposal to admit women to eldership of the Church at a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery, the Rev. W.- D. Morrison Sutherland said that 10 sessions had favoured if. 13 had opposed it,*l3 had returned no answer, and one session could not make up its mind. He moved that the Presbytery approve of the proposal to admit women. Rev. W. Gilmour seconded the motion, aiid told of the rapid progress of tlie movement in Canada, to admit women not only to the eldership but also to the minisrty.

Pointing out that the remit did not ask for the appointment of elders, but simply gave sessions the right to appoint them if they so desired, the Rev. J. Pattison also strongly supported the motion on the ground that, women did not want to enter the eldership. Rev. Si J. Atkins opposed the motion.

In opposing the remit, the Rev. L. H. Hunt spoke of the practical difficulties in the way and said it would create an impression that the Church could not get the men to do its work. The temper of the Church was not favourable to the proposed change. The motion was .carried by 23 votes to: 15. I .