CHURCH OF ENGLAND SAFEGUARDS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 290, 7 September 1928, Page 11

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SAFEGUARDS

STATEMENT BY PRIMATE Dominion Special Service. Auckland, September 6. “If critics of the Bill understood its provisions they would realise the absurdity of any suggestion that any doctrinal changes were contemplated or even possible,” said Archbishop Averill in uttering an emphatic refutation of certain suggestions made in Parliament on Tuesday when tlie second reading of the Church of England Empowering Bill was moved. "The Bill is actually a safeguard to the doctrines of the Church and absolutely forbids any change in the sacraments as contained in the present Prayer Book,” the Archbishop said. ‘‘ln general terms, the Bill is designed to make proper provision and safeguards for the Church in New Zealand in the event of the disesthblishment of the Church of England. It should be realised the Bill provides there can be no alteration in the formularies of the Church, in the 39 articles, or in the authorised version of the Bible, unless such alteration is, firstly, adopted by General Synod, secondly, passed by a majority of the diocesan synods. and thirdly, passed the second time by the General Synod after the general ejection of members by a two-thirds majority in each order.” An. important point to be borne in mind was that at the present time in accordance with the constitution of the Church in New Zealand in'the event of the disestablishment of the Church of England the General Synod would have a perfect right to make any alterations it chose at one session of Synod only. It could lie seen therefore that the whole aim of the Bill was to safeguard tlie doctrines of the Church rather than to make the way easy for changes that would be unwelcome.