CHURCH POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 116, 23 November 1928, Page 17

CHURCH POLICY

DEBATES AT ASSEMBLY

I (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Numerous and far-reaching proposals for amending tho organisation of the Presbyterian Church were. submitted at tho General Assembly yesterday. These proposals, 38 in number, have already been considered by Presbyteries, but in tho absence of any general agroement in their recommendations the whole of the original report was referred to the Assembly. The Eev. W. J. Comric, who'presented the report, referred to it as in some j respects the most important to conio before the Assembly, and one debat- [ able in a high degree. The changes, if i decided upon, -would be brought about jby constitutional means after a duo lapse of time. j The proposal to reduce tho representation of the presbyteries at the Assembly to the basis of a third instead of half was rejected by a majority of about two to one. It was agreed by a large majority to hold the annual meeting of the Assembly in March instead of November. The Assembly decided to set up an advisory board to discharge the functions of the existing Finance Committee, and in addition to advise committees in regard to combined action and questions of policy and also to advise officers of the Assembly. A proposal that a general secretary be appointed, that his office be comj bined with that of the Home Mission ! superintendent, and that he bo located at Wellington was being debated when the hour for adjournment arrived.