CHURCH CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 55, 8 March 1929, Page 15

CHURCH CONFERENCE

CONGREGATIONAL UNION

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

, v NAPIER, 7th Mnrcli. lhe business sessions of the G'ongregational Union commenced this morning. The report of the Pastors' Provident 1< und, presented by Sir George ITowlds, showed that the fund had now reached £12,000. Sir Georgo'Fowlds said he was sanguine that very soon finality would be reached in the negotiations to link the fund with similar funds in Australia and the Homeland. A comparison witl; the Australian States showed that the New Zealand fund was-in as strong a position as any other.

Tho Jtev. 11. Miller (Moderator) presented the annual report. This revealed extension in many churches. He was optimistic that the foundations .were being laid thoroughly on the basin of which further extension was possible. Five years ago.it was said in England'-that New Zealand Congregationalism was tho sick child of the Congregational family, but to-day divisions had been healed aiuk unity was real. Solidarity was a growing idea and esprit de corps was evident everywhere. Ho, claimed in answer criticism that the ministerial standard in the Congregational Church was higher to-day than ever it had been. The afternoon session was devoted to a dMcussion of youth work, in the course of which speakers expressed the opinion that no real progress could bo possible lmtil the homes were really Christian. Ue work of the teachers was multiplied by the parents, who "sent the kids out of the way in order to get quiet to read the ounday newspaper."