METHODIST CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 14

METHODIST CHURCH

MINISTERIAL SYNOD AND

RETREAT

The annual May Ministerial Synod of the Wellington district of the Methodist Church of New Zealand was held in the Frederic Wallis House, Lower Hutt. The ministers of the district remained together for several days for discussion and devotional purposes. The Synod and Retreat were under the direction of the chairman of the district, the Rev. P. R. Paris, the Synod business being presented by the Rev. A. M. Gostain as district secretary. The programme for the Retreat was in the hands of the Revs. O. E. Burton M.A., and R. B. Gosnell.

Remits from the recent conference were discussed, special attention being given to forward movements in circuits and home mission stations where such can be organised with advantage, and also to the question of the erection of the South Island Centenary Memorial Church at Otakou, Otago.

The Rev. J. H. Haslam offered to preach sermons dealing with the early beginning of Methodism in the South Island, in any of the circuits desiring his attendance.

The "Brief Statement of Faith," as adopted by the conference, was discussed, the various doctrinal questions being presented by the Rev. R. B. Gosnell.

For the purposes of the retreat the study was based on "The Reign of God," the textbook being prepared by the Rev. O. E. Burton. Group meetings and discussions were held at stated intervals. Incorporated in this were addresses and discussions on "Non-Chris-tian Trends in Modern Thought." The subject was outlined by a visitor to the, Synod. Attention was also given to "Christian Trends in Modern Thought" outlined by the Rev. O. E. Burton, who presented in an interesting manner the teaching of the Barthian School of Religious Thought as compared with that of Brunner, Yon Huger, and in particular with that of Berdyaev. The social creed of the Church was outlined in open form by the Rev. J. Silvester and the question of the Christian position in our time formed the basis of a very enlightening discussion.

Morning prayers were taken by various ministers and evening devotions were led by the Rev. J. H. Haslam. The Sacrament of Holy Communion on the closing morning was administered by the Rev. P. R. Paris.

Mr. H. Griffiths, who has been manager of the Rivoli Theatre, Newtown, for several years, has resigned to take up a similar position with the Paramount Theatre, and commenced his new duties yesterday.