RIGHTEOUS CAUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1942, Page 7

RIGHTEOUS CAUSE

BRITISH NATION

METHODIST DECISIONS ON

WAR AND PEACE

The belief that submission to the forces of ruthless aggression would imperil civilisation and en-

danger the existence of the condi-

tions amidst which Christianity found free expression was expressed by the Methodist Conference yesterday, and the conference also expressed its confidence that Methodist people would continue, until victory was achieved, to uphold the righteous cause to which the British nation was committed. The findings of conference were released to the Press after several hours' discussion in committee on j questions of peace and war. The presi-. I dent of the conference, the Rev. W. j Walker, Remuera, Auckland, said that the resolutions had been adopted by an overwhelming majority, unmistakably revealing the mind of the Church. . The resolutions were: — Conference .reaffirms the manifesto of the conference of February, 1940, on peace and war, and places on record the following findings for the further guidance of the people of the Methodist Church in New Zealand:— " Conference reaffirms its loyalty to our' King and Empire and expresses its gratitude to Almighty God for Divine protection and the preservation of the nation in this time of worldwide crisis. . Conference is confirmed in its belief in the righteousness of the cause to which our nation is committed and in which the great majority of the people of our Church are zealously engaged. It believes that submission to the forces of ruthless aggression would imperil civilisation, and endanger the existence of those conditions amid .which Christianity finds free ex-? pression. It is confident that our people will continue to uphold this' righteous cause till victory has been achieved ALTERNATIVE SERVICE. Conference recognises that the Christian consciences of most of our people constrain them to active participation in the war effort, either at home or abroad. Adhering to the principle of the freedom1 of conscience, which should be respected, it declares that any who for conscientious reasons, sincerely held and attested, are unwilling to bear arms, should render some form of alternative sacrificial service to the country in whose privileges of citizenship they share. '' Conference proclaims its belief in the Fatherhood of God and in the brotherhood and unity of mankind. It regards- the Christian Church .as a society instituted by Jesus Christ for serving His purpose of redeeming the world from sin, for freeing it from the threat of war, for effecting race reconciliation, for safeguarding civilisation from destruction, and for the cultivation of a universal fraternal fellowship. It therefore calls upon its people to co-operate with all men of good will in seeking? to establish a Christian world order.

Conference offers to our kinsmen in the Mother Country and to our Allies its sincere sympathy in the trials through which they are passing, and notes with admiration, their courage and steadfastness. It expresses sympathy with all those suffering through the war or enduring anxiety on account of loved ones exposed to peril or who are sick, wounded, missing, or prisoners of war, and commends them to God's Fatherly care.

Conference extends its greetings to our soldiers, sailors, airmen, chaplains, doctors, and nurses, and all other members and adherents of the Church who are engaged .in war service, It assures them, and specially those who are suffering in consequence of their service, of the constant prayers of the Church, and of its hope that all may know the presence and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conference, having reaffirmed the manifesto of 1940, now being deeply persuaded of the grave challenge presented to the Christian Church by the present world situation, and in view of the new opportunity for advance presented by the membership campaign and the campaign for Christian order, we ministers and laymen of this conference hereby pledge ourselves to a new personal consecration to God and to the central task of the Church in the winning of men and women to Jesus Christ and to move, forward, as a united fellowship in Christian brotherhood.