CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23349, 19 August 1939, Page 20

CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

COUNCIL MEETING The quarterly meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations was attended by representatives of the city and surburban churches. Principal A. L. Haddon occupied the chair, and extended a welcome to the (Rev. J. H. Harris, who had recently come to the Moray Place Congregational Church. The resignation of the Rev. W. N. Flott as publicity secretary was received with regret. Messrs J. Wilson and D; K. Macdonald were rcappointod the council’s representatives on the Vocational Guidance Committee. PULPIT EXCHANGE. The secretary (Mr C. A. Elsey) reported on Abe successful pulpit exchange which had been arranged on August 6. This had been made a .day of prayer in connection with the international situation and the sermons had related to the same subject. Members of congregations and exchanging ministers spoke of the benefits of the exchange and expressed the hope that this would be an annual event. INDUSTRIAL MISSION. It was reported that the industrial mission conducted by the council had made unexpectedly 1 rapid progress. Many leading linns had co-operated in arranging brief lunch-hour meetings, which had been cordially received. A regular rota of such meetings had been arranged, and the list was growing constantly. It appeared that if this growth continued the appointment of a special missioner to oversee the work would bo necessary. The council expressed appreciation of the great amount of work carried out by the committee and its convener, the Rev. J. Ewan Simpson. Mr J. Abernethy, the council’s representative on the Centennial Arrangements Committee, reported on the plans made so far. . In order that the fullest co-operation be given, the following were appointed a committee to consider the religious aspects of the centennial year:—The president, the Revs. W. A. Stevely, J. Ewan Simpson, J. H. Harris. Mr j. Abernethy. WORLD COUNCIL. The President reported regarding the World Council of Churches, which is in process of formation. Forty religious bodies from _l9 countries had accepted membership. Many others had indicated favourable reaction, but had not yet met officially. Amongst those already members were: Presbyterian Church of Australia, Church of England in Canada, United Church of Canada, Church of Christ in China, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Old Catholic Church in Germany, Holland, Yugoslavia, and Switzerland, branches of the Orthodox Church, Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, Salvation Army in Great Britain, Polish National Catholic Church, Church of Sweden, Northern and Seventh Day Baptists, United States of America, Churches of Christ (Disciples), United States of America, Congregational and Christian Churches, United States of America. African Methodist Episcopal Church, Presbyterian. North and South and United Presbyterian. United States of America. Reformed Church in America. When the organisation was completed about the end of the year it was anticipated that 130 communions from 50 nations would be members, representing more than 300,000,000 Christians. The Dunedin Council would be kept in touch with the plans and decisions of the World Council and expected guidance and inspiration as a result.