BAPTIST CHURCH QUARREI

Evening Star, Issue 25173, 12 May 1944, Page 6

BAPTIST CHURCH QUARREI

MINISTER SUSPENDED BY UNION , CONGREGATION'S RESENTMENT 1 (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 11. A statement that his suspension from the Baptist Union of New Zealand had no necessary bearing on his ministry at the Auckland Tabernacle, and that the Tabernacle had in no way ceased to be Baptist by its withdrawal from the union, was made by the Rev. Dr Alexander Hodge to-night. Dr Hodge was suspended by the president and executive of the Baptist Union, and at a meeting on Wednesday night the executive of the Tabernacle decided to sever the church's connection with the union. " The situation in the Tabernacle can be understood only if the congregational system of church government is borne in mind," Dr Hodge said. " The Baptist churches are independent. While it is correct to speak of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand or the Methodist Church, it is never right to speak of the Baptist Church of New Zealand. It should he the Baptist churches. Each regards its individuality and independence ias inviolable. " The Baptist Union is simply a voluntary combination of individuals and churches for common action. The Baptist churches acknowledge no central government. For this reason, the officers and the majority of the Tabernacle members have vigorously opposed the denominational intrusion involved in the recent activities of the Baptist Union executive.

" The union executive," Dr Hodge added, " has the right under its constitution to suspend a minister or church from membership of the union for conduct which is considered to be contrary to the union's interests. It is a power which should be exercised only in extreme cases and under the strongest provocation. My own suspension is the culmination of a long struggle against the Baptist Union leaders, who have been prominent in the Tabernacle disturbance. " The executive's action has no necessary bearing on my ministry in the Tabernacle, and the Tabernacle in no way ceases to be Baptist by its withdrawal from the union," he said. " The secession of the Tabernacle from the union is a spirited protest against the suspension of its minister. It- has struck the church at a time when the increase in membership and the financial returns are the best on record for many years." Dr Hodge also said that the action of the Baptist Union executive in summoning a meeting of church members in the Town Hall Concert Chamber was improper and s out of order. The meeting in the Tabernacle on night had carried a resolution which followed the lines of one passed at the monthly meeting of members on May f!. The earlier resolution was as follows: "That this meeting of church members solemnly ! resolves that the executive of the Baptist Union be censured by the Tabernacle Church for its procedure in connection with the recent commission of inquiries and subsequent action against the minister, and duly records its emphatic disapproval of the executive's unjust and discourteous procedure." Confidence in the executive of the Baptist Union was re-affirmed in a resolution passed at a special meeting of the Auckland Baptist Ministers' Fraternal. The resolution stated that " The fraternal joins with the members of the executive in their prayers that the over-ruling of God may be experienced in all matters concerning future developments in regard to the Tabernacle Church."