WOMEN AS ELDERS

Evening Star, Issue 25226, 13 July 1944, Page 8

WOMEN AS ELDERS

PRESBYTERY DISCUSSION MOST SESSIONS AGAINST CHANGE (P.A.) OHRISTOHUiRCH, July 12. "The opposition to the- appointment of women elders'arises out of sheer prejudice," (laid the Very Rev. J. Lawson Robinson at a meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery to-day, when a long discussion ensued on reports from 19 etiurch sessions ou the question. Presbytery finally decided on the voices to defer consideration of the question until after the war. ■ For the Life and Work Committee, the Ue.v. J. Baird reported that of the 19 session replies received 14 were against 'he proposal and 5 were in,favour. Reasons for the decisions were given, in a few cases only, but Mr Baird indicated that the main objection to the proposal was the danger of the church becoming too effeminate. There; was a real danger of the church becoming a " ladies' church." The majority of the committee, said Mr Baird. was against the proposal, and rceonunended that, in view of the replies *rom the sessions, the proposal to permit Mie appointment of women elders be not approved. "If the Church has become- effeminate ifc has become effeminate under the charge »t men." said Mr Rodger, who contended that each session should have the right to itncido whether women could give moro p/ficient service than men in administration. Mr Rodger said that women were the backbone of mission work, and in social service women had proved to be more effective than men. As 75 per cent, of the church membership was comprised of women, he contended that they were enMtiled to have the right of appointment as elders.

In reply to a question, the Moderator, the Rev. G. L. Taylor, said that Presbylery was not bound by the opinions of the sessions- in reaching a decision. Mr H. J. Crawford ■moved that the whole raat'ter be deferred until after the war. He. said he considered the time was not opportune to make a decision. "It is not fair to our men overseas, who have tha right to express their opinion in this mailer," lie said. "There is a danger of creating the impression in their minds that we ore short staffed and that we avf- calling in the women to help our sessions. It is another case of the woman takinj; over men's jobs, and those overseas may ' fee: that they are becoming back numbers." The Rev. I. W. Fraser said that women elders were inevitable, but he did not want to hasten that day. Nobody questioned the work that the women were doing in their own organisations, but he agreed with St. Paul that there weje differences between the sexes, and that the spiritual will was the one given to men. "By opening the door to women," said Mr Fraser. " we are shirking our responsibility." Objection was raised by several members to Mr Lawson Robinson's contention that the opposition arose out of sheer prejudice. Some speakers contended that the raising of objection on spiritual and theological grounds was entirely wrong. These remarks were greeted with interjections.