METHODIST CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1937, Page 2

METHODIST CONFERENCE

ATTITUDE TOWARDS DIVORCE [FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February 26. The attitude of the church towards the dissolution of marriage ties and to related questions was in some measure defined in a- report' presented to the Dominion Methodist Conference. The report set forth the Christian ideal of marriage as revealed in the teaching and attitude of the Lord and also as part of the natural order of life as designed by God. While according to the teaching of Christ marriage was indissoluble except on the ground of inchastity in married relation, the majority of the committee considered that according to Christ’s own principles, insanity, physical or mental cruelty, or desertion also provided reason for the dissolution of the marriage bond. The committee, it was explained, recognised the conflict of opinion that existed as to the traditional attitude of the church to the matters under review as they related to modern conditions, and especially to the vital question of birth, control and social disease. It therefore regarded its findings as being more or less of a tentative character, and leaving room for fuller research.

The report was referred back for further consideration and for presentation through synods to the conference in 1938.

APPOINTMENTS CONFIRMED. AUCKLAND, February 26. The appointments of Methodist Ministers for 1937 were finally determined at the Dominion conference. The final draft showed the following alterations in the earlier list, the names of the present ministers being shown in -parentheses: — South Auckland District. —Hauraki Plains, Rev. C. L. Duder (Rev. C. J. T. Luxton); Morrinsville (second); Waitoa, Rev. R. W. Mayson (Rev. J. A. E. Daglish); Whakatane, Rev. C. T. J. Luxton (Rev. J. John). Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu District. — Dannevirke, Rev. A. E. Waite (Rev. R. J. Liddell). North Canterbury District. —Christchurch, Durham Street, second, Rev. J. John (Rev. R. Thornley). Sydenham, Rev. Wesley Parker (Rev. B. R, Hames). Otago—Southland.—Riverton Rev. J. M. Blight (Rev. W. Parker). Changes in Home Mission appointments are: Auckland District: Helensville, Rev. E. H. Dailey; Kaukapa-Sil-verdale, Rev. H. O. Jones; Hokianga and Rawene, Rev. H. A. Cochrane; Taranaki-Wanganui: Gonville!-Wanga-nui, Rev. C. W. Brown; Inglewood Rev. H. Ashworth; Ohura, Rev. R. T. Alexander. Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu, Fox-ton-Shannon, Rev. R. Grice; Waipawa. Rev. S. Keen; Wairoa, Rev. J. H. Woolford. Wellington District: Johnsonville and Porirua, Rev. W. L. Long; Kuripuni and Masterton, Rev. G. V. Thomas; Greytown-Featherston, Rev. W. Falkingham. Nelson-Murchison, Rev. G. W. Crammond. North Canterbury: Waddington, Rev. I-I. J. Malcolm; Woolston, second, Rev. H. E. Bellhouse; Supply Otago-Southland: Waikouaiti, Rev. H. R. Wright; Lawrence. Rev. A. Collinsffi Kaitangata, Rev. W. H. Gregory; Otautau-Tuatu-pere, Rqv. C. Robinson; Nightcaps, Rev W. McDonald.

The following were elected chairmen of districts: Auckland, Rev. E. D. Patched; South Auckland, Rev. W. J. Oxbrow; Taranaki-Wanganui, Rev. F. Copeland; Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu. Rev. H. J. Odell; Wellington, Rev. P. R. Paris; Nelson, Rev. J. D. McArthur; North Canterbury, Rev. C. Eaton; South Canterbury, Rev. A. MeBean; Otago-Southland, Rev. C. H. Olds; Solomon Islands mission district, Rev. J. F. Gouldie. The next conference is to be held in Wellington, in February, 1938.