PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 November 1939, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ATTITUDE TOWARDS WAR

[per press association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, November 20. “We recommend our people to respond, with a loyal sense of civic responsibility, to such calls for set vice as the authorities may make, with due regard to the' rights of conscience. This passage wgs contained in a pronouncement of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand’s attitude towards the war. which was adopted at to-day’s session of the General Assembly. “At this grave juncture; when the British Empire is at war, and the New Zealand Government has unhesitatingly ranged itself along with the United Kingdom, the Presbyterian Church reaffirms her loyalty to the Throne, and recognises, on the basis of the facts available, the justice . of. the cause for which our nation is fighting, after all efforts towards a peaceful solution had failed,” was another passage in the lengthy statement. “The Assembly calls 1 upon all its congregations to remember- that we are part of the universal fellowship which no war can destroy, that it is foi us to work to-day earnestly for the healing of the nations, and the reconstruction of our world order, and that the power and peace of God are with all those whose 1 concern is to know and to do His Will.” An amendment, urging the Assembly to condemn war, as being incompatible with the mind and spirit of Christ was rejected, and the resolution was carried without dissent.