UNION OF CHURCHES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20186, 2 March 1940, Page 13

UNION OF CHURCHES

PRINCIPLE COMMENDED METHODIST CONFERENCE (Tor Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. . A resolution commending the principle of church union was adopted yesterday at the concluding session of the Methodist Church conference. A special committee was set up to consider the whole question and report to the next conference. Conversations between the Methodist Church and the Congregational Church of New Zealand with regard .to a possible basis of union were reported on. It was also stated that some communication had been received from the Presbyterian Church, with the result that it was deemed advisable to defer action for a year pending more detailed information on the subject.

The following resolution, moved by the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, was carried: “The conference declares its conviction that it is the will of God for his church that she should seek to express her unity in Christ Jesus in terms unmistakable to the world and also that she should use her resources in a manner that will transcend all denominational rivalry and best promote the interests of the Kingdom of God. We rejoice in the growing unity and mutual understanding manifest among Christian people and declare our readiness to co-oper-ate heartily in any effort initiated with a view to bringing about a measure of church union with the Presbyterian, Congregational and/or other churches. Should the response of' the Presbyterian and/or Congregational church, through their chief courts, be favourable to tire approach of the conference, the initiation of a movement towards union should at an early date be submitted for the approval of the local church courts.” A special committee, to be located in Christchurch, was set up to consider the whole question of church union and to report to the next conference.