CHURCHES’ COUNCIL PROGRESS : VISIT OF NATIONAL OFFICER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23217, 31 March 1950, Page 6

CHURCHES’ COUNCIL PROGRESS : VISIT OF NATIONAL OFFICER

The World Council of Churches was born in order that the non-Roman churches throughout the world might bear greater fruit.” said the Rev. Alan A. Brash, secretary of the National Council of Churches, speaking at the Ppv.-ci'i Hall on Wednesday evening.

“The world population is expanding at the rate of 25.000,000 people per vear and to the church every one of those is an individual needing a full life through Jesus Christ. The church expands at the rate of 2.000,000 people per year—a more rapid rate of expansion than at any time in her history. “Mors, people have been added to the churches in the last 150 years than in all (he previous 1300 years; more martvrs for (he faith have been produced in the last 10 years than in the firs* 300 vpars. "The World Council of Churches is not a super-church, not a Protestant Panacv. Tt does not and will not include the Roman Church, which was not represented at the Amsterdam assembly' said Mr. Brash In the reply to -a Question. “The World Council has been criticised bv ce’-tain scurrillmis people as being nro Communist. This is a travesty of the farts. The report of the Amsterdam assembly makes (he position perfectly clear —that I'ne World Council of Churches sees in communism the rise of a godless materialism that must be resisted at nil costs. “On n 4 h r »v if r!of* c riot committed in any degree to the economi.' status oiio under canitalism. The churches within Communist countries b°inn materially aided to maintain their witness, and will be so aided as long as possible. ■ Co-ordination In N.Z.

“In New Zealand the National Conn oil o r Churches co-ordinates the Anglican. Presbyterian. Methodist,, Baptist. • "’’lurches of Christ. Congregational, Salvation Armv. Quakers, and Greek O-tbo-’nx Ari’n'r' other "if'"' church a*d has "“of from New Zea’ond since 1945 £60.00(1 worth of relief "implies, Included in this was a nrniert tv means of whwh 10.000 children in Europe were f“d one meal a dav for 90 dnvs. Tn addition to this 600 tons of used clothing and 35.000 pairs of women’s shoes were sent abroad ”

A’so accomplished has been the securing of divinity decrees in the Now Zealand universities, the stimulation of theological conversations between the churches, and the representing of the mind of the member churches to the Government and the ncoplc of the country with increasingly encouraging results. The formation of a branch of the National Council of Churches is being considered in Gisborne, in order to encourage fellowship and' co-operation among local churches.

LABOURER REMANDED Goldburn Charles Cress, aged 52, labourer. Gisborne, was remanded to appear at Gisborne on Monday vhen he came before Mr. E. L. Walton. S.M., in the Gisborne Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of having been found unlawfully on enclosed premises. Sergeant D. M. Campbell said that the defendant had been arrested on premises in Derby Street at 8.20 o'clock yesterday morning.