CHURCH CONFERENCE.

Grey River Argus, 31 March 1922, Page 2

CHURCH CONFERENCE.

UNITY SCHEMES,

. SYDNEY, March 30... The Conference of Church delegates continued tin l discussion as to whether Episcopacy should be forced on all churches in the event of union, or whether a modus operandi could be found between Episcopacy and Presbyterian. A motion was carried, “That in view of all the circumstances, it is expedient that the policy of the reunited Catholic Church should be Episcopal, provided that the appointment of a Bishop shall be shared in by the ministry and laity; that in all administrative actions the Bishop shall be responsible to a representative assembly, Synod, or conference; and that the acceptance of Episcopacy does not necessarily imply that ministerial authority cannot otherwise be obtained or that Episcopacy is the only channel of Divine grace.”

A motion was also carried welcoming the assurance implied in 'the Lambeth appeal that each group will be free to retain its own characteristic method of worship service so long as it is not inconsistent with the fellowship of the whole.

The conference passed a resolution “That the conditions for mutual recognition of episcopal and noil-episcopal orders and commissions be thoroughly explored by the respective churches.” The conference recommends the ap-

pointment of a committee to ascertain the- possibilities of arriving at a common mind; it also agreed to an interim joint committee being appointed to consider and recommend definite schemes of co-operation. The following were elected to the, committee: The Bishop of Willochra, Canon Hughes (Anglican), Dean Talbot (Presbyterian), Professor Harper, Rev. George Tait (Methodist), Rev. Wy 11. Beale, Dr Carruthers (Congregational); Rev. E. Davies, Revs. P. A. Micklem and Rev. A. P.

Campbell. The Bishop of Bradford advocated the Nicene Creed as the obvious standard of the Reunited Church. Tt satisfied every test of catholicity and would serve as the standard for the ordination of the ministry as outlined, for the instruction of all members of the churches, and as a confession for Congregational worship.

A motion was carried: “That whilst the conditions of membership of the Reunited Church are satisfied by the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed will be appropriate as a common standard precedent to union. ’ ’