CHURCH PROPOSAL

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1929, Page 2

CHURCH PROPOSAL

METHOD [ST OF FER TO PRESBYTERIANS. CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 3. During the past quarter of a century tnere has been much discussion about Church rivalry and overlapping in certain areas, while others are neglected. Many orations have been made by Church leaders on union and co-opei=. tion. The Rev A. J. Seamer, general superintendent of the Methodist Home Mission and Church Extension Department, has, however, made a suggestion which, if accepted, will cost nis Church something in self-sacrifice. The position is as follows—At Broad Bay, a popular watering-place on the Otago Peninsula, the Methodists have been established for nearly fifty years. They have a CTiurch and a resident married home missionary. Services are held there twice on Sundays, and also Sunday School. There is no other church in the bay and no other services are held. Of late years there have been great changes in population, and the majority of the present residents are Presbyterians, who naturally desire to have a resident minister of their own denomination.

To avoid friction or overlapping, Mr Seamer suggests that the Methodist minister be withdrawn and a Presbyterian one appointed, and also that seven of the eight services held per lunar month, together with the Sunday school, be namled over to the Presbyterians, who would have full, free use of the church except for one service monthly and an occasional week night. It is suggested that the Presbyterians should hand over to the Methodists one service monthly at Portobello and, one at North East Harbour, on the same Sunday as the Broad Bay Methodist service, and also that the Presbyterians should look favourably upon the development of Methodist activities at Waitati, where the position is exactly the reverse to that at Broad Bay. Tt is held that by ibis means Methodists all over the peninsula will be kept in touch with their own communion and yet be encouraged to worship regularly with the Presbyterians. The highest interests of Christianitv would thus be served.

It is perhaps not generally known that on at least two occasions the Methodist Conference- has expressed itself ready to enter into co-operation or union with Presbyterian congregational churches on a basis to be mutually arranged. In the meantime the Methodists are proceeding vigorously with their own work and in

many dislriets aro dovoloping rapid Iv.