THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. "Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1943 CHURCH, COMMUNITY AND STATE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3249, 7 April 1943, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. "Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1943 CHURCH, COMMUNITY AND STATE

Last week it was announced that the national committee of the Campaign for Christian Order had decided to set up a commission to prepare for a conference of the churches of New Zealand, to be held next year on “Ch'urch, Community and State.” This conference, it was stated, was expected to give an indication of the trend of

the united Churches’ thought on social, political and economic problems. The Church as. a whole has evinced an active interest in the moral basis of the post-war world, and has recognised that the period of reconstruction presents it with an opportunity, vital to its prestige I and influence, for reasserting i and strengthening its leadership 1 on questions of moral principle 'as these affect both individuals and nations. This is all to the ’ good. Church policy, wisely diri ected within the limits of its . special province as the fountain i and inspiration of religious i feeling and moral refinement, j should be able to exert a strong | influence in raising the minds j of communities towards higher i ideals. There may be a danger, | however, that excess of zeal I may tempt its leaders to en- | croach upon the field of secular policies and methods.

The selection of the title for the conference, “Church, Community and State,” places the relationship of all three in logical sequence, an indication that the national committee has appreciated the importance of keeping this relationship steadily in view when dealing with the questions to be discussed. The Church may legitimately, and with great value to the public and to its own prestige, give emphasis to the ethical principles at stake in the reformative period of the post-war world in a way that would influence the

thoughts and opinions upon the Government of the day,’ and to insist that policies and methods should, in their moral and ethical standards, conform to them. The importance of this order of progression was very strongly stressed in Britain recently i when a statement of post-war ; ! Church policy by the new Arch-1 , bishop of Canterbury, Dr. I Temple, arrested public attention, evoking widespread discus-

sion throughout the country. By some the Archbishop’s statement was taken to mean an intention to assert the Church’s . right to lay down State policy I and formulate methods. This implication was challenged on the ground that while 'it was right and proper that the State f should give due recognition to moral principles in policies and legislation as stressed by the Church, it must be left to Government to determine,, from the point of view of public policy, j

the means available, the piethods to be employed, and the limits of the possibilities as ruled by the circumstances prevailing. Church congregations in the various communities may be of a single mind on the subject of ethical standards <and moral codes, but their individual members may be at variance as to how these should be implemented in national policies and legislation. The Church’s most valuable office, therefore, lies in providing the best and highest Inspiration for secular action. With this conception of its role kept steadily to the forefront, the conference of united churches next year should be able to make an influential contribution to the moral side of the problems to be faced when the war is over.