UNION OF CHURCHES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 68, 19 February 1932, Page 3

UNION OF CHURCHES.

METHODIST ATTITUDE. Declaring that the menace of a mik-t-erial and secularistic age was a formidable challoug-e to tiio Christian Church to greater unity of spiritual aim and effort, ltev. M; A. Rugby Pratt, in his Presidential address last evening at the opening of the Methodist Conference ui Christchurch, referred to the question of Church union. Confronted by the influences that were leading people away from religion, all the churches, said the speaker, were feeling the need for closer fellowship and co-operation; They , were being driven by necessity, but until they were drawn by desire, it was to be feared that any organic union was only a goal to be saluted from afar. Referring to the recently-expressed desire, of the Anglican Primate of New Zealand for “conversations,” along the lines of the resumed Lambeth “conversations” to which the Archbishop of Canterbury had invited the English Free Churches, Mr. Pratt said while such a gesture merited their courteous and sympathetic consideration, he feared the Lambeth Conference had itself already • extinguished any gleaming possibilisty of union with the Free, Churches for the more remote and uncertain prospect of reunion with the Greek and Latin Churches. Furthermore, it was difficult to visualise union with the Anglican Church while that Church was itself so confused in regard to sacerdotal and evangelical practice, and so divided on vital principles of faith and order, as appeared from the controversy between the High and Low Church factions in the Mother Church. Touching the question of re-ordina-tion, Mr Pratt said that the Methodist Church, certain of the validity of its own orders, could not regard as acceptable any equivocal proposals to extend the commission of non-epis-copally ordained ministers by an episcopal ordination. It was also difficult to understand why Methodists, the spiritual validity of whose ministrations was recognised by Lambeth, should be excluded from the Sacrament of Unity at the . Lord’s Table. While the Methodist Church was ever ready to co-operate with the Anglican Church in advancing the ideals of the Kingdom of God, he feared that the desire for re-union must remain disappointed until their mutual devotion to Jesus Christ • was deep enough lo show itself in a fellowship embracing not only faith, but also worship at the Lord’s Table.

The question of union between the non-episcopal churches presented fewer problems, the difficulties being mainly of an administrative character, relating to trust funds and commitments for missionary and philanthropic enterprises. If it was not possible in the immediate future to create in the Dominion a single church with unified control; and a common creed, it might be possible for some of the non-episcopal churches —the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches were already acquainted with the mind of the Methodist Church in the matter—to formulate a basis of union to be consummated say, eight or 10 years hence. There was at least urgent need for appointed leaders of the various churches to get tog>|ther and face frankly the stern issue's of contemporary life. In a fraternal spirit they should make a critical and constructive survey of the religious needs of the Dominion, grapple courageously 'with problems arising from competition, overlapping, etc., and face squarely the conclusions to which the survey might lead. Meanwhile no feeling of panic must be allowed to paralyse action. Many facts indicated the imminence of a great revival of religious faith. Let them cultivate a vital religious experience and a gripping faith in God, and continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus as the one hope of the world.