Methodists Divided On Church’s War Attitude

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 5

Methodists Divided On Church’s War Attitude

[Per Press Association. Copyright'] DUNEDIN, This Day. EVIDENCE OF A SHARP CLEAVAGE OF OPINION AMONG MINISTERS AND LAY MEMBERS ON THE ATTITUDE THE METHODIST CHURCH SHOULD ADOPT TOWARDS THE WAR WAS GIVEN WHEN, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUSINESS SESSION OF THE CENTENNIAL METHODIST CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, NOTICES OF MOTION AS WELL AS A PETITION ON THE SUBJECT WERE SUBMITTED FOR DISCUSSION NEXT WEEK.

‘Considerable discussion took place on the question oi' setting up a suitable special committee to consider the views expressed in these submissions.

While some members of the conference favoured two committees representing different points of view it was finally decided that the president (the Rev. L. B. Neale) and the secretary (the Rev. W. A. Burley) should set up a committee representing all shades of opinion to 'bring in a report to the conference.

One notice of motion, moved on behalf of Mr A. C. Barrington (Wellington Central circuit), expressed the opinion that war was contrary to the spirit and teaching of Jesus Christ, and that the Church must declare the present war to be a sin against God. Loyal to Throne. It suggested that members and .adherents of the Church should be

urged to take no part in the war, but to give themselves to the making of a Christian peace. “And,” it concluded, “we call our country and nation to repentance, to the immediate cessation of hostilities, and to the negotiation of a permanent peace.” On the other hand, Mr F. Shaw presented a petition signed by about 2500 members of the Church, asking the conference to reaffirm its loyalty to the Throne and the nation, and to define the attitude of the Church not in academic terms to war in general, but to the stern reality of the present war. Righteous Cause. The petitioners asked the conference to give careful consideration to the fact that the British Commonwealth of Nations had been forced into war for a righteous cause, expressed the opinion that the advantages of British citizenship should be retained at all costs, and finally asked the conference to take steps “to prevent our pulpits and church organisations being used either to propagate pacifist doctrines or controversially to oppose them while our nation is at war.” “Such disputations,” the petition concluded, “weaken New Zealand’s war effort, grieve the parents of boys on active service, and lead to irritation, confusion of thought and disharmony among our church people, to the great detriment of the best interests of the Church.”