Northland Presbytery

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1946, Page 6

Northland Presbytery

Representatives from the Whangarei, Dargaville. Waipu, Kauri, Mangapai, Maungaturoto, Titoki and Ruawai parishes were present at the June meeting of the Northland Presbytery. The Moderator (Rev. D. McNeur, Waipu) presided, and during the meeting extended a welcome to one of the church’s missionaries. Sister Anne Lilburne, of the Kong Chuen Mission Hospital. China. Miss Lilburne briefly addressed Presbytery on the experiences of the missionaries interned by the Japanese in the Canton area. Reports were given of work in a number of the Home Mission stations under Presbytery’s care. Approval was given to the interim arrangements under which the Northern Manaia and Whakapara stations are to be worked from Whangarei and Kauri respectively. The Rev. W. R. Lapsley, of Kauri, was appointed Moderator of Whakapara.

The Church’s Public Questions Committee brought under Presbytery's notice the present difficulty in obtaining permits to erect new church buildings, and asked that an estimate be made of building requirements in the Presbytery area during the next three years, with a view to determining what order of priority should be submitted to the Government by the Inter-Church Council on Public Affairs. It was agreed to ask boards of management to submit their requirements, and to stress immediately the claim of the present church building project at Ruawai. MISSIONARY WORK The budget for the forthcoming year’s financial requirements for overseas. home and Maori missionary work was received from the Missions Committee. This showed the sum aimed at as £7OO, or 16/8 per communicant member, as against this year’s aim of £6BO. representing 17/- per member on earlier membership figures. The Rev. D. McNeur was asked to continue in office as Moderator of Presbytery until the February meeting.

Reports from Presbytery’s Life and Work Committee (Dargaville) and Maintenance of the Ministry Committee (Waipu) on a number of suggested amendments to the Church’s Book of Order were discussed, and findings approved for submission to the next General Assembly. A further recommendation. designed to increase the representation of Home Mission stations on Presbytery, was also approved for submission to Assembly. It was decided to ask the appropriate Assembly committee to plan to introduce, as early as possible, a scheme for the financing and purchase of cars for ministers and Home Mission stations.