CHURCH CONGRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 3 April 1929, Page 2

CHURCH CONGRESS

MAY BE HELD IX 1931 The "Church News" states that the Christehurch Clerical Society has been discussing the prospects of another Church Congress, and last month received a report from the Provisional Committee set up to go into the matter. The committee (Archdeacon Haggitt, Revs. C. A. Fraer, J. F. Coursey, and F. Dunnage) suggested that as the Bishops who had been to the Lambeth Conference in 10150 would have returned by the end of that year, the Congress had best be arranged for 1931, and as the clergy themselves would be freest in January, and many other people less busy then than later in the year, that month would be most suitable. Later it would clash with the General Synod, which is to be held at Nelson. The Auckland Clerical Society a few weeks ago sent a belated reply to an inquiry as to whether Auckland would care to undertake the management of the congress in that city. The society was of opinion that Auckland could not, and suggested that the Congress be held in Nelson in conjunction with General Synod. The Bishop of Nelson, however, made it clear to the Christchurch committee that it was quite beyond possibility for Nelson to manage the Congress and And among church people the amount of hospitality for so great a number as the Congress would gather. The conclusion of the Christehurch Society was that the Congress should be organised, and if no other diocese would take it up, that Christehurch should. There is much to be said for holding the Congress in 1931, as the 1930 Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops throughout the world (including the U.S.A. Episcopal Church) is likely to prove the most momentous of all hitherto held, and the Bishops will have much to report upon; the Congress will give them the best opportunity. It is hoped to arrange for leading men and women from Australia as well as New Zealand, to attend, and there is hope that it may be possible to finance the expense of one or two leading clergy of the Church in England if they can be persuaded to accept the invitation. The General Synod treasurer holds about £127 surplus from the last Congress which would be available as a nucleus. Archdeacon Haggitt and Ruvs. C. A, Fraer, F. Dunnage and J. F. Coursey were reappointed as Provisional Committee, with a request that they get in touch with the other dioceses before next meeting of the society.