CHRISTIAN ORDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 27 November 1942, Page 3

CHRISTIAN ORDER

PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR RESULTS TO DATE REVIEWED Wellington, Nov. 26. The work accomplished by the Campaign for Christian Order was reviewed at a meeting in Wellington yesterday of representatives of all the participating churches from all parts of the Dominion, and plans were laid for the activities of the coming year. The Primate of New Zealand, the Most Rev. C. West-Watson, presided. Delegates agreed that, despite the many difficulties facing churches through the drain on manpower and womanpower, campaign activities should be continued. It was considered that only a beginning had been made, despite all that had been done so far. Plans for future activities centred round a series of “Christian Order ’ weeks in selected localities. Patterned on the “Religion and Life” weeks which have been a feature of wartime church life in Britain, these will bring the participating churches together in intensive work in their own communities. Group study will also be continued, and the services of many outstanding educationists will be utilised.

In view of the large proportion of the men of the Dominion who are in the armed forces, and the increasing number of women in auxiliary units, it was decided that special attention be paid to the needs of camps, and the assistance of chaplains and camp workers is to be sought in carrying the campaign to the men and women. Youth work is also to be prominent in the coming year’s activities. Reports made by representatives of regional committees showed that on the whole a great deal had been accomplished by the campaign in presenting to the people of New Zealand the churches’ claim that the solution of the world’s problems lay in the application of Christianity to every department of life.

In many districts campaign committees had been successful in contacting community groups of all natures. A great number of study groups had been formed, and there had been many special meetings for women and girls in shops and offices. The use of broadcasting was a new feature, and while the meeting agreed that it was by no means beyond criticism, it had broken new ground and had been an encouraging experiment.

House-to-house visitations in many localities had been undertaken by church people despite difficulties through blackout conditions and the preoccupation of so many people with military, E.P.S., and other duties. Altogether more than 280,000 leaflets had been distributed in this way, ar\d valuable fresh contacts had been made.

The campaign’s activities culminated this year in six weeks of simultaneous preaching in nearly all the churches participating. Delegates reported increased attendances in churches in many areas during this period. The meeting gave spacial thanks to the Campaign Literature Committee, located in Dunedin, for the material it produced. The booklets, it was agreed, set a high standard, and in many instances broke new ground so far as churches in New Zealand are concerned. —P.A.