APPOINTMENT OF VICARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18211, 3 October 1922, Page 8

APPOINTMENT OF VICARS.

THE NOMINATION BOARD.

STANDING COMMITTEE'S VIEWS.

Tho constitution of the board of nomination was the subject of an interesting discussion at a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Auckland (says tho Church Gazette). The rxurd has the responsibility of appointing vicara to parishes and parochial districts when vacancies occo.r. At present the board consists of the bishop, and one clerical and one lay member.

Tho method of making appointments wans considered by the recent General Synod. Two alterations in tho existing law weiie suggested:—

(1) Thai, whejro a Diocesan Synod &o desired, the numerical strength o;f the board should bo increased by the addition of one clerical and one lav member, making (with the bishop) five in all. < (2) Thai, any synod should have the right to provide that, as regards parochial district*, appointments shall be made by the bishop acting alone. The first suggestion was unanimously approved by the Standing Committee. For some timo past there has been a general feeling that a strengthening of the board iii desirable. The second suggestion was unanimously rejected. The bishop said be did not wish to have the whole responsibility for making appointments to parochial districts thrown upon him. Ho greatly valued the assistance of the other members of thi>_board. So far as h 0 was aware tho only diocese in New Zealand that favoured tho suggested change was the diocese of Nelson. The amended canon conserves the power of the board of nomination itself to delegate its power to the bishop. The committee decided to introduce a motion at the coming; session of the Diocesan Synod providing for the proposed increase in the numerical strength of the board of nomination; and to inform synod that it is opposed to the proposod change in the method of making appointments u> parochial districts.