CHURCH ORGANISATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 15

CHURCH ORGANISATION.

PRESBYTERIAN PROPOSALS. SEVERAL CHANGES ADOPTED. Numerous and far-reaching proposals for amending the organisation of tho Presbyterian Church were submitted at tho afternoon session of tho General Assembly yesterday. These proposals, 38 in number, have already been considered by presbyteries, but in tho absence of anygeneral agreement in their recommendations the whole of the original report was referred to tho Assembly. The Rev. W. J. Conine, who presented the report, referred to it as in some respects the most important to conic before Assembly and ono debatable in a high degree. The changes, if decided upon, would bo brought abcut by constitu tional mean* after duo lapso of time

A proposal to reduce tho representation of presbyteries at tho Assembly to a basis of a-third instead of a-half was rejected by ,i majority of about two to ona.

It was agreed by a largo majority to hold tho annual meetings of Assembly in March, instead of November.

Tho Assembly decided to set up an advisory board to discharge tho functions of the existing finance committee, and in addition to advise committees in regard to combined action ami questions of policy and also to advise officers of tho Assembly. 'lho proposal that a general secretary bo appointed, that his office bo combined with that of home mission superintendent and that he 1.0 located in Wellington was being debated when the hour for adjournment arrived and further discussion was postponed.