FAITH AND ORDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 5

FAITH AND ORDER.

CHURCH COMMITTEE REPORTS

WIDE DESIRE FOR UNITY.

The report—which is to be submitted to the next Lambeth Conference—of the committee appointed by (he Archbishops of Canterbury and York to consider the findings of the Lausanne Conference on Faith and Order was recently published. The report states: — It seems certain to us that the desire for corporate unity is to be found among Christians of all communions. That His disciples should be one is recognised as the will of the Master. It is also evident that the woik of evangelising the world and influencing for righteousness societies nominally Christian 'is hindered by our divisions. " The conferences at Stockholm, Lau- ■ sanno and Jerusalem havo shown the ! depth of this feeling, \l3ut widely diffusedas the desire for unity is, much remains to be done before it can become practically operative on any largo scale. " Wo have considered the steps that havo been taken in tho past toward the promotion of intercommunion with the Orthodox Church of the East, the Old Catholics, tlio Swedish, the Armenian, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox . and Assyrian , Churches/ Wo believe that in some cases j the stage has been reached when stub I efforts "should bo brought to fruition. Commissions might be appointed to this end. Owing to much misunderstanding of the Anglican position we should welcome an authoritative statement of the sense i" which the articles of the Lambeth Quadrilateral nro to bo understood: (a) The Holy Scripture; (b) tho Creeds; (c) Sacuiments; (d) Historic Episcopate. " Such a statement should be short, aim if translated into several languages would bo of great value to those Anglicans who are working among the rank and tile ol other Churches in tho causo of reunion, i With regard to tho proposals for general intercommunion between Christian bodies at present divided, the interchange of pulpits and tho common conduct ot united services, wo do not at (ho piesen timo recommend any extension ot tlio rules and laid down oy the -bamboth Conference, 1920, and endorsed b> tho Convocations. " On tho question of united communion services we feel that they should mark the completion of a scheme of reunion and not ol ***** baptised persons who are lion-Ai k to communion in Anglican special circumstances, though des ; ro * mitteo was not allowed E^t^L/lSSamaCon^nce."