METHODIST SYNOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21962, 20 November 1934, Page 11

METHODIST SYNOD

COMMENCEMENT TO-DAY

LOCAL PREACHERS* SERVICE

Under the presidency of the Rev. E. D. Patchett, chairman of the Auckland district, the annual Auckland district synod 'of the Methodist Church will commence in the Pitt Street

Church this morning. About 150 delegates, including about 70 ministers, will be present. The Rev. R. 13. Tinsley will act as' secretary. The work for to-d; consists of ministerial committee work, at which probationers, students and candidates for the ministry will be examined. The committees' recommendations will be forwarded to the conference to be held in Dunedin ih February.

This evening a special service to commemorate the jubilee of the founding of the Local Preachers' Association will be held in the Pitt Street Church. Mr. J. x<\ Roberts, president of the association, rfnd Messrs. J. W. Shackelford and J. Watkinson, representing the oldest local preachers, will address the gathering, which will be presided over by Mr. JPatchett. The Local 'Preachers' Association has done a great deal of work in assisting the lay preachers, who fill such a considerable proportion of the preaching engagements in the Methodist Church. In connection with the jubilee of the association,^every Methodist pulpit in the city and suburban churches will be occupied by at least one local preacher on Sunday.

At the main session of synod, which will commence to-morrow morning, continuing throughout the day and evening, and concluding on Thursday, such general topics as war and unemployment will be discussed and recommendations forwarded to conference. A conversazione at the Pitt Street Church on Thursday night will probably mark the conclusion of synod. However, it is possible that the volume oti business may necessitate a session on Friday morning. The Rev. W. Parker, of Papakura, and the "Rev. E. E. Sage, of Whangarei, will be the 6;peakers at the conversazione.