CHURCH YEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23185, 3 November 1938, Page 17

CHURCH YEAR

MEMBERS AND FINANCE PRESBYTERIAN STATISTICS FEATURES OF THE PERIOD Among the many reports to be presented to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, meeting in Dunedin this -week and next Aveek, one of the most informative is the report on statistics. This shows that the membership roll, which has reached its highest point so far, contains 55,029 communicants, of whom 24,973 are in the North Island and 30.056 in the South, an increase of 231 or 0.42 per cent over last year. During the year 2303 joined the Church by confession of faith.

Of the 13,941 Bible Class members, 28.7 per cent are communicants, and 922 joined the Church during the year. The whole Church consists of 359 parishes, of which 250 are charges and 109 mission stations.

Decline in Attendance A decline of 1763 in attendance at public worship is reported, this coming chiefly from the South Island, where 10 of tho 11 Presbyteries show decreases. There is a heavy decrease of 20.S per cent in North Auckland. The Church is served by a lai*ge army of office-bearers consisting of 2584 elders, 4185 managers, 4088 Sunday School teachers and 700 Bible Class leaders, making a total of 11,557. The 1936 census showed an increase in the nominal Presbyterian population from 330,000 to 367,000, and of these it is estimated that not more than 212,000 are under pastoral care. It is pointed out that there are thus more Presbyterians lacking pastoral care than there are attending church. The percentage of census Presbyterians attending church is 21.8. Increased Gross Revenue Tho gross revenue of the Church has increased from £234,-265 in to £254,817 this year. Tho average giving per member Jbas increased by 10s. lOcl to £4 12s Bd. The figures include a special Maori Mission appeal, -which realised over £7OOO. The total debt of the Church lias been reduced by £10,993 to £197,382.The treasurer in his statement reports a pleasing increase of £2655 in congregational givings to missions. A sum of £IO4O was given for the relief of distress in China.

The treasurer regards it as an urgent duty to call attention to the position of the three main mission funds in relation to legacy reserves, on which there lias been so much reliance. The deficits in the working accounts of Home, Foreign and Maori Missions on balance day totalled £10,438, and there were legacy reserves amounting to only £1785. Missions Budget Deficiency The exhaustion of these reserves means that more must bo provided by congregations from income. On this account congregations were asked to find £4IOO more during the year under review than in the previous 3 r ear. Last year their giving was £7540 short of what was asked. This year, although the giving was increased, the shortage increased also and mounted to £8985.

The working for the year shows a deficiency in the missionary purposes budget of £9535. The estimated requirements were £43,999, the actual expenditure £46,854 and the amount received from all sources £37,319.