CHURCH UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10896, 10 May 1921, Page 6

CHURCH UNION

A DEFINITE MOVE PRESBYTERIANS AND CONGREGATIONAUSTS TO COMBINE 6 THE SCHEME DETAILED. Proposals for the union of the Presbyterian Church and the Congregational Church axe taking a more definite form. In accordance with, tlie resolution of the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Union Committee of -that body recently met the Union Committee of the Congregational Union, to consider suggestions made by the latter towards a basis of union. Subsequently the Assembly’s committee drafted a basis of union. This is now being submitted to Presbyteries throughout New Zealand, and will come before the Wellington Presbytery at its meeting to-night. The General Assembly, at its nest meeting is in no way bound to accept the basis proposed as a whole or in any j>art, but it is hoped that either the basis now submitted, or as amended by Presbyteries, will be definitely adopted, and sent down to Presbyteries under the- Barrier ActAssuming that the churches of the Congregational Union apprdve of the Assembly’s finding, and the returns under the Barrier Act are satisfactory,' 'the union may be an accomplished fa the first meeting of thel united churches takes place, states the convener of the Assembly’s com, u.ee (the Rev. Dr James Gibb) in 19:13. No union can, or will, be effected until a bill has been carried through parliament giving the united church the full right and title to all its properties. BASIS OF UNION. THE PROPOSAL OUTLINED. The basis of union suggested by the Assembly's committee is as follows: — Article I.—That the' United Church shall include and ccyisist of the Presbyterian Cbturch of New Zealand as existing previously to the union, and of the Congregational Union of New Zealand as existing previously to the union, and that the name of the united Church, shall be "'The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.” That the notice boards and the headings of official correspondence _ot Presbyterian dhurches prior to the union shall bear the words: ‘‘Presbyterian Church, with which is united the Congregational Union of New Zealand’ ; and the notice Beards and the headings ot official correspondence of Congregational churches prior to the union shall bear the words: "Congregational Church united with the Presbyterian Church, ot New Zealand." Article II. —That the basis in doctrine and polity of the United Church shall be the doctrine and polity of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at tho date of the union. Article lll.—That the Synod of Otago and Southland shall, with respect to its ecclesiastical functions and to the trust properties and funds administered by it. retain the position and rights in the United Church held by it in the Presbyterian Churoh of New Zealand previously to the union. Article IV. —That all ministers of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at the date of the Union, and all ministers of the Congregational Union of New Zealand at the date of the Union, shall be ministers of the United Church. Article V.—That all the porperties held and owned by the churches of the Congregational Union of New Zealand, at the date of the nnion. shall be rested in the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees in terme of the Presbyterian Church Property Act, 1885. ‘ CLOSING OF CHURCHES.

, Article Vl.—That any proposal to close a church deemed superfluous shall be considered by a special committee of the General Assembly; and no church shall be closed v ritjhout the consent of a majority of the members and the recommendation to this effect of the Assembly’s Committee. Article Vll.—That the disposal of funds derived from the sale, consequent upon union, of any properties shall be determined by the Assembly

on the recommendation of a special committee, consisting of members representing the two churches at the time of the rjnion, and that, in the Jigw».l. such proportion of those funds as m»y be agreed on shall be added to the Congregational Pastors’ Provident Fond with a view to its ultimate equalisation with the Presbyterian Beneficiary Fond. Article Vlll.—That the Beneficiary Fund of the Presbyterian Church and the Pastors’ Provident Fond of H<» Congregational Church shall be amalgamated as speedily as possible on a l»»~ to be determined by the General - Assembly, on the recommendation of a committee representing the uniting churches; and until amalgamation is effected the funds shall be kqpt distinct and shall be administered separately by a cr>m rn I.W, of the united church in terms of existing regulations, ministers having claim only on the fund wherewith they were connected at the date of the onion. Article IX.—That the missionary funds of the two churches shall be amalgamated and devoted to the support ol the missions carried on by the Presbyterian Church; but, in aJitijiaa to this, provision shall be made by the General Assembly for continuing the support now given to the Ijondon Missionary Society by the Congregational Union. CONGREGATIONAL SUGGESTIONS. At the meeting between the two union committees the Congregational Committee put forward certain suggestions of which, they had no power to accept any modifications. On learning this, and moreover, considering them as suggestions merely, eome of which from their very nature oonld not be embodied in a basis of union, the Presbyterian Committee iniywityMtnpit; agreed Jto approve of them as they stood. They are embodied, os' far as possible, in the basis of union brought down by the Presbyterian Committee, which states that they may be regarded as in eome sort an interpretation o* certain cianses in the basis of union.