CHURCH UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10897, 11 May 1921, Page 5

CHURCH UNION

PRESBYTERY IN FAVOUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S SUGGESTIONS APPROVED OF. NO DANGER OF DEBACLE. At a meeting of the Wellington Presbytery held last night the Rev. J. A. McKenzie presiding, the proposals looking towards the union of the Congregational and the Presbyterian Churches were considered. The Rev. J. R-. Glasson, pastor of the Terrace Congregational Church, attended, and was cordially welcomed by the moderator. Mr Glassan, in reply, expressed the hope that a solution of the problem of church’ union would be found. The Rev. Dr. Gibb moved, that the suggestion made by th© Union*Committee of the General Assembly (alreadypublished in the "Times”) be generally accepted by 'the Presbytery pointing out that the carrying of the motion would not bind the presbytery to anything. The resolution was seconded by the Rev. W. Day, and carried without dissent-. _ . Dr. Gibb, in moving the adoption ol the first article, said that, while, as the Rev. J. R. Glaesan had stated, there must be nothing in the nature of absorption of the Congregational Union, the Congregationalists had gone a long way in order to make union, possible. He stressed, however, the importance oi having a good short name for a church. It would die very cumbersome to ca.l tho proposed united church “The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, with which is united the Congregational Union.” But, he said, the Congregationalists had come such a long way that lie thought the Presbytery might well accept it. The first article was then approved; and the other articles were taken seriatim, and adopted with little discussion.

Dr. Gibb stated that the consummatioa of the- union would mean that every Congregational minister would become a minister of the United Pres bv t erian and Congregational Church; and, of course, every Presbyterian minister would be a minister of it The Rev. J. H. Mackenzie said that he had found that some members of the Congregational Church would not oome into the union. He asked if a clause could not be added to the effect that the mimeters would come in. bringing their congregations with them. Dr. Gibb said that it Was not possible to frame sueh a.clause. Another article provided that all Congregatipnal churches and other property of the Congregational Union would, on the consummation of the union, become the property of the united’ church. Mr Glasson pointed out that the churches, etc., were not the property of the Congregational Union, but of the individual Congregational Churches. _

Dr. Gibb stated that that was so, according to the laws of the Congregational churches, but they were _ already waived in. article two. He pointed out that it was expressly provided that no union should take place until the articles - were approved by the different churches and until an Act of Parliament had been carried conserving to the united church the properties respectively held hy the churches. There would be no danger of any such debacle, as that of the “Wee Frees,’ which had resulted from—.well, the mis-doing of the House of Lords.