THE WORLD CALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19844, 17 July 1926, Page 13

THE WORLD CALL

CLERGY FOR OVERSEAS. THE REV. C. C. HARPER’S VIEWS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 5. In the new issue of the Guardian the Rev. C. C. Harper (formerly of Falmerston North and Wellington and now rector of Ford, Northumberland) has some comments to make regarding Church of England clergy going abroad for a short period of duty. Archdeacon Harper writes: "In tho general recognition of our responsibility for Church work overseas, which Is the outcome of the world call, a word of warning seems necessary. ‘T am moved to say something because of a letter sent by some of his clergy to the Bishop of Bath and Wales, offering to go abroad for a term of two or three years. There me really three questions involved in this subject of service overseas—namely: Is this service overseas primarily for the benefit of the Church overseas, or of the Church at Horae, or of the individual priest? In my opinion, service abroad for anything under five or even seven years would be of small, if any, benefit to the Church, and not very much to the individual priest. We at Home must remember that the problems and work in the Church overseas are quite as difficult and as great as those at Home. Also, they are somewhat different, and a substantial period of time is needed to grasp all the conditions sufficiently for efficient handling. English priests should try to view the matter the other way round. ONLY A BIRD OP PASSAGE. ’’How many of those who talk of two or three years abroad would feel that their parishes and the Church at Home would be benefited by a (say) New Kealand-born and trained priest coming Home to take charge for such a period? I consider a man does not begin to do effective and lasting work in a colonial parish, when ail the conditions of the life and work are new to him, until he has been two or three years at it. Ho la of little, If any, real uso in the councils of the Church, as he is by himself and the resident clergy and laity to be only a bird of passage; but when ho comes Horae ho is looked upon as having, and would consider himself possessed of a right to speak on overseas matters with which he has only a surface acquaintance. "It men are going to offer for the Church overseas let them be prepared to give some considerable part of their best years and powers, because it is our Lord’s work, and is of equal importance with the work at Homo. And. what Is of equal moment ami needs saying quite emphatically, let the bishops and Homo clergy acquire a wider vision of the Church than that represented by their own diocese, and recognise in every way that the man who has worked overseas is deserving of all honour and consideration.” i