ANGLICAN SYNOD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23004, 6 October 1936, Page 4

ANGLICAN SYNOD

OPENING OF SESSION ADDRESS BY BISHOPFITCHETT The first session of the twenty-fourth Anglican Synod was held in St. Paul's Schoolroom yesterday. afternoon, Bishop Fitchett presiding. \ . In the> course of,his.presidential address; Bishop Fitchett referred ;to the death on May 10 of this year at'Christchurch 6f; Bishop Richards,'who resigned from office as bishop of the diocese on May 31. 1934. The.speaker detailed the work performed by. Bishop Richards, and referred \o the cbUrage with*which he carried out his work in the face of great physical suffering. The speaker then went on to express the sympathy of the diocese to Bishop West-Watson on the death of his wife. During the year the following former members Of the synod had died:—-Isaac Richards (bishop), Henry Sholto Bishop, George Howard Laurence (priests), Seymour Frederick Whitcombe, James Beecot, Hone Crawford Anderson (laymen), and the bishop asked members to stand in silence. '£/■, ',' NEW MEMBERS The following new members were welcomed:—The Revs. F. L. Irwin, W. L. S.'Harbour, B. O. Plumb, and Messrs W ; .«E. Gi Bond,. A. L. Swan, C. W, Hannah, S. M. Taylor, R. A. Guy, J. J. Paul, D. Cuthbertson, L. Kelcher, W. Crowther, W. Grieve, T. W.' Owen, H. W. Sew Hoy, J. Simpson. S. Rice, and A.-.G. Mathias. ,;* ;/ /CHANGES .Certain changes had taken place since' the last synod meeting. The Ven. A. C..H. Button had become vicar of Waikouaiti and Palmerston, the' Rev. A.B. Pywell vicar of Caversham, the Rev. C. N: Luker vicar of Bluff, the Rev. E., G. Wilson vicar of Port Chalmers, arid the Rev. F. L. Irwin vicar of Riverton. ■•'. During the year also the Rev; A, Wingfield resigned the parish of Holy Cross and retired on pension, and the Rev. W. H. S„ Hine resigned the parochial district of Winton to accept _ an appointment in the diocese of Christchurch. The Rev. C. E. P. Webb became vicar of Holy Cross,' the Revi W. W. L. Powell of Gdre, the Rev. J. N. Goodman vicar of Wakatiptt, and the Rev. H. Fallows vicar of. Waimea Plains. The Rev. C. M. Newton had been transferred from the Waitaki district; to the temporary charge of a district; that would ultimately be. attached to the parish of Gore, the Rev. B. O. Plumb haof come from the Nelson diocese to be assistant' curate to the vicar of Oamaru, and the Rev. W; L. S. Harbour had been ordained deacon and licensed as assistant curate to the vicar of All Saints', Dunedin. The resignation of the Rev. I. L. Richards, who had been appointed vicar of St. Luke's Parish. Christchuvch, was received. PAROCHIAL BOUNDARIES A Parochial Boundaries Commission, in consultation with the archdeacons, had done a considerable amount of work, and on its recommendation the 'Standing Committee eliminated the parochial district of Roxburgh-Tapa-nui, and altered the boundaries of the parochial districts of Tuapeka, Balclutha, Waimea Plains, and Winton. A district had been formed, including Clinton, Tapanui, Waikaka. Riversdale. and Waikaia, which would ultimately be placed in charge of the vicar of Gore parish, who would have an assistant curate. < SHORTAGE OF CLERGY Referring to the shortage of experienced priests for appointment to cures, not only in the diocese, but elsewhere in New Zealand; the bishop said that the parochial districts of Winton and Waitaki had been vacant for some months, and the parish of All Saints', Gladstone, • would become in December. At present the Waitaki district could not supply a sufficient stipend to make the appointment of a vicar possible, and an appointment at Winton was, delayed until the present dilapidated- Vicarage could be replaced. In the meantime the archdeacon of North Otago was making what provision was possible for the work in the Waitaki district, and the Archdeacon of Southland was doing the same for the Winton district. He hoped shortly to be able to place a priest in temporary charge at Winton; but was inclined to the view that it would be sound policy to attach the Waitaki district to the parish of. Oamaru, and Drovide a second assistant curate at Oamaru. - " i! believe the establishment of assistant curacies, where deacons can be trained, to be of the utmost importance," said the speaker. " We have a college in which young men can receive their scholastic training, but we lack assistant curacies, in which they can get practical training.m pastoral work under the guidance of an experienced parish priest. Owing ■ to this lack of-assistant curacies, the last two men whb passed through Selwyn College had to seek appointment in other dioceses, and consequently are lost to. this diocese. Moreover, more than 20 young men have applied to me to be accepted as candidates,for holy orders, and I have had to warn them that if they complete their scholastic course successfully I cannot guarantee to ordain them, because we lack assistant curacies for deacons. If the supply of clergy is to be maintained, assistant curacies are essential, and it will be my policy to establish them as suitable opportunities occur." CLERGY STIPENDS' "Not unconnected with obtaining clergy for the diocese is the question of clergy stipends. .At the present time cuts are being restored, and recent legislation provides that a great many people will receive much more remuneration than formerly. Of course, the legislation enforcing this is not applicable to clergy stipends, but I vestries and committees will do their best to act in this matter without compulsion." .He was fully aware that vestries and committees could not pay larger stipends than the revenue which they received from the parishioners permitted; but much might be done by church officers to increase that revenue by representing to parishioners that more should be given for the support of God's work, and so creating a better public opinion on the, subject among parishioners. "The present position is that we are not training our own men, and when we invite a priest of any standing from another diocese, we have to. invite him to accept a lower stipend than he has been receiving," went on the bishop, who continued: " Far be it from me to suggest.that the amount of stipend is the main consideration with a priest; but 'a priest has to live, and has the duty of providing for those dependent upon him, so I cannot subscribe to the view that he should give no consideration at all to the amount of stipend he is offered." BUILDINGS AND REPAIRS They were in charge of buildings which had b'een provided by a former

generation, went on the speaker, and they were in a position of trust wmcn required that, the buildings be kept in a state of repair and that their replacement be provided for by the establishment of ■ depreciation funds. Otherwise, they were living on and using up capital which future generations had a right to inherit. .This question should be seriously considered by vestries and committees. It was pleasing to be able, to report that some building and restoration had been taking place. Considerable repairs were taken in hand in Palmerston, a new vicarage was built at Anderson's Bay, the Church of All Saints', Gladstone, had'had much done to it, and the church people of Woodlands deserved great praise for having provided a church hall, beautifully appointed, in which they might worship in an atmosphere conducive to devotion. There was also in progress at the orphanage the building of a sun room in memory of the late Mrs J. M. Ritchie. ST. HILDA'S COLLEGIATE ~.;<; ;.; school The members of the synod would be pleased to learn that the number of boarders at St. Hilda's had increased, and was increasing, and the principal (Miss Blackmore) found it necessary to ask the board to provide extra, accommodation.—(Applause.) The school had a lengthy and highly creditable record, and it was hoped that church people throughout the diocese would give it every support. ',-., ; BUSINESS OF THE SESSION In view of. the fact that the General Synod would meet in April next year, it was necessary that consideration be given to two matters, of importance. One had been sent to the diocesan synods by the General Synod—viz., a proposal to alter a clause of the constitution to permit of a new method of electing bishops. The other was a proposal that would Be brought before the General Synod—viz., that the Standing Committee should be elected for a period of- three years.—(Applause.) ... ' On the motion of Archdeacon Curzon Siggers a hearty vote of. thanks was accorded to Bishop Fitchett, for his address. .' , . . APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIALS The Rev. A. Wilson was appointed clerical secretary,' Mr F. W. Knight lay secretary, l Mr J. T.'Dawson chairman of committees, Mr W. E. Earnshaw deputy chairman of committees, and Mr P. J. Priest clerk of committees. The hours of meeting were fixed at 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. Mr J. Cook was reappointed chancellor of the diocese,' Mr H. L. Cook church- advocate, and the Rev. Curzen Siggers registrar of the Bishop's Court. Bishop Fitchett referred to the great assistance he had been- given on legal matters by,the Messrs Cook. DIOCESAN MISSIONARY COMMITTEE The report- of the Diocesan Missionary Committee was read as follows by the Rev. Mr Hamblett:— Your committee has pleasure in presenting the following reports for.the 12, months ended June 30 last:—The total contributions received were £1422 13s 3d, of which £1407 0s lid were.for,the budget and £ls 6s 4d for non-budget. Our total receipts were £6O 15s 8d in excess of last year, but we were £l6l 13s Id short of the budget. An analysis of the contributions reveals the following interesting figures:—Thirteen parishes or districts reached or exceeded their quotas and contributed £874 Is Id, seven others contributed 75 per cent., or more and gave £l6l 16s 4d, eight others contributed 50 per cent, or more and gave £207 2s Id, five others contributed 25 per cent, or more and gave £23 14s 6d, seven others gave less than 25. per cent, and gave £ll 3s 4d. Besides these there were non-parochial contributions amounting to £129 9s 7d, including a legacy of £IOO for the Melaneslan Mission;—total, £1407 6s lid. It seems apparent that some districts possess no organisation which, operating throughout the year, would bring in regular contributions, and this has a specially bad effect when transfers occur and districts are left without a .vicar for varying periods. It seems also that too much is left to the initiative of the vicars, and it is desirable that vestries and church committees . should co-operate with the vicars to see - that the quotas are obtained or that af least some organised effort is made to obtain them and that the matter be not generally left to intermittent appeals. A ladies' missionary committee was formed in Dunedin in December and meets twice monthly, once for prayer, information, and inspiration, and once for sewing and general purposes. It has done something in supplying useful things for various mission stations, and its members endeavour to foster the missionary cause in their respective parishes. Mr John Wilson, representative in New Zealand of the Melanesian Mission, will spend a month in the archdeaconries of Southland and Central Otago in October and. November this year. The board fixed the budget at the same figure as for the previous year, viz., £16,500, and left' the diocesan quotas at last year's ratios. As the actual contributions were 10 per cent, less than the budget, the board earnestly desires that all donors will this year endeavour to increase their gifts by at least 10 per cent. On all sides comes the call for more workers, and in our fields in Melanesia, and India especially, many converts are being made, requiring additional workers, but lack of funds hinders progress. The parochial quotas remain the same as last year except where altered boundaries required modification.—William Dunedin, chairman. The report was laid on the table. COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL QUESTIONS The Rev. A. B. Pywell submitted the following report from the Diocesan Committee on social questions:— During the progress of the year your committee considered its "modus operandi," and for the purpose of guidance made inquiries from similar bodies in other dioceses within the province. It was discovered some of these dealt with. subjects relating to monetary and other economic problems, which your members felt demanded specialised knowledge with which they, were not equipped. In consequence, it was decided to extend some oversight upon the various diocesan institutions, which came under the church's social activities. Reports were asked for and received from most of them. An interesting feature of the discussions centred around the work of the Dunedin Films Institute, which we were pleased to learn is functioning successfully. From information given this committee, it seems clear that pressure is being brought to bear throughout the world, and is having the effect of a marked improvement in the average type of picture. A further movement of considerable importance in the view of this committee relates to the recent action of the Otago Education Board and local school committees in allowing daily school to be opened with devotional exercises. In the committee's opinion, this excellent provision should be taken advantage of by clergy wherever possible.' Your committee noted with satisfaction that the spiritual needs of military camps have been well provided for by the diocesan chaplains of the district. At the final meeting of the committee earnest consideration was given to the question raised by a member whether the future functioning of this organisation could not be improved by linking up with some similar institution in the Homeland, preferably with the Industrial Christian Fellowship, whose publications have already been found useful by some members of the committee. The report was laid on the table.