GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23970, 20 November 1939, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

WE REV. G. H. JUPP ELECTED MODERATOR THE MISSION FUND DEFICIT CURTAILMENT OF WORK PROBABLE (Special to Daily Times) ' , CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 18. At the General' Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand the Rev. G. H. Jupp, of Anderson’s Bay, whs unanimously elected Moderator designate. The next assembly is to be held at Palmerston North, opening on November 12. Mission Fund Deficit Further discussion on the Mission Fund deficit was opened by the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson, who said that the Centenary Fund would free churches of debt, and the church would have resources ;owing to; freedom from the burden of interest. The, Bey, Thomas Riddle pointed out that the proposed retrenchment was specifically directed against medical work;'and thus a staff built up over a period of 30 years would be dissipated. This was not replacable in a short time. Thus the proposed retrenchment, was likely to put church work back lor 50 years. . The Rev, J. M. McKenzie pointed out that the proposed retrenchment proposals would be put into force in. the worst year possible, and this was unfair. Two years at least should be allowed for readjustments. Medical work should not be singled out and other methods of saving expense should be explored. The assembly’s committee should prepare plans for the next assembly showing where savings could be effected; for example, by the amalgamation of home mission stations and rearrangements in Maori work. The Rev. D. N. Mac Diarmid supported Mr McKenzie’s suggestion, and said that he believed that the ultimate result would not be retrenchment but an explanation to the church of a position which would bring ou.t untouched resources. Mr Mac Diarmid went on to point out that the first line of missionary work was the evangelist, who led on to educational work. Medical work came last, and It must be recognised that mission work did go on without medical work. It was impossible to divide the necessary retrenchments over all sections of foreign work because that would crush all the work and mean ultimate withdrawal from China and India. Retrenchment Foreshadowed The Rev. W. J. Gromrie moved that lor this year endeavours be made to place the serious position of mission finance, before congregations with a statement that unless expenditure were met this year retrenchment was inevit*blt was finally decided to direct the Missions Committee to enter upon a scheme of reduction in expense in home mission ancf Maon work, and the elimination of medical work abroad unless the expenditure were met by June of next year. Steps are to be taken to let the whole church know the consequences of .retrenchment.