PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24890, 14 April 1942, Page 7

PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA

MONTHLY MEETING The Presbytery of Clutha met, at Balclutha on Friday last, the Moderator, the Rev. F. W. Winton presiding. Correspondence was received from the Assembly Life and Work, Committee commending those areas in which direct giving for patriotic purposes was being encouraged, and urging all presbyteries and sessions to do all possible to discourage the various forms of gambling used as a means of building up patriotic funds. —The letter was referred to the Presbytery Life and Work Committee. Church Union Proposals A letter from the convener of the assembly committee on church union was received asking presbyteries and sessions to give careful consideration to the church unions proposals before referring the matter back to the assembly committee. In view of the important assembly business before presbyteries this year it was agreed that an additional ordinary meeting of presbytery should be held in May, to which sessions were asked to submit their findings. In connection with the appointment of a Sunday for a special collection towards the maintenance of the ministry fund, tiro local laymen’s executive, Mr D. Finlayson, was instructed to act in accordance with the plans of the assembly committee. The Rev. A. R. Harper, convener of the Life and Work Committee, reported on the progress of the campaign for Christian Order in the presbytery. Information, bulletins and Bible reading cards were now in the hands of members of congregations. The ministers ot the presbytery were keeping as closely as possible to the suggested sermon topics. A laymen’s meeting had been held in Balclutha on Thursday last, at which some 40 or 50 laymen of the presbytery and from sister churches were present. The speakers were Mr R. McCaw, of Waitahuna, and Mr A. B, Stewart, of Milton. The national campaign was the chief subject for discussion and debate. The presbytery approved of the assembly remit concerning the proposal to provide an extra-mural course for approved home missionaries. A remit authorising the Missions Committee to arrange with presbyteries for the ordination of missionaries who have taken the full ministerial course and for the dedication of non-ministerial trained missionaries was approved. The presbytery disapproved of the remit proposing an alteration to the constitution of presbytery to include all “ non-ministerially trained male overseas missionaries.” Tire presbytery agreed to nominate as Moderator of the Svnqd of Otago and Southland the Very Rev. G. IT. McNcur. The Rev. W. B. Comber reported on flic finding of the nresbvtery visitation to the charge of Kaitangata. Special reference was made to the well cared for buildings, and the church and Sunday School work, under the ministry of the Rev. A. L. Cardno. At the close of the presbytery tributes were paid by the clerk and other members to the splendid work done by the Rev. F. W. Winton, of Lawrence, the retiring Moderator of Presbytery. The Rev. J. R. Shaw, ot Waitahuna, was elected Moderator of Presbytery.