PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25101, 17 December 1942, Page 7

PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA

The moderator, the Rev. J. R. Shaw, presided over the regular meeting of the Clutha Presbytery on Friday last. The commissions of elders to represent the parishes within the bounds of the presbytery and at the annual meeting of the Synod of Otago and Southland were received and sustained. Correspondence was received from the convener of the Training Institute and Women’s Work Committee, stressing the great need for full-time women workers in the various branches of the church, especially in missions overseas and among the Maoris, in city benevolent work, youth work, children’s homes, church schools, and city churches. The committee would be glad to hear of any women contemplating service in any of these spheres. . , „ Assembly reports were received from delegates, special mention being made of the church union debate and the report of the director of the Campaign for Christian Order, 1942, which, though meeting with little response in some parts of New Zealand, in others was opening up new fields of opportunity and arousing a live interest in the aims and ideals of the campaign. Youth work and international relations were other important matters mentioned. It was intimated that as from January all aided charges at present under the supervision of the Missions Committee would become the responsibility of the Assembly Maintenance of the Ministry Committee, of which the Rev. J. L. Robinson was the new convener and the Rev. J M. McKenzie the executive officer. The stipend in all aided charges for 1943 had been fixed at a minimum of £330 per annum. This was also the standard minimum stipend for all charges for 1943, though it was still possible for a charge to call a minister at £2BO without losing its right of call. The deficiency in such cases would be met by the Maintenance of the Ministry Committee, provided there was no possibility of the charge concerned finding the full stipend. Mr Shaw reported the finding of the Waihola-Milburn Commission regarding the amalgamation of that charge with Milton for the duration of the war.— Adopted. The Presbytery of Waikato wrote forwarding a call to Mr Shaw from the charge of Otorohanga, and it was decided that presbytery should meet tomorrow at Milton to deal with the call. The Rev. W. McNeur gave notice of motion that at the next regular meeting of the presbytery the resolution at present on the books of the presbytery to the effect that no steps be taken to alter boundaries within the presbytery until an approach was made by the congregations concerned, be rescinded. This would open the way for the appointment of a new Boundaries Committee, and the thorough reinvestigation of the whole presbytery with a view to a better distribution of the available man-power.