DIVINITY STUDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25514, 19 April 1944, Page 4

DIVINITY STUDENTS

LARGER NUMBER REQUIRED NEEDS OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The need for more students for the Presbyterian ministry was mentioned by the convener of the Theological Hall Committee (the Rev. J. G. S. Dunn) in his report to the annual meeting of the Synod of Otago and Southland yesterday. It was apparent, said Mr Dunn, that the church would be in a difficult -position in regard to the supply of ministers in the immediate post-war years. “There are at present 91 students under the care of the committee, and 35 of them are on active service.” Mr Dunn said. “We have only 14 men in the Hall, and at the end of this session only three men will be available to enter the regular ministry of the church.” Referring to the position after, the war, Mr Dunn said that, with the loss of experienced men through death and the pending retirement of senior ministers, the church would require a considerable addition to the ranks of its students. The church had plans to purchase sites and to erect buildings, he said, and there was an urgent need for men of the right gifts and character to study for the church. Since last November, Mr Dunn reported, 11 men had applied to be received as students, and of this number three were serving overseas.’ The report was adopted.