CHRISTIAN ORDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25940, 5 September 1945, Page 6

CHRISTIAN ORDER

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS (Special) CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 4. The conference on Christian Order concluded its sessions last night. On Monday morning the conference was addressed by Mr R. Boyer, chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, on the subject of “ Church Broadcasting.” Mr Boyer urged the delegates to realise the importance of broadcasting as an instrument of Christian education and evangelism. He pointed out the need for speaking the idiom of the people by church broadcasters, otherwise the church could not expect to get a hearing from people who could easily switch over to another programme. Several hours were spent discussing the reports on land, industry, and commerce. There was a marked difference of opinion on the subject of economic planning and the report was amended to safeguard local initiative and control and personal freedom. The land report stressed the need for teaching the rising general ion reverence for the land and for repairing with all speed the dissipation of the nation’s natural resources through erosion and misuse.

It was urged that the ministry in the rural areas should be regarded as a life-.ime calling for ministers and clergy of'ability and special gills. The last report to be dealt with was that on “Community.” It discussed the place of New Zealand in the Pacific and in world affairs. A subject that provoked a lively discussion was that of indentured labour in the Pacific islands. Some delegates were of the opinion that it should be condemned on principle, while others declared that they regarded it as a sysiem of contract similar to signing on as a member of a ship’s crew. A statement on the Christian basis for a durable peace settlement was discussed and accepted by the conference. The proceedings of the conference were marked throughout by a spirit of amity and goodwid among the 200 delegates in attendance. The evening chapel services in Christ’s College Chapel were attended by all the delegates and were conducted in turn by Baptist, Congregational, Church of Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican ministers and by a Salvation Army officer. The chairman of the conference was the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson, and the general organiser was the Rev. H. W. Newell.