CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26132, 20 April 1946, Page 2

CHURCHES OF CHRIST

DOMINION CONFERENCE The Dominion conference of the Churches of Christ was opened in Dunedin on Thursday evening, when Mr L. E. Jones, on behalf of the Dunedin Churches of Christ, welcomed the visitors. Principal A. L. Haddon, chairman of the National Council of Churches, conveyed the greetings of that body. Mr R. A. Blampied, of Nelson, and Mr G. T. W. Green, of Whangarei, expressed a welcome to Messrs A. E. White. A. W. Gilbertson, and A. Forrest, ministers who had entered the New Zealand work during the year. Mr Gilbertson, of Oamaru. responded. The Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) extended a welcome to the conference delegate on behalf of the city. He stressed the helpful co-operation of the churches in the life of the city and said that the Christian Gospel was an essential influence in the work of the community. “ The Church has the answer to the problems of peace,” said Major W. Harford, chaplain of the forces, when outlining his experiences in both Pacific and Middle East areas. Chaplain Harford said that returned servicemen had become aware that the paramount task of the Church was a social one. Materialism, selfishness, covetousness, and unconcern for the friendless were the main evils which met the men of the forces on their return home. If co-operation in strenuous service and sacrifice could be ■ developed overseas, the Church must see that something of these conditions prevailed in New Zealand. Yesterday’s Sessions

Yesterday's session of the conference was commenced with the induction of Mr A. W. Grundy as Dominion organising evangelist.

The conference president, Mr R. T. Wright, presided and moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously:—“ That we, delegates and members of the Associated Churches of Christ, in conference assembled, give grateful thanks to God for the cessation of hostilities, and for the return of peace to our troubled world, that we place on record our sincere appreciation of the great service rendered by his Majesty King George VI in calling his subjects to prayer in acknowledgment of the divine sovereignty and our sense of dependence upon Him for guidance and victory, that we urge all statesmen and leaders within the British Commonwealth of Nations, to emulate his Majesty in this emphasis upon the primacy of the spiritual, and that we as members of the Associated Churches of Christ, renew our,pledge of loyalty to the British Throne, and to tne exercise of a true Christian citizenship, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose service is perfect freedom.”

A report concerning the mission in Southern Rhodesia, which was presented by Mr A. E. Brough, stated that there had been 415 baptisms on the field in the past year, and two new churches had been established, .making 38. In all, 2700 were enrolled in the day schools and 350 in the boarding school. The education of the natives was carried out by the missionaries and 69 native full-time assistants. It was stated that the superintendent, Mr Garfield Todd, had been 'sought as a parliamentary candidate by all three parties, and was standing with the United Party in the elections this month. If elected, Mr Todd ■ would use his further opportunities in the service of the Africans.

At the afternoon session' addresses were given by Messrs E. T. Williams (Auckland) and H. C. Bischoff (Wellington). Work in the Home Field

Mr M. J. Williamson, chairman, and Mr N. L. Patching, treasurer, of the conference executive, presented the report on work in the home field, reviewing the activities of 54 churches. Arrangements had been made, they said, for the visit later in the year of Dr Jesse Bader, secretary of the World Convention of Churches of Christ and director of the department of evangelism of the Federal Council of Churches in the United States, and of Principal W. Robinson, of Birmingham, England, who was a member of the British Council of Churches. Mr F. L. Purnell, of Honolulu, would arrive at Easter, 1947, for a two years’ mission. Mr R. E. Vickery, of Dunedin, was elected vice-president for 1946-47, to become conference president for 194748. The invitation from Wanganui for the next conference to be held there was accepted, the preacher of the conference sermon to be Mr L. E. Jones.

At an inspirational rally in the evening the new president and vice-presi-dent were installed in office. Mi’s S. Boughen, president of the Christian Women’s Auxiliary, spoke on the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of that body. Messrs L. E. Jones and L. R. Beaumont addressed the conference on the evangelistic task of the Church. Items were rendered by the combined choir and by Miss Lorna Pile.