COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27012, 22 February 1949, Page 9

COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

FIRST MEETING FOR YEAR At the first meeting for 1949, the chairman, the Rev. L. D. C. Groves, welcomed the Revs. Professor G. A. F. Knight, L. Jones, and I. P. Gordon as newly-appointed representatives of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches. It was reported that there had been a fairly good response to the special Christmas appeal for the relief of Christian leadership in Europe. The fund will be closed at the end of February. Preparations were made for the visit to Dunedin and Mosgiel on March 5 and 6 of the Rev. A. A. Brash, Dr and Mrs R. Dudley, and Mr T. C. Brash, who will bring personal reports of the Amsterdam . Assembly of the World Council of Churches. On Sunday, March 6, the visitors will speak in various churches. The Rev. A. A. Brash, national secretary, wrote advising that the Rev. Dr Hutchison Cockburn, Director of the Reconstruction Department of the World Council of Churches, would be visiting New Zealand in March and would be in Dunedin then, and later in October. The Right Rev. Dr G. Bell, Bishop of Chichester, and chairman of the Central Committee of the WCC, would make an ecumenical visit. Mrs Parata, reporting for the Womens’ Committee, said that a good commencement had been made for the year, and that a request had been received from Canada for a set of the special series of Studies for Women published bv the Dominion Committee. The Women’s Committee is also fostering a scheme for befriending friendless patients at Seacliff. The Youth Committee reported good interest in its greeting and preparation for a united youth rally in the Central Mission Hall to hear the Amsterdam team on March 6. The balance of funds from the former School for Marriage to the Marriage Guidance Council was donated by this committee. Professor Knight reported that the Christmas Festival had been well received and the net income for European aid was £250. In addition many toys, which had not been disposed of because of the non-attendance of school classes which had been expected, were therefore sent to Displaced Persons’ camp. It was resolved to record great appreciation of the energy, time and skill of those who arranged the function. A sub-committee, consisting of the Rev. L. D. C Groves, Professor Knight and Mr E R. Vickery, was set up to go into the matter of organising a clothing drive and further aid to European Christians in 1949.