THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 19

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

DUNEDJN' FUNCTIONS. The Methodist Conference meets annually in one of the four centres of the dominion. This year Dunedin is the favoured city, and the eyes of the Methodists of the dominion are now being directed to the Edinburgh of tho South. In a few weeks some 230 representatives will make pilgrimage to what is for tho time being 1 the Mecca of Methodism. Mindful of war conditions, it is proposed "to complete all the business of the conference in one week — a strenuous piogramme. This annual parliament of Methodism has wide powers, and from time to time radical constitutional changes are made to suit the changing conditions. This year the ministerial and lay mind is exercised over the proposal to modify the system of circuit representation with a view to tho reduction of the size of the conference—a change which it is believed would secure greater efficiency at less cost. But, Methodism wisely protect* itself against haety legislation, and the ohange, if agreed to, must go to the synods and conference of next year for rati* fication. There is one department'of the church in which progressive ideas are fermenting—namely, missions, Last year a bold, forward policy resulted in the doubling of tho foreign mission income. •■ This yea* a further advanco is proposed. Tho sun* of £27,500 is to bo raised—£ls,ooo fo? foreign and £12,500 for home missions. Ifc will not be long ere New Zealand Methodism takes over from the Australasian Missionary Society its own mission field,and indications point to a vigorous adminiV tration when • that day arrives. Although the present conference is to be abreyiated, an interesting programme of public fiuictions has been arranged,