CHURCH UNION

Southland Times, Issue 19246, 9 June 1921, Page 6

CHURCH UNION

PROPOSALS APPROVED AT DUNEDIN.

At the meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery on Tuesday, the Rev. G. H. Jupp for the Public Question Committee submit ted suggestions made towards union with the Congregational Church, which suggestions were sent down through the Assembly’s Union Committee to Presbyteries. The suggested agreement (as under) wks approved of by the Dunedin Presbytery:— 1. That the United Church shall include and consist of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand as existing previously to the union, and of the Congregational Union of New Zealand an existing previously to the union, and that name of the United Church shall be The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

2. That the basis in doctrine and policy of the United Church shall be the doctrine and policy of the Presbytt rian Church of New Zealand.

3. That the Synod of Otago and Southland shall, with respect to its ecclesiastical functions and the trust properties and funds administered by it, retain the position and rights in the United Church held by it in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand previously to the union. 4. That all ministers of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at the date of the union, and all ministers of the Congregational Union, shall be ministers of the United Church.

5. That all properties held and owned by the churches of the Congregational Union of New Zealand, situated north of the river Waitaki, at the date of the union shall be vested in the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees in terms of the Presbyterian Church Property Act 1885 ;and that all properties held and owned by the churches of the Congregational Union of New Zealand situated south of the river Waitaki, at the date of the union shall be vested in the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property. 6. That any proposal to close a church deemed superfluous shall be considered by a special committee of the General Assembly ; and no church shall be closed without the consent of a majority of the members and the recommendation to this effect of the Assembly’s Committee. 7. That the disposal of funds derived from the sale consequent upon union, of any properties shall be determined by the Assembly on the recommendation of a special committee, consisting of members representing the two churches at the time of the union, and that, in the disposal, such proportion of those funds as may be agreed on shall be added to the Congregational pastors provident fund, with a view to its ultimate equalisation with and amalgamation with the Prtesbyterian beneficiary fund. 8. That the beneficiary fund of the Presbyterian Church and the pastors’ provident fund of the Congregational Church shall be amalgamated as speedily as possible on a basis to be determined by the Gen oral Assembly, on the recommendation of a committee representing the uniting churches; and until amalgamation is effected the funds shall be kept distinct and shall be administered separately by a committee of the United Church in terms of existing regulations, ministers having claim only on the fund wherewith they were connected at the date of union. 9. That the missionary funds of the two churches shall be amalgamated and devoted to the support of the missions carried on by the Presbyterian Church; but provision shall be made by the General Assembly for continuing the support now given to the London Missionary Society by the Congregational Union.