UNION OF CHURCHES

Southland Times, Issue 19479, 31 March 1922, Page 6

UNION OF CHURCHES

DISCUSSION REGARDING EPISCOPACY TENTATIVE PROPOSALS CARRIED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, March 30. The conference of church delegates continued the discussion whether episcopacy should be forced on all churches in the event of union or whether a modus operand! be found between episcopacy and Presbyterianism. A motion was carried that in view of all the circumstances it is expedient that the policy of the united Catholic Church be episcopal, provided that the appointment of the bishop be shared in by the ministry and laity; that in all administrative actions the bishop be responsible to the representative assembly, synod or conference; that acceptance of episcopacy does not necessarily imply that ministerial authority cannot otherwise be obtained or that episcopacy is the only channel of divine grace. A motion was also carried welcoming the assurance implied in the Lambeth appeal that each group be free to retain one characteristic method of worship or service, so long as it is not inconsistent with the fellowship of the whole. REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BISHOP OF BRADFORD’S. VIEWS SYDNEY, March 30. The church conference passed a resolution that conditions for mutual recognition of Episcopal and non-Episcopal orders and commissions be thoroughly explored by the respective churches. It recommends the appointment of a committee to ascertain the possibilities of arriving at a common mind. It also agreed to an interim joint committee appointed to consider and recommend definite schemes of co-operation. The following were elected: —Anglican, Bishop of Willochra, Canon Hughes and Dean Talbot; Presbyterian, Professor Harper and the Rev. George Tait; Methodist, Rev. W. H. Beale and Dr Carruthers; Congregational, Rev. E. Davies and F. V. Pratt; two secretaries, Revs. P. A. Micklem and A. P. Campbell. The Bishop of Bradford advocated the Nicene Creed as the obvious standard of the re-united church. He was satisfied that that test of Catholicity would serve as a standard for ordination in the ministry as outlined for instruction of all members of the church and as a confession for congregational worship. A motion was carried that whilst conditions of membership of the re-united church were satisfied Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed would be appropriate as a common standard precedent to the union. *