BUSINESS SESSION

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 8

BUSINESS SESSION

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per United Press Association.)

Dunedin, November 8.

The first business session of the Presbyterian General Assembly was held this morning, the principal business being the treasurer’s report in presenting which Mr V. G. Chapman said that at the last assembly he had to report a deficit of £12,500 on the year’s work and an average annual shortage of nearly £9OOO. There was now a great improvement and this year congregations had contributed £27,244 as against £21,052 the previous year. The actual deficiency on the year’s working •was £1717. A comparison of the giving by the Presbyteries showed Dunedin heading the list with £3510, Auckland being next with £2029.

The Rev. J. D. Smith spoke of the strong desire on the part of many for a brief and clear statement of the Church’s faith. He said that foolish criticism concentrated on what was left out. A brief statement gathers together what is commonly believed and is necessary to an active Christian life. There was no intention to supersede the Westminster confession of faith and deprecated any vote on a basis of prejudice or fear of the faith being undermined.

It was decided to send a draft statement of the Church of Scotland to the presbyteries for criticism and suggestion.

The General Treasurer stated that the financial position of the church had greatly improved. The huge deficit of 1932 had been reduced to £3OOO. Members of the church must be informed of the work being done. He urged that the church must face increasing budgets owing to reduced interest on investments and the present high exchange. Exchange costs the church £3OOO. The treasurer regretted that so many congregations were careless about paying their Assembly assessments. There was a long discussion on the Advisory Board report and finally it was decided to pay the travelling expenses of delegates in full and that the board remain as at present. It was decided that grants to weak charges be on an annually reducing basis, and to direct presbyteries to press for the amalgamation of charges where possible. The Rev. Henry Barton presented the report on ministerial tenure and transference and said the present system resulted in some cases in too short a tenure, while in others difficulty was found in facilitating the change of pastorate. Some congregations attached too little value to the service and experience and help of a body of impartial advisors was of great value. He suggested that the minimum pastorate of five years be the general rule and that an advisory committee be set up to facilitate transfers and give advice and provision be made for effecting exchanges on the lines operative at present in the Presbyterian Church of Australia. It was agreed to send the report to the presbyteries for consideration. The Presbytery of Clutha is to continue to work on the matter. Tile presbyteries of Auckland and the Bay of Plenty made overtures to the Assembly regarding broadcasting and a committee was set up to consider the matter and report to a later meeting of the Assembly. Youth Work. To-night a very fine demonstration of youth work was held. Mr H. Manson urged the pressing need of educated enlightened leadership in youth work. The core of the problem lay in the leader. There was only one way of meeting the situation: the minister must accept the responsibility for it. Large numbers of children and young people were outside the influence of the church.

Sister Kirkwood, Young Women’s Bible Class travelling secretary, urged that the church was ,the spiritual parent of her young people and must equip them for life’s warfare. The homes of the land take no responsibility, the church alone is able to do so because she has the machinery and equipment. Yet the church was not doing her part for membership and was not aware of the opportunity. Christian conscience must be aroused.

A well arranged pageant, the Highroad of the King, was presented to a large audience. The home was portrayed and the influence on the child, then the crossroads of youth leading on to the period when Christian service was entered upon.