KEEN DEBATE

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 6

KEEN DEBATE

CHURCH’S FAITH THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY AN ALTERED CREED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, November 6. The report to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to-day by the committee which has been working for some time on a brief statement of the Church’s faith, gave rise to a debate of some vehemence. The statement, which was presented by the Rev. Principal J. Dickie, D.D.. on behalf of the committee, is based to a large extent on the statement adopted by the Church of Scotland, and was submitted to the assembly for final acceptance. Various Presbyterians have discussed the statement and with the exception of Wanganui, have pronounced favourably. The Rev. John Paterson (Wanganui), opposing Dr. Dickie, said the suggested creed was a most dangerous one. The emphasis in it was laid in the wrong places. He also objected to the doctrine of sin in the statement. The teaching of this statement on a man’s future ’destiny, if not dogmatic universalism, went as close to it as possible and ignored entirely Jesus’s warning as to the eternal danger inherent in our attitude and conduct in this life. The Rev. Lloyd Wilkinson (Wanganui) supported Mr Paterson on the ground that nothing would do except that Christ accomplished the act of salvation by His death. “I speak as a plain man,” said Mr J. Sutherland, who recalled that as an elder he had accepted certain vows, one of which was that he expressed his belief that the scriptures were the word of God. One of their duties was to preserve the simple scriptures. ‘On that point I condemn that brief statement of faith,” he added. “The brief statement reduces to beggarly subjectiveness the vital truth.” The Rev. E. T. King (Taihape) asked what benefit was to be derived from altering the statement that had served the church faithfully for so many years. It seemed like catering to the mind of the present age, rather than considering the great fundamentals. The debate was not finished to-day, prior business preventing its continuation.