DESIRE TO SERVE AS CHAPLAINS

Southland Times, Issue 23945, 11 October 1939, Page 8

DESIRE TO SERVE AS CHAPLAINS

ANGLICAN CLERGY NUMBER ALREADY BELOW FULL STRENGTH The effect of war conditions on the strength and personnel of the clergy of the Anglican communion was the subject of comment by Bishop Fitchett in his presidential address to the first session of the twenty-fifth synod of the diocese of Dunedin. The bishop stated that the clergy was not at its full strength at the present time, and that the appointment of chaplains would still further deplete the personnel. In making the announcement, his Lordship appealed for consideration and forbearance from such cures as might be disadvantageously affected. “Many of our clergy have notified me of their desire to serve as military chaplains, either in New Zealand or overseas,” said the bishop, “and those most suitable for this important work will be appointed as required. I wish to make it clear that suitability for appointment will not depend entirely upon a clergyman’s personal qualifications for the position of chaplain. The special needs of the diocese will also have to be taken into consideration. Two clergymen may be equally qualified. but one may be vicar of a cure so situated that assistance from clergy in neighbouring cures would be much more difficult to arrange than would

be assistance to the cure of the other clergyman. It is only fair to the clergy that it should be known that no clergyman will have the opportunity of deciding whether he shall become a chaplain or when he shall become a chaplain. The bishops have arranged that the final selection, of chaplains shall be made by the Bishop of Waiapu, but his selection will be from clergy whose names have been sent to him by the other bishops. I shall be thankful if the laity of synod will make it known throughout the diocese that the responsibility of whether they go or whether they continue their work here does not rest with the clergy themselves.

DIFFICULT PROBLEM “Last Tuesday,’ his Lordship said, “I attended a meeting of the Military Affairs Committee in Wellington, and questions concerning the supply and appointments of chaplains were fully considered. For the special force that has so far gone into camp chaplains have been appointed. For the camp in the southern district—for the commands are now called districts—only one Anglican chaplain was allowed, and a Christchurch clergyman was appointed, to the disappointment of some of the clergy of this diocese who are most anxious to serve. It seems probable that there will not be a call for many chaplains to be placed on the strength in the 'near future, but there will be the need for voluntary chaplains’ work in the Air Force camps. This is a difficult problem, and at this stage I can say no more than this: It will necessitate a good deal of self-sacrificing extra work 6n the part of some of the clergy, and I purpose discussing with the clergy what may be possible in the way of distributing the extra work as widely as possible. The parishioners' in some cures must also be prepared for the •sacrifice of receiving somewhat less pastoral attention, and possibly an interference with the regularity of their church services. I think all will agree that the men in the camps must not be neglected by the church, and clergy and laity alike will gladly make whatever sacrifice is necessary to secure that end." CHANGES DURING THE YEAR

Detailing changes and movements during the past year the bishop said that’the Rev. F. C. Lawrence and the Rev. H. Fallows had left the diocese to proceed to England, the Rev. E. G. Wilson had gone to an appointment in the Waikato Diocese, and the Rev. G. E. Lomas had resigned from the assistant curacy at St. John’s, Invercargill. The Rev. S. E. Wood had transferred, from the assistant curacy at the Cathedral to be licensed as assistant curate to the vicar of Gore Parish. The Rev. B. O. Plumb became vicar of the Waimea Plains parochial district, the Rev. L. D. C. Groves vicar of Wyndham-Fort-rose, and the Rev. J. A. G. Simpson vicar of Port Chalmers. Alan Hopton Blackburn, Dennis John Brennian Dorman and Selwyn Alfred Grave were ordained deacons on St. Andrew’s Day. They had been licensed as follows:—

The Rev. A. H. Blackburn, assistant curate at Oamaru; the Rev. D. J. B. Dorman, assistant curate at St. Martin’s, North-East Valley; and the Rev. S. A. Grave, assistant curate at the Cathedral. The Rev. F. L. Irwin was appointed vicar of Lawrence and Roxburgh, and would remove from Riverton to Lawrence on November 1. At present, the bishop added, an assistant curate was required for St. John’s, Invercargill, a vicar for Riverton Parochial District, and at the end of the year a vicar would be required for St. John’s, Roslyn. He regretted that the Board of Nomination was not at all hopeful of being able to obtain from outside the diocese three clergy to bring the staff of clergy up to full strength.