BILL DEFEATED ON DIVISION

Southland Times, Issue 24057, 22 February 1940, Page 8

BILL DEFEATED ON DIVISION

Move For Four-Yearly Synod ANNUAL MEETINGS SUGGESTED (United Press Association) NELSON, February 21. A bill aiming at the amendment of the constitution to provide for meetings of the General Synod every four years to replace the present provision for triennial sessions, was defeated on a division. The General Synod debate showed that there was a marked difference of opinion on the matter, Archbishop Averill suggesting that annual synods would give a greater opportunity for the voice of the church to be heard in economic, social and moral questions affecting the community generally, while others, including the Bishop of Dunedin (the Rt. Rev. W. A. R. Fitchett), who moved the bill, contended that the General Synod should be a legislative body meeting every four years, with church congresses in the intervening periods. The Archbishop said that it was the usual custom of other controlling bodies to meet annually. He could not help feeling that they were losing a lot in the Church of England by not having a representative body which met annually and was in a position to announce the opinion of the Church as a whole. His Grace felt that it was very necessary arid important in these difficult days that there should be a definite voice for the church. That was why he had ventured in his charge to the synod to mention annual sessions, though perhaps not with the present constitution. “I want progress,” said the Archbishop, “and in spite of all that has been said we want our church to speak on the social, economic and moral questions of the country. As soon as we mention those subjects the people say we are dabbling in politics—well let us dabble in politics if it is necessary to bring Christ into the general lives of the people.” The result of the division was: Three bishops voted for the bill and four against it; nine of the clergy for and 15 against, ten of the laity for it and 15 against. An announcement was made that the Bishop of Waiapu (the Rt. Rev. G. U. Gerard) had accepted an appointment as senior chaplain to the 3rd Echelon. Archdeacon H. A. Hawkins was appointed senior chaplain of the province during Bishop Gerard’s absence.