METHODIST SYNOD AND OBJECTORS

Southland Times, Issue 24597, 20 November 1941, Page 5

METHODIST SYNOD AND OBJECTORS

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 19. The opinion that some conscientious objectors “of undoubted sincerity” had had heir appeals dismissed by appeal boards and that a higher tribunal should be set up to give a rehearing in such cases was expressed in a motion passed by the North Canterbury District Methodist Synod. The motion, moved by the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, reaffirmed the resolution of last year’s New Zealand Methodist Conference. The synod also reaffirmed a passage from the “Manifesto of Peace and War,” approved by the 1940 conference. This declared that members of the church who for conscientious reasons were unwilling to bear arms should have their religious convictions respected and safeguarded, but that it should be recognized that all men should be willing to give some form of alternative service to the country whose privileges of citizenship they shared. These decisions followed a discussion in which some of the clergy strongly criticized some decisions by appeal boards. Other members of the synod contended that the church was not justified in questioning the actions of a judicial tribunal. MINISTERS’ INDISCRETIONS (P.A.) DUNEDIN, November 19. The following resolution was passed tonight by the Methodist Synod of Otago and Southland: “That the synod views with concern the continued indiscretions committed by some ministers and leaders of our church while attending military appeal boards. It believes that the general public regards such acts as indicative of the official attitude of our church in the present national crisis. It therefore calls on the conference to enforce such discipline or if necessary to draft and enact such legislation as will prevent future misrepresentation.”