METHODIST CHURCH

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7102, 2 September 1949, Page 5

METHODIST CHURCH

SOUTH AUCKLAND DISTRICT MEETING OF SYNOD IN TE AWAMUTU The representative sessions of the South Auckland Methodist Church Synod, met on Wednesday morning in the Bryant Memorial Hall. After devotions th? chairman of the district, the R?v. C. H. Oids, welcomed representatives including the following new members, Revs. J. H. Woolford, M.A. (Te Kuiti), G. V. Shand (Thames), D. H. Burt (Huntly), T. R. Berry (Putaruru). Missioners, A. Curry (Hauraki Plains), T. Turner (Ohura), J. WalkeY (Ngaruawahia). A retired Congregational minister, Rev. R. W. McMillan, who has served for 24 years in India, 24 years in Fiji and 23 years in New Zealand and has joined the Methodist at Tauranga was heartily welcomed as was Miss J. Hartley, youth director. * Mr McMillan in acknowledging the welcome said he had been happy to enter the fellowship of the Methodist Church which was the natural out-, come of 24 years close association with the Methodist missions. Mr McMillan expressed himself as being an out and out unionist (a believer in the union of the churches). The Church of India was a real thing. “In view of the world situation we must get together and work as one body,” concluded Mr McMillan. Dispensation Granted

Dispensation was granted to the Revs. W. Neal, O. Christian, R. Day and Mr J. B. Beecher (Waihi). Chairman’s Aiddress

The chairman Rev. C- H. Olds, (Hamilton), then gave the synodical address. Mr Olds said:—

“We stand on the verge of a great venture the preliminary stages of which will constitute thd principal business of Synod. New Zealand Methodism, following the lead of American Methodism and still more closely a like venture in Australia, is about to launch a fresh Crusade for Christ and His Kingdom. It was my privilege to attend the Conference of district chairman and organisers, to gether with representatives of the Spiritual Advance Committee in Wellington, in February, immediately following the sessions of the Executive Committee of Conference. We met to discuss and mature Crusade plans for submission to Synods and Conference; and as our work progressed we became increasingly* conscious of the leading of the Holy Spirit. “The conviction grew upon us and wiil, I think have impressed all who have perused the handbook, ‘Methodism Marches,’ that this is to quote a plan devised to meet a desperate situation, but is born of the Spirit glad to grasp a glorious opportunity.’ To speak of grasping a glorious opportunity is not to minimise the difficulties that confront us. Difficulties abound and some are calculated to discourage the stoutest hearts; but valiant faith laughs at impossibilities and cries, ‘lt shall be done!’ for it sees that ‘man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.’ That does not mean that the difficulties are just left to God, but that in faith we tackle them, confident that God will give the needed guidance and grace to conquer. “For such a task it is important that we should recognise and rightly estimate the problems relating to the enterprise. The deplorable world situation may easily obsess our minds—the ominous cloud of godless Communism the threatening and apparently insoluble riddle of international economic insecurity. It is true that we in this favoured country could not hope to escape should catastrophe come from such quarters. But from the beginning the Christian Church has shown wonderful capacity not merely to survive but to flourish in catastrophic conditions such as those. ’ The problems that concern us are nearer home. Some of the most acute arise from conditions that would seem to indicate the implementing in New Zealand of the very principles and ideals for which the Church stands!

“Take our social legislation, what blessing has it brought to countless numbers who previously often suffered in poverty! Yet there is another side of the picture, some of the results, so far from easing the church task, serves but to accentuate its urgency and to increase its difficulties. In a recent issue of the ‘Church and the Community,’ there is an article dealing with the Amsterdam Conference resolution on the relation of the churches to capitalism and Communism. A very pertinent quotation from it illustrates my point: ‘lnsofar as the main plank in the New Zealand Government’s policy is Social Security, and removal of inequalities, then that policy does not seem counter to Christian ethics, but in practice, what does this policy amount to? Frankly, to the creation of a State in which materialism and natural selfishnes flourish, as possibly never before. If the State exists to create a stable framework within which people may develop their own personalities then all we can say is that our Government has created the kind of framework which seems to encourage the selfseeking inherent.in all men.’ The writer asks a very pertinent question: ‘After sixteen years of the Labour Government are we any more attracted to the Socialist (and Christian) ideal, from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, than in the old bad days of capitalism-’ Well, think of the numerous serious and costly disruptions of industry and commerce, deliberately and selfishly caused by different sections of the community with callous disregard for the consequent suffering and loss and the outraged rights of the community as a whole! What has gone wrong? Why, because the attempt has been made to produce the fruits of Christian ideals while ignoring the roots of Christian principles, to establish the Kingdom of Heaven by legislation instead of by a change of human hearts! And the result has been a people eager for all the material and social advantages they can ?njoy, but more than ever indifferent to the things that satisfy the hunger of the soul and develop Christian character! So the need for a Crusade for Christ and

His Kingdom is accentuated while the difficulties in the way are increased. “But our attention is directed to problems still nearer home; the lack of fervant Christian idealism within the church itself; the lack of hunger and thirst after righteousness, of love for the sanctuary and worship of God and for the fellowship that is in Christ Jesus; the absence of a passion for souls! to rectify these things is our first task. The immediate field of evangelism, is within the church itself. We cannot hope to succeed in the community unless and until we register success here! It is to this domestic problem that we are called to devote ourselves at the beginning cf our Crusade. God help us to be thorough and faithful. “We have passed through difficult years—years of decrease rather than progress! That was almost inevitable in the aftermath of two world wars. But let us take heart. There are indications that we launch our Godinspired Crusade on a rising tide! If we prove faithful, success is assured.” Minister Retiring

Mention was made of the retirement at th? forthcoming conference, cf the Rev. A. A. Bensley and a tribute to his services submitted by the Rev. S. J. Wennen was endorsed by all present. The Rev. Reg Dey was given permission to rest for a year. Circuit Statistics It was reporteB that there were 22 circuits with credits and four with debits. The district staff comprised 22 ministers and probationers; seven home missionaries and seventy local preachers. There were 3072 members. Two hundred and twenty new members joined during the year, 227 war? received on transfer and 228 transferred to other districts; 44 were removed by death. Nineteen circuits re - ported new members and there were 557 baptisms. Maori Statistics Circuit members, Waikato: 1123 seniors and 1076 juniors and infants. King Country: 788 seniors and 830 juniors. Examination Committee The following recommendations were put forward by the Committee: Probationer Donald Haylock (Taumarunui), was recommended for ordination at the Dominion Conference to be held at Napier in November. Brobationers R. Binny (Putaruru), and D. Burt were recommended to be passed in their year. Mr F. J. Climo, Home Missionary probationer of Opotiki was recommended to be passed in his year with an excellent report, as was Mr E. Turner (Ohura). The Rev. J. S. Werren was elected as the district representative to the Dominion Conference and the Rev. M. Penn was re-elected district secretary. Youth Department

Miss Jean Hartley, (Youth Director), reported the Cradle Roll was 930; Sunday School scholars, 2366, while the membership of other youth organisations stood at 865, an increase of 121. The Easter camps had been well-attended and was a promising feature of the work of the church. An endeavour was being made to advance the Leadership training courses and a winter school was to be held at Rotorua on June next, when instructors of the Physical Welfare Department would be present. The chairman (Rev. C. H. Olds), reported that a ten-acre section situaated on th? banks of Lake Karapiro at Horahora had been generously donated as a permanent site for a youth camp, by Mr Findlay. The donor was accorded a hearty vote cf thanks.

Public Questions The Committee dealing with the above reported having had a busy year. It dealt with such important subjects as marriage and divorce, European relief, immigration, marriage guidance councils. The Temperance Committee report stated inter alia, “that a new approach appropriate to the present social situation must be devised with a view to encouraging men and women to exercise a realistic and rational judgement on this social evil.” Foreign" Missions Rev. A. A. Bensley, District Foreign Mission secretary, and himself a retired missioner to the Solomons, is retiring from the position of secretary at the forthcoming Conference. Mr Bensley nominated Rev. Geo. Thompson, of Morrinsville as his successor. The secretary reported that the New Zealand Government has agreed that there shall be no war damage compensation for our losses in tne Solomons. This is a severe blow to us and challenges the church to renewed effort in re-establishing and extending our institutional and other work on the Solomons mission field. 1948 Islands Synod reports, 11,044 members; 7112 scholars in our day schools; 17,409 adherents. Church Union Committee Recommendations of the committee re chuYch union were adopted, among them, “That Conference reciprocates the desire of the Presbyterian Assembly, that the increased measure of mutual understanding and practical co-operation which the negotiations have fostered may be'preserved,” and (we would add) continued and extended. “That a new Church Union Committee be set-up which shall consult with similar committees in the other two churches, that is Presbyterian and Congregational.” Resolutions: “That this Synod expresses its approval and pleasure that the spirit of union has been furthered by the .proposed appointment of a Presbyterian minister to the Raglan District Union Church, and further that we express our good wishes to the church and its proposed minister.” Appreciation of the fine work of the minister, Rev. A. T. Kent, in furthering the spirit of union and of his faithful ministry to the people of the Union Church was expressed by the chairman and approved by the Synod. Spiritual Advance

Resolutions: “That in connection with the Crusade for Christ and His Kingdom we ask the Spiritual Advance Committee to consider carefully the whole question of prison and mental hospital visitation, the appointment of prison chaplaincies and also the possibility of challenging young folk and other church members to consider full prison work as a vocation.”

“That Synod expresses gratification of the leadership given by the Spirit-

ual Advance Committee in the publication of the quality booklet ‘Methodism Marches.’ We pledge ourselves to loyal devotion to the Crusade.” Chaplaincy Committee The report stated that there were 12 chaplains in active work. The following resolutions were carried:—“This Synod strongly urges that the Chaplain’s Board through the National Council of Churches (N.C.C.) face the tremendous challenge of staffing the territorial military camps with carefully selected men—briefed before they enter the camp so that any dangers inherent in such camps may be adequately countered and any good utilised. We believe that the chaplains will be given an authority that represents a great opportunity, but a great responsibility to choose and equip rests on the churches.” “That the Methodist Conference declare its willingness to stand by those who have conscientious objections to military training* and assure them of their place within the fellowship of the church and that help be given to young people concerned - in thinkingthrough the various implications of the matter.” Women’s Missionary Union A resolution of congratulation was extended to the M.W.M.U. in achieving the highest financial returns of any district in New Zealand. The. report as presented by Mrs Cullen, of Te Awamutu, was one of enterprise and development. Membership, general finance, gleanings, receipts and income from used stamps all showed substantial increases. The chairman suitably acknowledged the sterling work of the auxiliary members whose spirit of adventure and devotion has through the years inspired the whole church. Ecumenical Committee The National Council of Churches has been in touch with Ecumenical Committee, concerning the World Commission on Human Rights. World Communion Sunday will be observed on the first Sunday in October. On Reconstruction and InterChurch Aid, it was reported that the Christmas Appeal, 1948, realised almost £6OOO. Other appeals have received similar support. The Rev. Dr R. Dudley and Mrs A. B. Cochran are to receive the thanks of the Conference for representing the New Zealand Methodist Church so worthily at the Amsterdam Assembly. Methodist Men’s Fellowship An inspiring and growing fellowship of men of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Almost £2OO has been forwarded by th? fellowship for special purposes in the Solomons.