MARRIED LIFE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21183, 2 November 1938, Page 11

MARRIED LIFE

VIEWS OF BAPTIST ASSEMBLY By Telegraph—Press association WELLINGTON, November 1. The attitude of the New Zealand Baptist Church toward birth control, marriage and divorce, sex education and the place of religion in family life was defined by the Baptist Assembly in Wellington to-day, when it adopted as the opinions of Assembly a special report prepared by the Public Questions Committee. After dealing with the legislative action designed to remedy the evil of abortion, the report stated that education concerning the most intimate matters of life should be given to all. This was essentially the task of the parents and the church. “Marriage in one of its forms is the central feature in all society with which we are acquainted,” stated the report. “It is one of the natural and desirable events in normal life. Unhappily many marriages are hindered by economic factors, and some readjustment of society is needed so that early marriage is possible for all. More attention should be given by parents and the Church to setting before young people the Christian ideal of marriage, divorce and remarriage. While the Christian view of permanence in marriage remains the ideal, the New Testament does not teach the indissolubility of marriage. Two grounds for divorce seem to be recognised in the New Testament.

adultery and desertion. The Christian opinion is sharply divided on the question whether there are other valid grounds for the dissolution of the marriage tie. Wide divergence of practice is highly undesirable, and the Assembly hopes our churches will endeavour to arrive at some uniformity of procedure.”

The report concluded: “Assembly is strongly of the opinion that ministers should regard the interview with persons desiring marriage as an opportunity for instruction in the Christian Ideal.” Assembly decided to urge the Government to introduce legislation to encourage a natural increase in the population.