CHURCH UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12712, 6 August 1919, Page 4

CHURCH UNION.

A LESSON FROM CHINA. Our tentative and rather timid approaches to church union should receive botli a shock and an encouragement from the swift and decisive action just taken by the churches in China (says the “Westminster Gazette”). The story is as follows: A conference at Nanking had last year agreed to a provisional basis of union between the Presbyterian and Cougregationalist Churches throughout China, whether the missions from which they had sprung were American or British. The idea was to complete the union in 1920. On April 8 of this year the representatives of the Presbyterian Churches, those under the London Missionary -Society and those under the American Board, met for a union conference. By the time tin© delegates came together they found that another mission—the United Brethren wanted to join in. Mr SC- Leung, a Chinese connected with the L.M.S., was elected secretary. The proposition that the churches of the American, Canadian and New Zealand Presbyterian Missions, the London Missionarj' Society, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and United Brethren Churches, should unite to form ofne church was carried with acclamation. “ It was decided.” writes the Rev W. Clayson, of the L.M.iS., Canton, “ that the_ name should be Chung Wu Ki Tuk Kaau Ooi, or The Church of Christ in China. “The decisions of the Nanking Conference were then discussed, and in the main agreed upon. The Only point on which there was any lengthy discussion was a most interesting one. These proposals left the position and privileges of the local church undefined, and seemed to give undue importance to the District Association. The sturdy Congregationalists of the L.M-S- and A.B.C.P.M. churches had taken note of this, and wanted some sentence inserted making it clear that in such a union plan the autonomy of the local church was recognised. “ They soon found that on this point the Presbyterians of Kwangtung were just a 9 good Congregationalists as themselves, and it was left- to the three officers to draw up a short statement making the point clear, and report at a later session, There seemed no need to wait till 1920 to consummate the Union, as all were of one heart and mind, so it was voted ‘to consider the present meeting a provisional Provinccial Assembly, and to appoint a provisional executive to arrange for the formation of the district associations, with a view to holding a proper Provincial Assembly in July next, when the United Church should he formally constituted.’ This executive consists 'of eight—one missionary, and one Chinese from each of the uniting churches. “At the evening session the proposals to safeguard the autonomy of the local church were reported, and in everything it was agreed to leave the individual church to manage its internal affairs, save and except that in. the calling of a pastor, after mailing their choice, they should submit the choice to the District Association and ask them to arrange for ordination. “The meeting was fittingly held in the Morrison Memorial Hall of the Y-M-C.A. His spirit must have been there and gladdened at the sight. It is our hope ” (Mr Clayson concludes), “ that as soon ns this church is constituted a Home Missionarv Society will he formed, which null take uu vigorously the question of evangelistic efforts in the districts for which the United Church will be responsible.”