CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 24 November 1936, Page 8

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

NEW STRATEGY NEEDED BETTER PUBLICITY SOUGHT I Ter Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23. “The Chr.stian Church must overhaul its strategy. I have been studying the methods of the Communists and they are fiendishly clever, lhey put across their ideas in a wonderful way." said Dr. J. D. Salmond, Professor of Religious Education at Knox College, discussing in the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day the need for better publicity for church affairs. “1 am quite sure we ought to be studying tne psychology oi attention,” said’Dr Salmond. “So much of our literature is stodgy. It doesn t grip anyone. The press in New Zealand will take religious articles if they are carefully set out and fit for puolication." “As a church we do not get the publicity we ought to get, and what we do have is often not of the right kind,” said Rev. J. T. Macky. I.s not the fault of the press—not by any means. If we had a man who could supply matter for publication, well written and attractive, we coaid get much better treatment.” ° The Assembly had before it at the time a proposal that the “Outlook” should be published at Christchurch | instead of being transferred to Weli lington. An amendment that the Outhook continue to be published at Dunedin was defeated and the motion that I publication be in Christchurch yas I carried. | It was decided to transfer the OutI look to Christchurch at the end of I January, 1938. A special publications I committee of the Assembly was authorised to appoint an editor to be also “consulting editor of publications and director of church news for the secular press.” The salary decided on was £5OO yearly with £l2O house allowance.