CHURCH ATTITUDE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 6

CHURCH ATTITUDE

RE MARRIAGE OF DIV ORCEES EXHIBITION OF REPENTANCE ( Tei Press Asiocfatlun. > AUCKLAND, June 8. The subject of the church attitude to the re-marriage of divorced persons was again before the Auckland Presbytery to-night as the result of a conference between those who had expressed divergent views at a previous meeting of the presbytery. Resolutions were submitted that commended themselves to all and were adopted without discussion. There were: —

“In view of the serious, situation in the community arising from growing indifference to the sanctity of the marriage bond as a life-long tie and in view of the fact that the use made cf tl ? marriage service constitutes the chief part of the church’s public witness to the sanctity of marriage, the Presbytery of Auckland considers that the church ought not to solemnise the re-marriage of any persons, the grounds of whose divorce she cannot approve, except in such cases as after careful scrutiny exhibit repentance and purpose of amendment based on genuine Christian conviction.” It was felt, said the Rev. W. R. Milne, that the final clause would leave the responsibility upon the minister concerned and the matter he would be called upon to determine would not be the past ground for the divorce, but the present state of mind and heart of those seeking re-marriage. That was the distinctly Christian duty and responsibility that the Minister might shoulder, he continued. It would give him a measure of liberty of conscience and the people who showed change of heart and mind in regard to marriage would not have their past failure as a barrier to their future connection with the church and perhaps a happy marriage.