SPIRIT OF UNITY IN THE CHURCHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 268, 13 November 1945, Page 3

SPIRIT OF UNITY IN THE CHURCHES

IT IS RAPIDLY GROWING ENDEAVOUR TO ARRIVE AT AN ALLIANCE (Special) Invercargill, Nov. 11 The growing spirit of unity among the churches in an endeavour to arrive at an alliance was the keynote of the discussion on ecumenical affairs of the church at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The report of the Ecumenical Committee was submitted by the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson. The main task of the committee is to be informed concerning the worldwide church, and expecially concerning ecumenical developments and activities. It bears through individual members the major part of the burden in representing the church on the National Council of Churches. Mr. Robinson has been chairman for the last two years, and the convener has been a member of the executive In the same period. REALITY OF MOVEMENT "The executive of the National Council is aware that the reality of the ecumenical movement in New Zealand stands or falls ultimately by the vitality of the movement in the concrete situation which faces the churches in their regular life and work,” stated the report. "The last annual report of the World Council states: A World Council of Churches cannot live unless its member churches collaborate nationally and locally. The growth of these national and local councils makes the ecumenical movement become real to church members in a degree which world bodies can hardly hope to obtain. Consequently, the executive has pressed on with the encouragement of branches in different parts of the country, and now there are 15 regular constituted branches with also a number of interchurch organisations iru other places which co-operate with the National Council.. Wellington had given an example of what can be achieved by a local branch with its Christian Order Week in 1944.

CHRISTIAN ORDER CONFERENCE "Much of the time and thought of the excutive during the year has been given to the preparation for the Conference on Christian Order which, held in Christchurch, has recently concluded. The task of preparing for the conference was given to a commission set up in Wellington, which allotted a programme of preparation to five subcommissioners as follows: Christian Order and the Evangel, Christian Order and Community, Christian Order and Land, Industry and Commerce, Christian Order and Education.

"At the conference itself the method followed was that used in the great conferences of modern times. The 200 delegates were divided into five sections according to their predelections —each section working on the basis of a sub-commission’s report, and reporting to a plenary session of the conferenre which debated and amended the report, sometimes sending it back to the section to be redrafted in the light of the discussion. It is impossible to give any indication as to the findings of the conference. Two volumes are to be published—one a popular account and the other a larger volume containing the reports, with brief extracts from the discussion at the plenary sessions.” WONDERFUL SPIRIT "We are all conscious of the growing spirit of unity among the churches and it is very comforting to feel that when the world is falling apart there has come this wonderful spirit,” said Mr. Robinson, when moving that the report be adopted. That spirit had spread all over the world. They, in Christchurch, had not discussed, church union, but they had discussed the necessity for co-operation in the Christian church of New Zealand. Moreover, they had seen that the church could speak with one voice. The Rev. J. M. Bates seconded the motion and referred to the success of the Christian Order Conference. At that conference the Christian people had found each other as they had not done so before. The churches were looking forward to hdlding anotheh conference on faith and order subjects. Preparations were being made for that conference, and he appealed to all to get ready for it so that they would be able to take part in the discussions. The Assembly agreed to confirm the action of the convener of the finance committee in advancing the cost of a hut for Holland to the National Council of Churches. Speaking to the recommendation, Mr. T. C. Brash said that the hut cost 20 000 Swiss francs and the building was the gift of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Rev. J. D. Smith, supporting it, said that all felt it was appropriate that the Presbyterin Church should act as it had done, thus enabling the Reform Brethren in Holland to resume their church services. The spirit of unity which had existed at the Conference of Christian Order was emphasised by the Rev. R. S. Watson, who expressed gratitude that such a thing could happen In their day. The deliverances were accepted.