Church Reform.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IX, Issue 24, 2 June 1919, Page 193

Church Reform.

The main reasons for the slow progress of Church Reform m England are: (1) AH reforms must, be submitted to Parliament, which consists of men Of. any religion or none, and which may so. mutilate and transform a bill, that the Church may have foisted upon her legislation f air different from what she desires. : It is utterly unsafe to bring reform bills into Parliament. -

(2). The vested systeni of -property m livings and advowsons, many of which, form 'part of. estates inherited from those who ' stole them from the Church: m early "reformation" times. (3). The unrepresentative character of the lower Houses of' Convocation which consist largely of dignitaries .and on which the majority of the clergy are not represented, (4). The fact that Convocation has' been robbed of its-right to give legislative effect to any of its decisions. These anomalies exist m England as a. consequence of the Church being "established" m ' a peculiar way. The Nonconformist bodies .are equally "established" m all essentials and yet have the right of self-government. The Established Presbyterian Church m Scotland has equal establishment rights with those of the Church of England without any of its disadvantages. In order that Reform may be facilitated arid that provision may be' made for proper Church government m the event of the Church being by-and-bye disestablished, a cquncil representing the whole Church of England, and called "the Representative Church Council" is formulating a" scheme for the formation of a kind of Church Parliament to be called "The National Assembly of the Church of England." It is proposed that the National Assembly shall have authority m the name of the Church, without infringing the rights of Convocation and of the Episcopate, to prepare legislation on. Church matters. The Assembly is to meet annually and to consist of three houses, bishops, clergy and laity. Every measure passed by this Assembly is to be submitted by the Legislative Committee to the Ecclesiastical Committee, consistirig of members of the. Privy Council. In due course the Ecclesiastical Committee will report whether the Royal Assent should be given to it, and according to this ireport it will or will not be presented to His Majesty. A After presentation to the King the report, together, with the text of such measure, is to be laid before both Houses of Parliament. If within 40 days of such presentation neither House directs to the contrary the riieasure' shall have the force and effect of an Act of Parliament.. If the Ecclesiastical. Committee do not advise His Majesty m favour of the measure no further proceedings will be taken thereon.. . "'. Included m the scheme are the provisions constituting the -National Assembly, securing the representation of the laity, and providing, for paro-/ chial .organisations and elections, as'

'well as Diocesan Conferences and the < House of Laymen. ' ■ By axnarrow majority the Grand Committee refused to admit women \ to. the National Assembly; but the Council reversed this decision by a substantial vote, and to the apparent satisfaction of a large number of clergy and laity,, though some speakers thought the admission would lead to a female priesthood, The franchise of the National Assembly has been given, to persons of either sex above the age Of 18 years, who are baptised and have signed a declaration of membership of the Church of England and are not members of any other religious body. The Church m Wales has decided to grant the franchise only to persons who have been confirmed. The rejection of the Confirmation franchise by the * Representative^ Church Council resulted m strong criticism by • prominent Churchmen and the resigna- . tion of Bishop Gore of Oxford. ,