THE CHURCH IN INDIA

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 35, Issue 5, 1 July 1944, Page 3

THE CHURCH IN INDIA

New Turn To The Problem of Reunion

(By the BISHOP OF COLOMBO)

I have recently arrived m England straight from attending the sessions of our Episcopal Synod and General Council. These were held at Nagpur, C.P., during the first ten days of February. We met for the first time at Nagpur since the 'sixties of the last century. Then there were four bishops m the province, three of whom v attended it. In 1944 the number h&d grown to fifteen, all of whom were present, including Bishop of Rangoon, the Right Rev. G. A. West, recently baclf from sick leave m the U.S.A.* 'and two bishops who had been consecrated since the last meeting of the Episcopal Synod; the Right Rev. A. M. Hollis, Bishop of Madras, and the Right Rev. T. Lenman, Bishop of the recently-constituted diocese of Bhagalptir. Because of war-time restrictions and possible loss at sea, I have brought no papers with me other than a copy of- the latest edition of the Scheme for Union m South India, and a sheet containing the actual resolutions regarding the South India Scheme, subsequently passed at the sessions of General Council. For the purposes of this article, I propose therefore to describe: my impressions, rather than give any authoritative statement, which is not within my l sole competence to do, since the printed resolutions of the Synod and Council, as a whole, sent out from the Metropolitan's office, with' his authority, have not yet reached me. &■'■■■ ■ - ■ ■ The Outstanding Figure . It was clear to us all, I think, that the outstanding figure at this year's sessions was the Bishop of Assam. Dr. Hubback, by his apostolic labours m that large area, ~ has won the affection and respect of all. To the Synod and Council he brought an atmosphere of conviction and of burning love for our Lord and for the unity of His Church for which He prayed. . Preaching to the delegates m All Saints' Cathedral, Nagpur, Dr. Hubback prepared his "hearers for what he was to urge upon us all later m the week. It was an earnest plea:, ih v humility, m love and m sincerity to approach our non-episcopal brethren once again to join with us m ending the scandal of disunity among those who claim to be members of Christ's Church. The Bishop asked us to. do a difficult thing. 1 Anglicans were still looked upon by others as regarding themselves as superior people. How was that fatal

impression to be removed? By an act of corporate humility and love. Translated into action, he urged a statement along thpse lines, and an earnest request, addressed to the other constituent members of the Joint Committee. In effect, it was a plea for a unifying of the ministry at the outset, to do away with the thirty year interim period, and to accept supplementary ordination ab initio. ■; ; '■: .■■■■.'.■.. ' .:■'[ \ •. Fresh Approach to the Join Committee The Council heard his appeal with joyful hope. Here was a grasping of the nettle which many had feared to reapproach. Here was thß right hand of fellowship once again held out m love. The Bishop of Dornakal warmly supported the Bishop of Assam's proposal, and it was agreed to send a -letter to the 'Joint. Committee, forwarding this opinion, and, above all, deputing the Bishop of Assam as a special delegate from the Council, to convey m person to the Joint Committee the appeal m the same terms as he had presented it to us. Alone among the bishops, Dr. A. O. Hardy, Bishop of Nagpur, felt, it right, m, a carefully composed written statement, to disassociate himself from. agreeing to this approach to the Joint Committee. His disagreement with the Scheme as a whole went so deep that he could not bring himself to vote for any detail which might at the same time imply that the Scheme would be otherwise acceptable to him. With this resolution went two others, both important and worthy of note: (1) <That the resolutions of Diocesan Councils be communicated to the Joint Committee; and (2) to ask the Joint Cbrrimittee that, "m view of the wide . disquiet and anxiety caused m many parts of the Anglican Communion by the recent changes m the section of the Scheme, on the faith of the Churchfthat section of the Scheme be restored to the form m which it was set forth m 1936." ■ ... •■ ".' * ■■ . . ■ The first of. these two resolutions means that all the recommendations attached to ' such resolutions passed by JQiocesan Councils will also be communicated to the Joint Committee. This will enable the other delegates to know precisely the final judgment of the dioceses on the Scheme, and to be acquainted with

those aspects of it which still cause dissatisfaction. In several instances the dioceses passed the Scheme m its present form by ' extremely; small majorities, and, one diocese, Nagpur, rejected the Scheme as it now stands. Several dioceses hive not yet recorded their vote (Calcutta, Madras, Tihneveily, Rangoon, Assam, and Bhagalpur). The second resolution reflects the conviction m all our minds as to the necessity for unequivqcable statements regarding the deity of our Lord. One of the bishops raised an objection, which was overruled, as to the constitutional right of two other bishops, supported by their clergy synods, to request the Metropolitan to ask the other Metropolitans of the Anglican Communion if they would sever relations with the Church of the province consequent upon the acceptance of the Scheme on its prer sent basis. The appeal is out, arid, so far, four Metropolitans had replied. , '■.■■■-,. In one case, at least, it was urged that no final decision be reached before the next Lambeth Conference. The substance of the opinions of the Provinces of Canterbury and York were also read to us. It is likely that the Synod and Council will meet again next year, m February, 1945, m special session, to consider the remaining replies and to decide whether, m the light of the reception by the Joint Committee m the meantime of our fresh approach, a final vote should be/ taken or not.-r---"Church Times."