VESTRYMENS' FORUM

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 36, Issue 7, 1 October 1945, Page 18

VESTRYMENS' FORUM

Doctrinal Difficulties

The following findings of the Vestry of St. Luke's Church, Havelock North, were adopted by the Vestrymen's Forum held at Hastings on the question of doctrinal difficulties which was raised m the report of a Ghristchurch discussion group dealing with "Co-operation Between Clergy and Laity": — : Definitions: Before a satisfactory discussion of this section on "Doctrinal Difficulties" is possible the terms involved need careful definition. We suggest therefore that for this discussion the following definitions be accepted — (a) Doctrine: "Whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or a master." Christian doctrine: Whatever is laid down as true by our Lord or the Church. (b) Dogma: A doctrine received on authority as opposed to one obtained from experience or demonstration. (c) Basic beliefs: The doctrine of the Church as expressed m the Book of Common Prayer, with special reference to (a) the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, (b) the Catechism, (c) the Ordinal, with this qualification, that we consider the Thirty-nine Articles require explanation. The Thirty-nine Articles : The Thirty-nine Articles were composed m their present form almost four hundred years ago. We may assume that they met adequately the current difficulties of the sixteenth century and that they expressed lucidly at that time the orthodox opinions. We understand that these articles are not now binding on the layman and require only general assent on the part of the clergy, "and we think that a statement to this effect might well be put m the Book of Common Prayer with a note stating that the Articles cannot fully be understood without a knowledge of their historical setting and that they are not to be regarded as a complete statement of the Faith of the Church of England." Catechism: A revision of the Catechism m modern terms appears desirable. Forms of Worship: We consider that the forms of Morning and Evening Prayer could advantageously be revised to give greater freedom, or provision be made for alternative services. Revision would imply giving authority for many of the

variations already m common use without authority,- . . Many modern prayers, comparable m dignity and m diction with the older one's, could well be made more widely available. We consider that care should be exercised m choosing psalms, and that some passages would be better omitted. The concept of God expressed m many of the psalms does not. coincide with the religious thought of to-day. , In general, then, we would endorse the statements on page three of the report: "There is need to examine .critically the language of the services; revision should aim at simplification ' and clarification of the phraseology m prayers and hymns." "As regards . laymen's doubts and difficulties, we think that conferences of clergy and laity might be helpful if those participating were determined not to discourage liberal thinking and critical examination of timehonoured beliefs." Our experience shows that such conferences of clergy and laity are of great value.