STEP TOWARDS REUNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 22, 22 December 1932, Page 2

STEP TOWARDS REUNION

THE CONVERSATIONS AT LAMBETH. A JOINT APPEAL. At a meeting of the joint conference of representatives of the Church of England and of tho Federal Council of tho Evangelical Free Churches held at Lambeth Palace it was agreed that a letter from which the following are extracts should be issued : This letter is sent out by the Joint Conference of representatives of the Church of England and of the Federal Council of Evangelical Free Churches appointed in accordance with a resolution of the Lambeth Conference of 1930 with a view to the promotion of Christian unity in England. In view of the greatness and difficulty of our task, we desire to secure tho sympathy, understanding and prayers of Christian people. The injury that has been done to the Body of Christ by our divisions cannot be repaired until it becomes the concern of all His members. We, therefore, at cliis early stage of our labours issue this appeal for fuller co-operation. We recognise that much co-operation is already established, but there is room for a very great development in this direction.

Further, we have to recognise that a largo proportion of our iellow-citi-zens is almost completely detached from every form of organised religion. Wo invite clergy and ministers in towns and vidages or any other convenient area to take counsel together, under a common consciousness of responsibility for the spiritual care of the people in face of a civilisation increasingly secular. We do not ask for this closer association only as a demonstration of Christian unity for its own sake, though that is valuable. The needs of our time and loyalty to our one Lord impel us to a warmer friendship and a more concerted policy in the carrying out of those tasks for which the Christian Church exists and which can never be fully performed while we work in isolation. As the Churches make plans and initiate enterprises for tho discharge of that common responsibility they will rise to a new apj>rehension of the unity in Christ which is already theirs, and the way will open towards the realisation of still further unity. Above all, let there be genuine friendship between Anglicans and Free Churchmen such as may worthily express the fellowship that springs from close association among those who not only serve one cause, but also are one in Christ Jesus. We do not suppose that by such means alone the problem of reunion can be solved; in our conferences together we are facing its difficulties and believe that we are making progress in overcoming them. But we are sure that, if our labour is to bear fruit, there is need of a new comradeship among the members of the Churches which we represent; and we ’call on all whom our words may reach to make that comradeship a living power both in personal relationship and in Christian service.

The letter is signed on behalf of tho Conference by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Federal Council of the Evangelical Free Churches.