News Briefs
Diocesan Press Service. April 7, 1964 [XX-1]
SOUTH PACIFIC LISTS PRIORITIES
The South Pacific Anglican Conference took another step toward the realization of mutual responsibility within the Anglican Communion when it met in Honiari in early December to examine individual needs and, together, to assign priorities. The Dioceses of Polynesia, Melanesia and New Guinea make up the Conference.
The list of more than 100 projects which resulted from their cooperative effort is "vital to the growth of the church during the next five to ten years." A "Statement of the South Pacific Church Outlook", adopted at the meeting and circulated with the list, says "There is an urgent need of help if we are to face the problems and new challenges which confront us, and if we are to take up our responsibilities like adults .... This is a critical time for us. We must go either forwards or backwards."
At the same time the Council took on the responsibility "to tell our island people of these needs. " They stated, "We cannot only receive. We must not be beggars. We must learn to give to those outside the Pacific. We have not much to give, but we must remember the widow's mite."
The Statement continues by saying that to accomplish their task they need to raise the level of theological education, to provide increased educational facilities, to train Island lay-leaders, to enlarge their vision of the Church and its Mission, to conduct Bible class meetings and camps, to grow in unity and to raise the level of self-support.
Two of the projects designed to help realize these goals are a program for the training of national clergy in urban ministry and a program to enlarge the headquarters of the "Melanesian Brotherhood", a native religious order now at work in New Guinea and New Britain. A list of the other projects can be obtained from the information officer of National Council's Overseas Department.
The members of the South Pacific Anglican Conference are linked together in a loose organization soon to be succeeded, if approval is given by the metropolitan authorities concerned, by a Council similar to the Council of the Church of South East Asia. The Bishop of Polynesia, the Rt. Rev. John Charles Vockler, is chairman of the Conference.
The list is being circulated by Bishop Bayne, Anglican executive officer, to all Churches of the Anglican Communion and to related ecumenical bodies.
SERVING IN OPERATION DOCTOR
Two Anglicans are currently serving with the "Operation Doctor" program in the Congo. The program is a part of the Congo Protestant Relief Agency in America working in cooperation with the Congo Protestant Council.
Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas E. Siksay of Hamilton, Ontario are spending 18 months in Wembo, Nyama. Dr. John K. MacLeod of South Bend, Ind., spent five months in Kimpese last year as a part of the program.
CPRA sends doctors for six months and nurses for a year. Shorter terms are possible at the individual's expense. Headquarters for CPRA are at 465 Riverside Drive, New York 10027.