Church Federation

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 7, 1903

Church Federation

The question of Protestant church federation has received considerable momentum of late throughout the Australian continent. The Presbyterian Church of Australia has appointed a representative committee to confer with the Congregational representatives on the subject of such union, and has submitted a tentative basis for federation. Conferences have already begun between the committees of the two churches. There will be provision for the appointment of pastors, ministers of both denominations being eligible for service in the churches of either denomination. The churches will transfer members from one to the other, and the theological training schools of the two denominations will co-operate. The union of the two denominations there, tho not actually accomplished, is looked upon as certain, and will probably be followed by similar action between these denominations in other parts of the world. It adds strength also to the efforts put forth for church federation by the representatives of other denominations. There is a strong tide setting in that direction at the present time, and the day is not far distant when the larger Protestant denominations will be working under federation control. This confederacy movement is but one of the many that show these times to be the most vitally important in all earth’s history.