CHAPTER VIII.
THE NATIVE CHURCH.
The end of the station, a Native Church
This end a condition into which the Church must be
growing
Survey must therefore deal with the Native Church
The reason for beginning with self-support
The meaning of self-supporting Churches
In rare cases it means independence of external support
In most cases it means attainment of an arbitrary standard
In most cases it does not represent the power of the people to supply
their own needs
In most cases it is not sure evidence of growing liberality
Nevertheless we must begin by considering the self-supporting
Churches
We ask for proportion of self-supporting Churches
This will not reveal the power of the Churches to stand alone
We inquire then the proportion of inquirers in self-supporting
Churches
We inquire then the proportion of unpaid workers in self-supporting
Churches
Where self-supporting Churches are not recognised we inquire—
(i) Power of Christians to conduct their own services (ii) Power to order Church government (iii) Power to provide expenses of Church organisation