Church Cooperation in Community Life

, but the ultimate level is not much raised. So with the church. Here and there a minister stirs up some local community, some definite progress is made, attention is attracted from

ot gifted in following the leadership of other denominations. It is perfectly natural and justifiable that this should be so. Before the churches of America, Protestant or Catholic, can render the entire service demanded of them there must be a thoroughgoing system of interdenominational cooperation worked out which will

ble work. They have accomplished much in preparing the way for a nation-wide recognition of what the broad function of the church is; they have brought representatives of all denominations together and have gradually increased the social spirit while at the same time lessening the emphasis upon those things which have divided the Christian Church into s

eadership exists the functions of these other agencies can be materially modified and their activities directed into still further new and untried fields of endeavor. The church needs organizations supported from funds not coming through the regular channels founded on the budgets of individual churches. These subsidiary organizations can go ahead with experimentat

"union" church. This is a type of organization in which the people of the local community, tiring of the uneconomic system of interdenominational competition, and

usually begins with enthusiasm, but because of lack of outside contacts, because of lack of continuity of program, because of lack of a broad missionary spirit, it is generally shortlived and gives way to some church with denominational affiliations. The "union" church without d

acy with centralization of administrative responsibility for carrying out democratically adopted plans implied in that polity. Local federation involves giving of full power of selection of pastors and of determination of policies to the local congregation. Whatever may be said about the occasional failures of the connectional system in finding suitable pastors, or in other ways, it is nevertheless true that this system has a vitali

blems of adjustment as local conditions indicate is best. Usually some form of affiliation in worship and in sharing local expenses with continued separation of support of missionary and othe

djustment being made still more serious. If the Home Mission Boards, through unwise use of mission funds for the purpose of assisting in competitive struggles, should precipitate ret

t the following plan has been tried with success on at le

location of all churches, residences of all pastors, circuit system

of cases of apparent competitive

on to consider the problems of competition between the Methodist Episcopal

nominations visit the local field together, confer with the churches

denomination, separately, with whic

outh district, Ohio Conference, where the principal problems were with the Presbyterians, United Brethren, and Baptists; in Montana, where a conference was held to co

is program alread

made possible by uniting the financial resour

iminating duplication of missionary

e in membership and

nity welfare through unified action of all religiou

gh better distribution of pastoral residences of

ave objected to service in rural charges where efforts at community service have been hand

ngregationalists, Baptists, or the reverse. The good work made possible by fixing responsibility for leadership to a given denomination in one community is dest

synodical, or other representative of the other denominations concerned. In a number of cases local initiative in this matter has resulted not only in defeating the end sought but has created embarrassing situations between the supervisory representatives of the denominations. If a local situation needs adjustment, the matter should be gon

of caring for its own obligations as adequately as possible and with every resource that can be made available. But no

ities. Unless there is coordination between the churches, then we shall continue to witness the spectacle of the three interdenominational branches of the church, the Sunday School Association, and the Christian Associations, each moving in its own self-chosen direction, each raising an independent budget, and each establishing county organizations

the incorporated town or city. Social progress finds the closest opportunity for cooperation with economic and political agencies in the coun

Rural Christian Association

deration. 1b. Board of Directors. 1c. County Council chose

denominational representatives

on of count

y-Follow up what interchurch county offic

dence of

unity bo

ligious movements as:

bership

-church c

us worship

th reference to moral

religious

secretary of Committee on Adjustments-pr

r interchurch rel

rvey, including: 1e. Encouragement of building parso

rch building in every commu

r joint religious auspices where need

use for members

tion of paris

new work in communiti

creational. 1d. C

ng boys' and girls' clubs i

al and recreati

and training leaders for ch

ion. 1d. Recruiting

ow expected of volunteer co

l methods and organization in local ch

religious ins

ities to be encouraged:

spital and nu

n for dependents, def

esired State p

and sanitat

ty Farm

ral, give moral support to agencies doing ef

e with reference to appeal

gious pu

stimated Salary o

vel

ce r

pmen

graph

icit

-

,0

come from each cooperating church. Ask each chur

ial givers who may be

ds for aid in carrying balance of budget until

with C. J. Hewett, Garrett Bib

tion has many advanta

gious forces of Protestantism,

ed out of the budgets of the cooperating churches instea

rogram of the minister instead of developing independent organizations locally with vo

s obviate the necessity of private Christian agencies organiz

people will supply the large part of the funds for carrying on these activities through nonreligious agencies; and because of the narrowness of program the church will have chosen for itself many of the brightest and best minds, and consecrated hearts now found in our student groups in educational institutions will find their life's activities