Church Cooperation in Community Life

ian living to those who have not yet come under the influence of the Christ. Here the demonstration method of what Chris

er with the message of health and better moral ideals through the practice of Christian living, has done more to spread Christ

this country coincident with the recognition of its vital significance in sound social organization has come so rapidly and popular support has been so liberal that grave danger exists lest the funds made available should be used unintentionally in ways t

work is concerned, the following are presented as necessary objectives, if the rural church is to succeed in mea

armony with principles of interdenominational ethics an

service in modern methods of church work and by recruiting and training

that every rural family will have

that the ideal of but one resident pastor and

at rural religious forces may work together in dealing wi

have due consideration in the genera

, namely, that of making it possible for the rural church and the rural minister to fun

the individual churches and all churches together can undertake to meet the challenge outlined in earlier chapters of this text and also w

as been working. For those who come to positions of administrative responsibility from time to time without having been under the necessity of

at too often funds have been used to sustain a local work in the presence of another denomination when efforts at interdenominational adjus

should be assigned to such points. They should be supported according to their needs through missionary

urposes of charity, or for making appointments easi

es instead of dissipation of funds in pro

or State boards in order to avoid pauperizing communities b

the annual meeting of the Home Missions Council in 1914 a statement of principles was adopted. In 1919 the rural fields committee of the Home Missions Council undertook the revision of these principles in the light of later experience and adopted the revision as

il proposes for the consideration of its constituent societies the following principles of comity. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that no ecclesiastical authority of any ki

or the entering of new territory is to divide it among the various denomi

ut a sensitive regard not only for the rights but for the sentiments of sister bodies of C

be undertaken by any other body only after fraternal conference between the off

at least the following characteristics: The

l shall not be deemed sufficient t

be expected to hold services in the co

thin a reasonable time adequate to the needs of t

enomination the right to the field and the responsibility for its Christian culture until such ch

ards may then request the superintendents of the denominations concerned for the field in question to make personal investigation and to report their findings to their respective boards. If they agree, the boards shall take action in accordance th

hurch or mission station shall consider itself aggrieved in its relations to sister

ecourse be had, when necessary, to the local or national missionary authorities, whose

on stations under one missionary the same principles shall apply

ry also, because of the marked shift of population from agricultural communities to urban centers, overchurching has weakened all denominations to the point where missionary effort is necessary to restore again a wholesome religious life. Regardless of the cause of

efforts should be made to bring about interdenominational readjustment to this end in all sections of the country where economic and so

s there should not be more than one Pro

d by a governing board made up of representatives, the number of whom from each denomination shall be determined by the constituency of that denomination in its proportion to the total Protestant or cooperating population. The rules for the control of the activities of such cooperative comm

de the best-trained leadership and the best service of which it is capable out of consideration to

llowing shall be considered. Present resident membership and constituency. The organization having the largest b

unless the denomination having prime responsibility according to (1) stands ready to provide a pastor's resi

en precedence over the denomination that has its headquarters in the open country near a village. The building of t

the village church should be given prime considera

t" involving interdenominational competition until after an adjustment is made either by reorganization of the circuit or an agreement has been r

rebuilding of churches in these communities until

or other means as may be adopted by the Home Missions Council or its constituent bodies, then the denomination seeking such adjustment shall be at liber

ts at unifying local religious organizations may take the form of federation, assimilation

, that membership in the remaining religious organization may be obtained by fulfilling the obligations of th

forced. It is only intended to provide a plan whereby all forces both local and general shall be united as rapidly

pply the Federal Census Bureau designation of communities of 2,500

committed to the principles of comity which we advocate, it would seem reasonable to hope that a

er of comity not otherwise provided for may be referred by mutual agreement of the parties at interest. One representative of each of the bodies having membership in the Home Missions Council shall constitute this commission. When any case calling for adjudication shall rise, which case shall previously have had the consideration of any one or more of the constitu

of a criticism. Denominational interests must be sacrificed for the sake of the advancement of the entire cause when the two come into conflict. There is reason to hope that not only Protestants but also Catholics and Protestants can come to coop

There has been unforeseen disaster, as the destruction of church property by fire or in some other way. Sudden movements of population have temporarily weakened the support of the church and new resources have not yet been developed. Circuit systems must be broken up so that people will be willing to support full-time resident pastors with efficient programs for service. Customs of expecting the pastor to make his living in outside work and attending to religious service as a side issue must be overcome. The pastor's residence may be in such condition that families cannot be sacrificed f

they learn to cooperate in carrying out this program, then the haphazard, wasteful, competitive missionary program that has characterized r