New-York tribune., 1890-05-21
TO SUPPLY VACANT CHURCHES
Plan FOR UNEMPLOYED MINISTER'S.
THE AssENBLY's COMMITTEE SUBMITS RE
PORT OUTLINING A COURSE OF ACTION
TO BE PURSUED


.o,oro v,v .o-The committee appointed last
- 90 consider The Increase of the Ministry" mas
rbt in two or three reports this year, one OF then'
r,,, ,renared bv Dr. Ierrick Johnson ana Dr' D D.
MCPHERSON both of Chicago, on unemployed hiiS'ofS
and Vacant Churches.7 1t is full OF pracucai sus'
stions on a muchdiscussed subject and Is gwen hee
with in part: .,o .sri,. oor,
ur.hea,iye and determined enort should al once 10
made remedy TINS ey. & Ay pi,n ana "a en,1osy the
promising VIDE succco9 h"'' ''S"'0 ~
olIo"Is p pa, ot Action-Thc whole Church must be
r.reI Gv the scheme Every Presbytery and synod
in the home field must be actvey ami omchhy repre-
'enV' \ Medium of Communication.-There must be
some central source OF intelligence to wnich Doth
ministers and churches may deey 90 . ioI nG te
lion some officer agent by winch the ncu anu .lo
man NAV ne put in communication with each otier.
mi, gnt should DE clothed WIN no auino.S ;c, U'
a Mud OF living library of Dig sted Information, ioI
episcopal functions, and fo' the oeheht VI ihns'1F'
seeking field Of labor. .-,,, ,bo svrod
g. ( permanent committee representing me n,n1u tH
and meeting once year 10 measure the tOtai anu lc
relative local need 80 "' T lsn can be At once
supply to ts Gg" and relatively Just that does
ot nfoyidc for oversight aud estimate OF the "loIe
Held through some representative committee.
g. An annual report of the work to the General As.
nbiv\o nlan Will be successfully worked that Is not
made 10 give an account OF itacli; ,... o.. ~
= The episcopal powers Of the Presby tery, as re,
lated to ministers and churches, recognized respected
and wisely used. If such powers are IN possession
ths
and there should be- a loyal acquiescenco IN the Jur'-
dictiou by both ministers and churches otherwise
,v. abaudon a fundamental feature OF PresDytfidl,In
and given over 10 lhaepehuen'S anu UI' oo''01
pnllty Al A vital point proves rope oi sahd. ,.,,
q 4 distinct Offering by the churches 10 What ahai
30 ,rnwn as the Ircsbyerial Ministerial Adjustment
,nd 10 meet the necessary expenses incident 10 ue
successful prosecution Of tn3 pan. ,ro,s,r, scboms
.he six preceding points, which your committee be,
cyes to be ndsPelsabe t, Is not al a aS7u o9 iin
tsterlai adjustment has been fully solved DoubtleSs
objections could be well taken to any scheme that
cond possibly be devised. But surely something can
hc d,ue and Ought 20 DE done. and done speedily TO
abate ms great evil. In the full conviction OF this
yoJr committee submits the ioo"ns 10 the Assembly,
and recommends lis adoption
PLAN or MINISTERIAL ADJUSTMENT.
I Each Prcsbytery shall at every fail and spring
meeting make out list OF the vacant churches and Of
such OF its unemployed ministers as are competent for
service. and who have not been relieved from the
active work Of The ministry. From this list shall be
cNcepted such vacant churches have obtained leave
from the Presby terry 10 supply tlel'eFt', ana sucn
unemployed ministers a. have obtained PERMISSION TO
labor outside the bounds oi thc PiesoJ tcy' Inc iine
Plc,bycry shall also require o edoh 0i the ourtIt'
Oh tile prepared report a. 10 lle amount IL !,
abe contribute for the support OF th5 p'.d' "
the Gospel diIlHS inc eisu'H7 pa .io'.o " ,i,a % &
that the Prshy ytcry, it, committee may determine
the number OF appointments 10 De mac I3r ~ ISn @
the list of supplies. The PrNbytefy shaiI also dc.
tcrmuc the 20 be be paid per week for pulpit
supplies In sad churches
= Each Pre,bytcry shall appoint committee 10
have supervision OF all vacant churches within It's
hounds, except Otucrwi,e arranged for tle frts-
bytery. 1t shall he the duty OF te committee 70
NJ unrmpovod mif,tcr,. and from such other names
- unemployed ministers may be suggested IN
orrc, poico. with the secretary with similar com
mitt~c, of Other Tre,1yterles. II shall >%nd 'uch
minister, to the vacant churches, IN such order ana
rotation and such intervals may seem 10 IT best
provided. however. that uo minister ohalI occupy ono
iuluf LONGER than twO sabbath, 30 succession. where
ihrr, ar, othci, 10 take their place IN the rotation;
and. provided Also that a. far as possible every
vacant church .Alll have prracnt AZ e, p.c1 rac',r
f4 4
mcndcd that the term of service Of this committee be
,h'nd any ,hurch be prepared. meanwhile, to
cali pastor or make provision for "a s''.o 'uP3I, P,
either from thc ~t Of uncHpio.'d minister or hoi3 h
tho church cease 10 Dee under the committees SUpI'
u, I'm the luarrncn, - the prc,byery, additional
pccuni4ry support is needed to supply the vacant
churches with tlc stated preaching ~ the NoN' ,il'
Nui,trr.I Adjustment fund and that shall be- used
exclusively for this work Iut 'loulu 10 '.p -.
bring the vacant churchc, TO The full support Of tins
arrangement for temporary supply Ana IN IN no ca. ca
should The vacant churchc, h' allowed To draw run
t., fund except as they have sought TO supplement-
'hc ad hy contribution, Of their own; ~ fn..,
d. Tai. fund. secured hy special oie'lns' itom
tbc chur,hc,. shall Pee placed I'm the hands Of the
treasurer ot the Prc.nyt.r. m ic known dS the
Minister M Administration fund" orders upon when
Ministerial Adjustment. While not 70 De- aehnowltdsrd
| iv m, Board ~ Home Mission IN - receipts II
-hould De- placed in the si@t,il,d '"Iimn 10, n,'
missions i'm the minute Of tr General N'-'mNN ~ a
record of what our church is don- Tor nome e'"so|
a. All unemployed ministers. otle for ,cryiCe who
fuse 10 bee placed on me u.s. 4u =" @ "",N "u, I'M h
d.rrf.ou of tlc Prrslyt'rv, ana 'l. va va, 'un -
l1t refuse to assist in any Prcs ytcrh orrangenet
'o supply them with the preaching oi ne Noru, >na,,
+ NOT excused hc 80 recorded ly the lreSoNtfry ana
r.,,o-.al To fh, Assembly And tGi. list of ministers
,rd churches thu. reported shall he published annually
Jul" TTn cha,rrncn ~ The several rrsbytcrIa Commit
Ministerial Adjustment within me p9uiuS i, ~
,. NJ similar character whose duty u shall be 10 re
port annually 10 the synod ou ihN Torh gi - %
T. ont better r'larous of supply aud demand ana 20
furnish such information t' me .rNer1l tl S'a,h @
committees might coHtrhut" TO Their knowledge anu
/ efficiency. ....
'lrop-holt the Church ~la ,"i-'lti.' t r ri,
/ C'onmlfte, Ministerial Adjustment TINS commit
trc shall meet ono" each year at such time ana place
just prior t' the meruhc ol t' N'.l'', -, ~ ,n
uo-' convenient and most conduciN" % m" interests
~ ,t 60, ~ nix committee to look over the whole
! fold to hear reports through it, members rom tne
ue'- un1't ai,u ,,, %, ,r5 drnand :" CIV;
such matter, pertaining e. the work a; snail hot D."
conflict vim thc episcopal po"%rr % 81 NINA le rSoy T ,nn,y
r,uort the Assembly through the secretary herein
| ,fcr 10 bc named.
located If . with salary oi who Nhall act a. q
constant and helpful medium OF communication WIN IN
dr,rcnt parts uf the church. who's" business Shal b
| W'.HH nt f,cfs inth a, to uucmployed ministers
and yutaut churches. to whom q minister without
! charge may uuhc>itatingy apply. and by whom he
may hr put In corr"~p ~prnicucc with n Pres
I,t.ri, committee or through that committee with 4
,,cort church likely furnish hc very field for which
h, h., both adaptation and desire. This Sctsrtar'
| i - meet with the Permanent Committee put II I'm
~ all the fact, necdful for its wiscSt action.
i,t rr@n1rc lts ANIMAL rcpor Ia be submitted o the
! General Assembly. lie shall hc appointed Nv the A
| .nmllv. by a committee OF tho Assembly named
for the purpose and shall he subject 10 the Assembly
| general direction. ,
All previous action of the Assembly in conflict Win
| the foregoing action Is hereby repealed.
| NFRRfCk JOHNSON,
: j. M'PHERSON,
| sub Committee.