Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-11-28
REsTATEMENT
Congregationalists Restate Their
Faith and Polity-Ernest Bourner
Allen of Toledo Reports Action of
National Council of the Churches
at Kansas City.

Crowded out for lack of space last
week was the report of Rev. Ernest
Bourner Aliens presentation of the
action taken by the National Council
of the Congregational Churches of
America in their Triennial meeting
at Kansas City last month. Doctor
Allen, who was a member of the
Council, presented the action taken by
this body at the meeting of the To-
ledo Association held with the Wau-
seon congregational church Novem-
Der 11th.
The action taken by this body in
restating its faith and general prin-
ciples of polity is of more than ordi-
nary interest because of the fact that
this restatement embodies the ad-
vanced thought of the churches of
this order during the past twenty
five years and in condensed form
states the belief of these churches at
the present time. The following is
the action taken by the National
Council and presented by Doctor Al
len:
Faith
We believe in God the Father, in
finite in wisdom, goodness, and love;
and in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord
and Saviour, who for us and our sal
walton lived and died and rose again
and liveth evermore; and in the Holy
Spirit, who taketh of the things Of
Christ and revealeth them to US, re-
newing and comforting, and inspir-
| ing the souls of men. We are unit
| ed in striving to know the will of
God as taught in the Holy Scriptures
and in our purpose TO walk in the
ways of the Lord, made known or to
be made known to us. We hold it to
be the mission of the Church of
Christ to proclaim the Gospel to all
mankind, exalting the worship of the
one true God, and laboring for the
progress of knowledge, the promo
| ton of justice, the reign of peace,
and the realization of human broth
erhood. Depending, as did our faith
ers, upon the continued guidance of
the Holy Spirit to lead us into all
truth, we work and pray for the
transformation of the world into the
kingdom of God; and we look with
faith for the triumph of righteous
ness and the life everlasting.
POlity
We believe in the freedom and re-
sponsibility of the individual soul and
the right of private judgment. We
hold to the autonomy of the local
church and its independence of all
ecclesiastical control. We cherish
the fellowship of the churches, unit
ed in district, state, and national bod
les, for counsel and cooperation in
matters of common concern.
i The Wider Fellowship
i While affirming the liberty of oul
churches, and the validity of our min
istry, we hold to the unity and cath
olicity of the Church of Christ, ano
will unite with. all its branches ir
hearty cooperation; and will earn
estly seek, so far as in US lies, that
the prayer of our Lord for his dis.
ciples may be answered, that they al
may be one. %
The National Council action, repre-
sents the general sentiment of the
churches that are represented by the
delegates who constitute it's mem
bership and is advisory in its appli
cation to the churches, each church
determines it's own articles of Faiti
, and government. Furthermore tht
present statement is by no means fin
al, there will be statements in tn,
future that will express any chang
in point of view or. pe1ief entertained
By the churches of this order; as in
dicative of the attitude of Cohgre
gationalists in this direction.