The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1915-09-17
ARGUES AGAINST THE
CHURCH CONFEDERATION

treatment. Inc cluzeIlS OF FlagStall
should be well informed, and under
stand the facts involved, before COM
hitting themselves to course that
might develop unpleasant consequent
ces. 1t is one thing to seize hold upon
an idea. II is quite another thing to
examine into its practically. This,
the aforementioned article assumes to
do.
In order to understand more fully
the intent of the Federal Council Of
Churches, the additional information
should be given that this Federal
Council does not assume to encourage
federation OF churches that are al
ready established in community.
The oeSsi,ion of the organization of
the Federal council of churches was
to solve the serious problems Of de-
nominational conflict among the mis-
sion fields of non-christian lands. The
Hindu or Chinaman could not compre-
bend the reason for various denomi-
nations in christian work. When the
work overlapped, and the denomina-
tional distinctions We're brought out,
it wrought confusion in his mind.
Moreover, so much territory remains
to be occupied by the gospel mission
airy, that such overlapping caused
waste of effort and money, and delay
in reaching the unoccupied sections.
Missionary fields in the home land
brought out similar difficulties in only
lesser degree.
To remedy these difficulties, and to
enable each of the denominations en-
gagged in missionary work to have a
free hand to do their christian work
without let or hindrance, a church
congress was called, in which more
than a score of the leading protestant
denominations Joined. The Protestant
Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Meth
odist bodies are members of this Fed
eral council of churches.
Their plan of operation is simply
this: Where any one of the federated
church bodies should be the first to
enter mission field, at home or
abroad, the others agree to stay out
of that particular field until sufficient
growth has taken place to enable
some other denominations to estab-
lsh church in the same field without
aid of missionary money or assistance.
The local field is sufficiently circum-
scribed to protect the denomination at
work without injury to missionary eff
fort in near by or contagious sections.
These near by sections may be opera
ted by some other denomination, or
denominations, and usually are. Until
sufficient strength can be developed
by some other denomination than the
one in the field to build separate
church, the denominations federated
in this church council recommend
their communicates to identify with
or assist the UNCONVENTIONAL church
already established.
The idea of undertaking to unity
any or number of denominations in
one of them, or in some other demo-
mination outside the federation,
among the denominations already
established in any given place, is not
part of its work. Exception only is
made where the churches involved,
through their constituted authorities,
effect such unifcation for easement
among themselves. The effort of such
unifcation by local churches without
the taking in hand of the matter by
the church authorities themselves
would involve difficulties for the demo-
limitations so federated that would
disturb the harmony of its coopera-
tive work, and create embarrassment
for the carrying out of the original
purpose of the federation. Most
christian people owe their christian
life to the faithful activity of the de-
nominational work that has reached
them. So he members themselves are
expected to show equal fidelity in
supporting the UNCONVENTIONAL work
with which they are identified. In
this unity of support there is the
strength of the total work. The Fed
eral Council does not countenance pro-
selyting to the advantage of any one
church within its federation. The
rather, by avoiding such issues, is ex-
hibits the broadcast christian charity
and fraternity in unifying and sus-
tanning christian work within and one
branch of its members before demo-
minarional separateness in the crea-
ton of several UNCONVENTIONAL church
es. This is done to conserve all the
elements that can contribute sufficient
strength to give sustained christian
service in a community.