Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-04-21
THE INTER-
CHURCH MOVEMENT
Rev. Madison Makes Statement
Telling Why Thi. Movement
Has Come.

Rev. Swan Mattson, of the M e.
church has furnished the willmar
tribune with the following statement
regarding the aims and purposes of the
1nterchurch World Movement:
The 1nterchurch World Movement
purpose of developing a plan whereby
the evangelical churches of North
America may cooperate in carrying
out the educational missionary and
benevolent programs at home and
abroad. 1t is in no sense a union of the
cooperation in doing these things
which are common to all in united
spirit. It is left to each denomination
to determine the extent to which It
will cooperate Thus wherever possi-
BILE, the campaigns conducted annually
by the different churches when the
great question Of Evangelism, Chris
tian Stewardship, Life Service and
Missions are emphasized, will be con-
Quoted at the same time; thus focus
ing the attention of the whole COM
punity upon these issues. An oppor-
tunity is also afforded by means of this
cooperative agency for the church
as whole to express itself on ques-
tions of morality and education affect
ing either the community or the state.
For some months past Interchurch
World Movement has been conducting
survey of every county of the United
States to determine the needs Of every
field as we'll as the relative possibili-
ty for self-support. BY means of this
survey large territories have been
found to have practically no ministra-
ton of the Gospel, while others are
over-churched. In the communities
where practically no religious work is
carried on, a vote will be taken of the
people Of that community as to their
oh
church which thus has the preference
will be asked to take up the work.
While it is doubtful that the matter of
overchurched communities can be re-
NEEDED, such conditions, which are
merely the result Of over-competion.
may be prevented in the future. The
Interchurch World Movement having
no authority over the denominations,
is merely the servant of them, going
out getting the information which they
need for constructive and efficient work
in extending the Gospel of Christ.
Great Forward Movements have been
and are being undertaken by the indi-
vidual denominations of our country.
Great amounts of money are being rails
ed to meet the needs presented by the
world surveys for doing the mission
airy work of the church. Thru the In
terchurch World Movement the cam
paign for these missionary funds will
be conducted at the same time during
the week of April 25th-May End. The
grand total of these budgets amounts
to $336,777,572.00. Thirty denomina-
tons, or seventy per cent of the Pro-
testant churches are affiliated in this
movement. Every dollar raised with
in the different churches will go direct
to the support of the work which they
as a denomination have undertaken,
while that which is raised outside of
the membership of the church will go
to the treasury of the Interchurch
World Movement, consisting of repre-
sentatives Of each denomination, and
then divided pro-rata' among the
churches participating.
Such a united simultaneous campaign
will make available for the whole
church the experience and wisdom of
all cooperating bodies; eliminating
many competing appeals by concentra-
ting the efforts of the churches upon |
this one inclusive and cooperative en- |
terprise; the very greatness Of the task |
will serve to increase the interest and |