Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-03-26
HISTORY OF WORLD
INTERCHURCH MOVE
Logical Outgrowth of Church
Heads to Have Working
Alliance and Preserve
Church Identity.

Historically, the 'Interchurch World
Movement of North America is the
logical outgrowth of tendency of the
national boards in each denomination
to form working alliances among them
selves, in which board shall preserve
it's identity and control its own per-
sonnet and treasury
In former times, the home mission
society, the church extension society
and the various philanthropic and
eleemosynary agencies of any denom-
ination conducted their affairs indie
pendently of one another. Each sur
Veyed its own restricted territory,
prepared budget of money and work
ers for it's own purposes and made its
own appeal to it's constituency for
support.
This could only mean that these a.
gencies were more or Jess in competi-
ton with one another, that there was
waste and duplication of work and
money, and that among them all some
work was neglected and some demon
national resources were entirely over
looked Because of their specialized
training, the leaders of each agency
regarded themselves as peculiarly fit
ted for their tasks and jealousy re-
garded attempts at outside .interfer-
ence.
After decades of such haphazard
methods, the leaders Of one denomin-
ination decided upon an experiment.
They thought it would be possible for
the agencies to get together for COM
mon study of all the opportunities
and resources of their brotherhood, to
make out unified budget of men and
money. 1t was made clear that each
constituent board should preserve
complete autonomy.
When the board representatives
metthey found it possibleto eliminate
a great amount Of organization ex-
penses. They ultimately worked out
a budget and plan of campaign that
was satisfactory to all. This resulted
in the famous ''Men and Millions
Movement of the Diciples of Christ,
which brought in what was then con-
sidered the staggering sum of S6,300,-
900 for five-year program. The men,
bers of the communion were so pleased
with this business-like method of con-
Quoting affairs that they contributed
even more generously than had been
expected.
The Interchurch World Movement
is simply plan to do interdenomin-
ationally what the forward move
ments have done within the various
communions. 1t means that every
denominational budget will be made
in the Fight of world needs instead OF
i'm the semi-obscurity of incomplete
information. 1t means that one de-
nomination. will not be in wasteful
com petition with another, because all
the fellowships will have worked out
their programs together.
The movement has nothing to do
with organic church union or matters
OF creed or dOcUrlne. Eacn conSOI6u-
ent unit preserves complete autonomy
and is bound only so far as it wishes
to be bound.
An Illustration Of one thing the
movement can do is to be found in a
western community of 1000 persons,
in which thirteen denominations have
been supporting separate churches
with missionary funds, while an ada
cent territory of $4,000 persons has
only three churches. BY seeing that
all missionary boards are supplied
with information in such cases, the
movement will make possible a wider
distribution Of funds.
It's first goals are to reduce unneces-