Evening star., 1920-01-06
UNITED CHURCHES
. Of CHRIST" |SPlAN
Twenty Denominations Ac-
cept Presbyterians' Invi-
tation to ParIey Feb. 3-6.

| NEW YORK, January (by the AS.
sociated sS).-CommlSSlonerS OF
| approximately twenty denominations
have accepted an invitation from the
| Presbyterian Church to confer in Phil
adelphia February to 6 on proposal
"for national merger of Christian
| interests under the name of the United
Churches of Christ in America" ac-
cording to announcement today from
| Presbyterian headquarters in this city.
! The movement, started some time
| ago by the General Assembly Of the
| Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America proposes formation
| Of a council elected by the supreme
| bodies of the various DENOMINATIONS
| The council would comprise two min
sterial and two lay delegates for each
| 100000 communicates. -
Plans Protestant Union.
The proposed constitution of the
new organization, the announcement
| stated, looks forward ultimately to
| complete organic union OF the Prot
estant churches entering upon the
| IN EN- bership of the council."- The an
nouncement added that the constitu-
! ton "opens the way for a gradual
| merging of the interdenominational
interests while retaining the present
| denominational ecclesiastical organi-
! present organization of the Federal
! Council Of the Churches of Christ in
America, as it opens the way for con-
| solidation of administrative agencies
| and the carrying forward of the gem
| eral work of the churches through the
| council Of the united church
| The proposed plan of the council calls
| for administration of home and foreign
missions. in behalf OF the united
churches as well as other administrative
agencies. on the approval of the supreme
| governing or advisory bodies. 1t ac-
cepts the ordination and doctrina1
views of the evangelical churches join
ing the council and provides also for ad-
mission of community churches and in
dependent organizations.
phia meeting individuals will submit
minority plans calling for more COM
iplete organic union. One provides for
interchange Of church membership.
Denominations Concerned.
! Among denominations concerned are:
| Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America, Methodist Episcopal
| the United States, Reformed Church in
the United States. Congregational
Church, Diciples of Christ Christian
Union of the United States. Northern
of North America, Reformed Episcopal
! Church, Moravian Church in America,
| United Presbyterian Church of North
America, Welsh Presbyterian Church,
United Brethren and Primitive Metho-
dsts.
Other denominations which have un-
officially approached the proposed or
ganic union with tentative approval are
| the Society of Friends, United Lutheran
Church and Reformed Church in
| America.
Among prominent commissioners who
will attend the February sessions are:
Dr. John Willis Baer OF Pasadena, Cal,
first layman moderator of the Presby-
terian Church; DIR. Hubert c.. Herring,
Henry c. King, Prof. Williston Walker.
Rev DR.. Peter Ainsle, a number Of
bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and Protestant Episcopal
Church, George Wharton Pepper Robert
H. Gardner, Franklin S. Edmonds and
Rev. DR.. George w. Richards.