The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-02-12
BUSINESS
BASIS FOR CHURCH
lnterChurch World Movement
Natural Growth of Tender
Cy to Eliminate Waste.
AVOIDS USELESS COMPETITION
Religious FlnanelerInG Revolutlonlzed
by Success Of Men and Millions
Movement and Cooperation
10 Result.

| SO-SPSiah'Sh
10 Result.
/ The Interchurch World Movemen
Of North America Is an attempt b!
forward-looking leaders Of the various
evangelical denominations of the Unit
ed States and Canada to coordinate
the resources In men, money ant
material of Protestant America.
| Historically 1t is the logical out
growth Of tendency Of the nationa
boards in each denomination to form
working alliances among themselves
In which each board shall preserve III
identity and control Its own personnel
and treasury.
In former times, the home mission
society, the foreign mission society
the church extension society and the
various philanthropic and eleemosy
nary agencies Of any denomination con
Quoted their affairs Independently Of
one another Each surveyed Its own
restricted territory, prepared budget
OF money and workers for its own
purposes and made its own appeal to
its constituency for support.
This could only mean that these
agencies were more or less In com
petition with one another; that there
were waste and duplication of work
and money, and that among them all
some work was neglected and some
UNCONVENTIONAL resources were entire.
ly overlooked Because Of their
specialized training, the leaders OF
each agency regarded themselves as
peculiarly fitted for their tasks, and
jealousy regarded attempts at outsido
Interference
Decide on Experiment.
After decades of such haphazard
methods, the leaders OF one denomina-
ton decided on an experiment. They
thought 1t 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 a unified budget of men and
money, and to conduct concerted APP
peal for funds. 1t was made clear
that each constituent board should
preserve complete autonomy.
When the board representatives
met they found 1t possible to elimi-
nate great amount Of organization
expenses. They ultimately worked out
budget and plan OF campaign that
was satisfactory to all. This resulted
In the famous Men and Millions
Movement" Of the Disciples OF Christ.
which brought in what was then con.
sidered the staggering sum Of $780,
600 for a flve-year program.
The success OF this enterprise revo-
lutionized the whole business Of
church financiering. The other great
denominations Immediately adopted
the plan. The UNCONVENTIONAL associa-
lions have come to be known as for
ward movements" and some thirty Of
them are in existence today. Each one
has clarified all the information in re-
lation to enterprise within the denomi.
nation, and has reduced the business
of collecting and spending money to
q science.
WorId-5udset Formed.
The Interchurch World Movement IS
simply plan to do INSTRUMENTATION
ally what the forward movements
have done within the various com.
munions. 1t means that every demon
national budget will be made in the
light of world needs instead of in the
semi.obscurity of incomplete informa-
ton. 1t means that contributions to
one denomination will not be in waste
full competition with contributions to
another, because all the fellowships
will have worked out their program
together.
The functions Of the Interchurch
World Movement are threefold. First,
1t collects, by means of world surveys,
all the pertinent facts on which de-
nominational programs may be built.
Second, 1t sets up the practical ma
chinery OF cooperation. Third, 1t acts
in an advisory capacity whenever its
advice is requested.
The Movement has nothing to 90
with organic church union or matters
Of creed or doctrine. Each constitu
ent unit preserves complete autono
my, and is bound only so far as. II
wishes to be bound. Financial appeals
are made by each demo nination to It's
own constituency. Any surplus IN
undesignated funds, over and above
the actual cost Of administration. will
be prorated among the denominations
engaged In a given financial undertak
jng.
An illustration of one thing thu
Movement can do is to be found in ,
western community Of 1000 persons
in which thirteen denominations hav,
been supporting separate churche
with missionary funds, while an ada
cent territory Of $4,000 persons ha
only three churches. By seeing tina
all missionary boards are supplie
with information in such cases, tn
Movement will make possible a wise