The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1920-02-21
SOUND BUSINESS
BASIS FOR CHURCH
lnterchurch World Movement
Natural Growth of Tenden-
Cy TO Eliminate Waste.
AVOIDS USELESS COMPETITION
Religious Finsnciering Revolutionlzed
by Success of Men and Millions
Movement and Cooperation
Is Result.

evangelical denominations of the Unit
the resources in men, money and
material of Protestant America.
Historically it is the logical out
growth of a tendency of the national
boards in each denomination to form
working alliances among themselves,
in which each board shall preserve It's
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 a 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
denominational resources were entire
ly overlooked Because of their
specialized training. the leaders of
each agency regarded themselves as
peculiarly fitted for their tasks. and
jealously regarded attempts at outside
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 a 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 ap-
peal for funds. 1t was made clear
that each constituent board should
preserve complete autonomy.
When the board representatives
met they found it possible to elimi-
nate great amount of organization
expenses, 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 Disciples OF Christ,
which brought in what was then con.
sidered the staggering sum Of 1900.
900 for a five-year program.
The success of this enterprise revo-
lutionized the whole business of
church financiering, The other great
denominations Immediately adopted
the plan. The denominational 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
4 science
WorId-Budget Formed.
The Interchurch World Movement is
simply plan to do interdenomination-
ally what the forward movements
have done within the various COM
nunions. It means that every denom-
national budget will be made in the
Hight 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
hui 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,
L collects, by means of world SURVEYS
all the pertinent facts on which de-
nominational programs may be built.
Second. it sets up the practical ma
chinery of cooperation Third it acts
IN an advisory capacity whenever its
advice is requested.
The Movement has nothing to do
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 It
wishes to be bound. Financial appeals
are made by each determination to its
own constituency. Any surplus in
undesignated funds, over and above
the actual cost Of administration. will
be prorated among the denominations
engaged in given financial undertak-
Ing
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
Dnly three churches. By seeing that
all missionary boards are supplied
with information in such cases, the
Movement will make possible a wiser
distribution OF funds.
Its first goals are to reduce un
necessary duplication and overlapping
to a minimum and TO bring about an
intelligent division OF labor in unoccu
pied fields. The Movement is at bot
tom. an attempt to put church bust