The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1920-04-22

Revival of the rural community as
a social unit is one of the plans Of the
Interchurch World Movement.
This is to be done by making out
of the church an active and democratic
institution, striving to meet, not only
the religious needs, but the intellect
ual, economic. recreational and social
requirements of the people who live
around it., The, community church,
which is neighborhoodN gathering
place, where people of all stations may
come together for play and instruc-
ton as we'll as for worship, is the
standard church which is the ideal
of the Interchurch World Movement.
How One Church Serves All.
The community church at Washing
ton Park, Denver, is commended as IN
example. 1t serves community con-
tanning $4,000 people. 1t has an edit
cational building for all types of Sun
day School work, for meetings and
classes Another wing contains q gym
nasium and space for banquets with
a modern kitchen. There Is a. meeting
hal. for political. civic and other kinds
of public gatherings, the hall being
equipped for motion pictures. There
ere club rooms for boys and girls.
Responsibility for operating this
church was assigned to one denomina-
ticn," says the Interchurch handbook.
'Its pastoral supply and gifts come
through regular UNCONVENTIONAL chan
nels, but it's ministry flows out TO:
the service of the entire community.
A church Of this type. with vigorous
community program supplementing its
spiritual ministry. is performing q
great service"
What the Standard Church H.
While churches serving the COM
munity in this way originated In and
hare been confined largely to the
clues, it is the purpose Of the Inter
church World Movement to develop
the same type Of church In the small
towns In rural districts, in place OF
competing religious interests.
The church that has not the facili-
ties to take care of various social
gatherings of this sort. in addition to
facilities for all phases Of It's religious
mission, is. not considered up to par
by the Interchurch World Movement.
A great many churches in America.
particularly in the rural districts where
q one-room building frequently seems
to suffice. are far below par. 1t is
the purpose of the Interchurch move
ment to bring them up to par, by a
joint effort of the cooperating demon
nations.
Sociologists agree that the compare.
tive lack Of community life in the
rural districts As one Of the chief
causes fo5 the tendency of the popula-
ton to shift into the towns. The
boys and girls find 1t more attractive
In the city than In the country where
companionship 10 limited. and the so
cial intercourse. which al young peo-
pie demand. is insufficient
Build up Church, Build up Community.
Not only on the WORKOUT New Eng
land farms IL the population gradually
moving away: the same is true OF the
Northwest, in many places. according
to those who made exacting rural
surveys for the Interchurch World
Movement.
The decline Of the rural church
signalizes the decline Of the rural COM
munity. People living near . town
are coming to consider themselves
part of the town and their farms
nearby as places where they go to
work during crop season.
Therefore, TO build up the rural
church as a community center would
be large factor toward building up
the rural community, In the opinion
of leaders In the Interchurch move
Ment.
Much Of the budget. which is to be
pledged April Is to May 2. is for the
purpose of reviving the rural church