The Glenwood post., 1920-02-28
TO RUN CHURCH
LIKE BUSINESS
fnterchurc.l I. ola Movement Nat.
ural GrowtI' o. Tendency to
Eli-4-atc Waste.
AVOIDS USELESS FRICTION
Religious Financierino Reveiutionixsd
BY Success of Men and Millions
Movement and Cooperation
Is Result

The Interchurch- World Movement
OF North America is an attempt by
fOrward-looking leaders of the various
evangelical denominations Of the Unit
cd States and Canada to coordinate
the resources in men. money and ma
terial of Protestant America
Historically it is the logical out
growth of tendency of The national
boards in each denomination to form
working alliances among themselves,
in which each board shall preserve its
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 bud
get of money and workers for its own
purposes and made its own appeal 10
its constituency for support
This could only mean that these
d&ChSiCs NNIc VI ltSS III
,tition with one another; that there
was 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 out
side Interference.
Decide on Experiment
After decades of such hupha2ard
methods. the leaders of one denumiua-
ton decided on an experiment. They
| thought it would be possible for tn.
| 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, 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 ii possible to 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 Disciples of Christ,
which brought in what was then con-
sidered the staggering sum Of $630O,-
900 for five-year program. The
members of the communion were so
pleased with this business-like meth
cd of conducting affairs that they con-
| tributed even more generously than
had been expected.
The success of this enterprise revo-
lutionized the whole business Of
church financiering. The other great
denopinations Immediately adopted
| the plan The UNCONVENTIONAL asso-
Citations have come to be known as
forward movements" and some thir.
ty Of them are in existence today.
Each one has clarified all the lnfor-
nation In relation to enterprise with
in the denomination, and has reduced
the business Of collecting and spend
ing money TO Il science,
World Budget Formed.
The Interchurch World Movement
10 simply plan to do interdenomina-
tiSnally what the forward movements
have done within the various COM
muniOns. 1t means that every de-
nominational budget will be made in
the light of world needs instead Of in
the semi-obscurity Of incomplete in
formation. Ii means that contributions
to one denomination will not be in
wasteful competition with contribu-
tons to another. because all the fe
lowships will have worked out their
program together.
The functions Of the Interchurch
World Movement are thresfold. First,
II collects, by means Of world sur
veys, all the pertinent facts on which
denominational programs may be
built. Second. it sets up the practical
machinery Of cooperation. Third, it
acts in an advisory capacity whenever
is advice Is requested
The movement has nothing to do
with organic church union or matters
VI creed or doctrine. Each cOnsti
luent unit preserves complete au-
'onomy, and is bound only so far as
1 wishes to be bound. Financial ap
peals are made by each denomina-
tion to its own constituency Any
surplus In undesignated funds, over
md above the actual cost Of admins
ration, will he prorated among the
denominations engaged in given H.
ancinl undertaking.
An illustration Of one thing the
iovemeDt can do liz to be found In a
western community of 1000 persons
! which thirteen denominations have
,esn supporting separate churches
With missionary funds. while an ada
-ent territory of $4,000 persons has
,nly three churches. BY seeing that
III missionary bonrds fe supplied