The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-02-20
SOUND BUSINESS
BASIS FOR CHURCH
lnterchurch World Movement
Natural Growth of Tendency
to Eliminate Waste.
AVOID USELESS COMPETITION
Religious Financiering RevoIutionized
by Success Of Men-and- Millions
Movement and Co-opera-
ton Is Result.

The Interchurch World Movement of
North America is an attempt by for
ward-looking leaders of the various
evangelical denominations of the Unit
ed States and Canada to coordinate
the resources in men, money and mate
rial 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,
Identity and control its own personnel
and treasury.
In former times, the home mission
society, the foreign mission society,
the church mission society and the
various philanthropic and eleemosynary
agencies of any denomination conduct
ed their affairs independently of one
another. Each surveyed its own re-
stricted territory, prepared budget
Of money and workers for its own
purposes and made its own appeal to
| is 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
~ 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 eliminate a
great amount of organization ex-
penses. They ultimately worked out
budget and plan CT campaign that
was satisfactory to all. This resulted
In the famous Recommendations Move
ment of the Disciples of Christ,
which. brought in what was then con-
sidered the staggering sum of So
100000 for q five-year program. The
members of the communion were so
pleased with this business-like method
of conducting affairs that they con-
tributed even more generously than
had been expected.
The success of this enterprise revo-
Iutionized 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 the enterprise within the
denomination. and has reduced the
business Of collecting and spending
money to science.
World Budget Formed.
The Intcrchurch World Movement Is
simply a plan to do INSTRUMENTATION
ally what the forward movements
have done within the various COM
munions. It means that every denomi-
national budget will be made In the
light Of world needs instead of In the
seml-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.
It collects, by means Of world surveys,
all the pertinent facts on which de-
nominational programs may be Duilt.
Second, 1t sets up the practical ma
chlnery Of cooperation. Third, 1t 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 constituent
unit preserves complete autonomy, and
is bound only so far as 1t wishes to be
bound. Financial appeals are made
by each denomination to Its own con-
stituency. Any surplus in undesignat-
ed funds, over and above the actual
cost of administration. will be prorat-
ed among the denominations engaged
In a given financial undertaking.
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 only
three churches. BY seeing that all
missionary boards are supplied with
Information In such cases. the Move
ment will make possible wiser dis
tribution Of funds.
It's first goals are to reduce unneces-
sary duplication and overlapping to
a minimum and to bring about an in
tclligent division Of labor In unoccu.
pied fields. The Movement Is. at bot.
tom. an attempt to put church bust
ness on the sound. busness-like foun-
dations on which the great commercial
Institutions of America are built.