Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-03-12

SOUND BUSINESS
BASIS FOR CHURCH
lnterchurch World Movement Nat
ural Growth of Tendency to
Eliminate Waste.
AVOIDS USELESS COMPETITION
Religious Finaneiering Revolutionized
by Success Of Men and Millions
Movement and Cooperation
Is Result.

ward looking leaders OF the NdIlOus
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
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 philantbropic and eleemosynary
agencies of any denomination conduct
ed their affairs independently of one
another. Each surveyed its own re-
stricted territory, prepared a budget
of money and workers for its own
purposes and made its own appeal TO
it's 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
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 it 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 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 &c.
100000 for 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-
lutionized the whole business or
church financiering The other great
denominations Immediately adopted
the plan. The UNCONVENTIONAL associa-
lions have come 10 be known as 'for-
ward movements" and some thirty or
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
science.
World Budget Formed.
The Interchurch World Movement Is
simply a plan to do INSTRUMENTATION
ally what the forward movements
have done within the various COM
munions. 1t means that every denomi-
national budget will be made in the
light OF world needs instead Of in the
semi-obscurity of incomplete informa-
tion. 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,
il collects, by means of world surveys,
ALI the pertinent facts on which de-
aominational programs may be built
Second, it sets up the practical ma
chinery of cooperation. Third, 1t acts
In an advisory capacity whenever It's
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 it 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 q
western community of 1000 persons
| In which thirteen denominations have
been supporting separate churches
| with missionary funds. while an ada
cent territory of 5000 persons has only
l three churches. BY seeing that al
missionary boards are supplied with
1 information in such cases. the Move
| ment win rake possible wiser dis
| tribution of funds. {
| lis first goals are 10 reduce Hnneees
1 sarv duplication and overlapping q
a miuimum and to bring about an IN
tell;gent division Of labor In unoccu
MED fields. The Movement is, at bot
tom. an attempt TO put church bust