Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-04-23
TO REVIVE RURAL
COMn;uEITY LIFE
Church to Cultivate Play end
NeishborIiness, Is Inter-
church Plan.
lNrERcHURcH SLOGAN
The business Of the church 10
net to build itself up out Of
the community, but 10 serve and
build up the community.

Revival Of the rural community -
. 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 1t. The community church,
which is { neighborhood gathering
place. where people OF al stations may
come together for play. and instruc-
ton A. we'll Is for. worship, 10 the
standard church which 10 the ideal
Of the Interchurch World Movement.
How One Church Serves All.
The community church 1T Washing
ton Park, Denver, is commended IS an
example. 1t serves = community con-
tanning $4,000 people. 1t has an edu-
cational building for al types Of Sun
day School work, for meetings and
classes. Another wing contains . gym
nasium and space for banQuets with
a modern kitchen. There ID q meeting
Of public gatherings, the hall being
equipped for motion pictures. There
are club rooms for boys and girls.
Responsibility for operating this
church was assigned to one denomina-
tion," says the Interchurch handbook.
Its pastoral supply and gifts come
through regular denominational chan
nels, but its ministry flows out for
the service of the entire community.
A church Of this type, with vigorous
community program experimenting it's
spiritual ministry, IL performing =
great service
What the Standard Church 10.
While churches serving the COM
munity in this way originated in and
haze been confined largely to the
cities, 1t 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 its 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
to suffice, are far below par. 1t is
the purpose Of the 1nterchurch move
ment to bring them up to par, by a
Joint effort of the cooperating denom-
nations.
Sociologists agree that the compare
tive lack of community life in the
rural districts is one of the chief
causes for 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
oompanionship is limited, and the So
cial intercourse, which all young peo-
pie demand, is insufficient. ,tsf
Build up Church, Build UP Community.
Not only on the WORKOUT New Eng
land farms 10 the population gradually
moving away: the same is true of the
Northwest, in many places, according
t. those who made exacting rural
surveys for the lnterchurch 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 q
part of the town and their farms
nearby as places where they 60 to
work during crop season.
Therefore, to build up the rural
church as = community center would
be large factor toward building up
the rural community, In the opinion
Of leaders in the lnterchurch move
Dent.
Much OF the budget, which 10 to be
pledged April Is to May 2. is for the
purpose of, reviving the rural church
and the rural community.