The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1920-04-22

povival of the rural community az
social unit is one OF the plans OF the
,n,orchurch World Movement.
Tb,s is to be done by making out
!, 40 church an active and democratic
,nstitution, striving to meet, not only
.so religious needs, but the intellect
vol economic, recreational and social
-aourements of the people who live
.round it. The community church,
uh,cb is a neighborhood gathering
n,oce where people of all stations may
come together for play and instruc-
zion as we'll as for worship, is the
.tondard church which is the ideal
~ the Interchurch World Movement.
How One Church Serves All.
The community church at Washing
ION Park, Denver, is commended as an
ayample. 1t serves community con-
tanning $4,000 people. 1t has an edu-
cstional building for all types of Sun
day School work, for meetings and
classes Another wing contains = gym
nasium and space for banquets with
a modern kitchen There is meeting
hall for political, civic and other kinds
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
ton" says the Interchurch handbook.
ats pastoral supply and gifts come
through regular UNCONVENTIONAL chan
neIs. but its ministry flows out for
the service OF the entire community.
church of this type, with vigorous
community program supplementing its
spiritual ministry, is performing =
great service"
What the Standard Church 10.
While churches serving the COM
munity in this way originated In and
haYe 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
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
! one-room building frequently seems
o suffice, are far below par. 1t is
he purpose Of the Interchureh move
nent to bring them up to par, by a
oint effort of the cooperating denom-
nations.
Sociologists agree that the compare
I've lack of community life in the
unl districts is one Of the chief
auses for the tendency Of the popula-
on to shift into the towns. The
oys and girls find it more attractive
the city than in the country where
ompanionship is limited, and the So
al intercourse, which all young peo-
10 demand, is insufficient.
ulld up Church, Build up Community.
Not only on the WORKOUT New Eng
nd farms is the population gradually
owing away: the same is true of the
orthwest. in many places, according
those who made exacting rural
rveys for the Interchurch World
ovement.
The decline Of the rural church
gnalizes the decline Of the rural COM
unity. People living near a town
9 coming to consider themselves a
'ft OF the town and their farms
arby as places where they go to
DIX during crop season.
therefore, to build up the rural
urch a. community center would
large factor toward building up
rural community, in the opinion
leaders In the Interchurch move
int
Much OF the budget, which Is to be
'dged April 25 to May 2, is for the
rpose OF reviving the rural church
nnvSarv mt