The Washington herald., 1920-02-28
SEEK SUPPORT
OF COMMUNITY
Members Of Cleveland
Church Ask Help Of
Neighborhood.

"A partial answer to criticisms Of
the modern church" was the COM
ment of Rev. Elliot Field. secre-
tary of the Cleveland Presbyterian
headquarters, in announcing plans
for the reorganization of Woodland
Church, Woodland av-
enue southeast and East Forty-sixth
street, Cleveland, with a yearly
budget of $4,000 for community
work.
An experiment in church organ
ization, the Woodland center will
enlist the support of the commu-
nifty without regard to race or creed.
1t will endeavor to create commu-
nifty conscience that will contrib
ute to the best civic life of the city.
1t will submerge the physical.
though not the spiritual, church
proper in Difference TO the most
modern form of community organi-
zation. This let's the community it.
self motivate the activity of Its
center and govern it's social and
civic life within the bounds of SIM
pie principles of Christianity.
To make the center purely the,
possession OF the community, an ad-
visory community committee select
ed at large from the community
by the, church will have an active
part in arranging social, education
al and recreational programs. This
community idea will be broadened
to one of city-wide scope by the
addition of a city group selected
by the church from the city at large.
Actual control will be vested in a
committee representing the member
ship of the church, the Synod of
Ohio, the Board of Home Missions
of the Presbyterian Church and the
Cleveland Presbytery.
The five-year program will be fl
nanced yearly. as follows: WOOD
land Church. $4,000; presbytery and
synod combined, $4,000; two individ-
ual donations totaling $4,000; board
of home missions, 5000.
1t is the purpose OF the plan to in
creasingly democratize and extend
the organization of the church, ac-
cording to the report of the church
committee. which yesterday was in
dorsed by the prespytery.
Convictions which led to the plans
were stated, as follows:
81. Woodland aims to interpret
the Christian ideal as an organizing
principle and effective power for the
establishing here and now of a new
world, a just and hopeful social or
der.
20. Woodland stands for thorough.
going and constructive criticism
through democratic discussion or
these different social and economic
orders, and will give a hearing to all
measures, all programs of reform
and advance that hold promise of q
better world.
3. Woodland recognizes that a
democratic and Christian social or
der can be realized only as a people
learn to live and work together. and
will accordingly furnish facilities
for groups organized for the prac-
tice of fellowship. cooperation and
service.
-. Woodland believes one OF the
most vital sources of social advance
is the possession of organized
knowledge on all subjects involved
in political and Industrial reorgani-
and classes for this purpose.
"5. Woodland believes in the
neighborhood as a primary unit in
American democracy. and will aim
to help it's neighborhood find itself
and to organize it's resources
through social intercourse.
&c. Woodland believes the play
spirit Is a vital factor in develop
ment of character and will seek to
provide wholesome and supervised
"7. Woodland believes in the church
as a society of Christians organized
for the Christian life and the
practice of Christian fellowship and
service. Within the inclusive FRO
gram of Old Woodland a central
place is given to such a society of
Christians, known as Woodland Ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church, with which
all who serve its purpose may
affiliate"
In outlining the division of re-
sponsibility for work of the center,
the report calls fora church stan
to consist of a pastor, assistant pas
tor, business executive, director of
religious education, director of
women and girls work and office
secretary.
"The community council" 1t says,
shall be formed by the invitation of
the church group of members of the
regardless of racial or
creedal connection, for the purpose
of suggesting or drawing up pro-
grams for activities to represent the
real needs and best thoughts of the
community in cooperation with the
Membership in the city advisory
board shall be by invitation of the
church for the purpose of laying
out meetings, university extension
courses and discussion Of civic or
national matters, to enable Wood
land community to participate in the
fuller democratic life of Cleveland.
1t is suggested that such organiza-
tions as the Y. NJ. c. A, Y. w. c. A.,
House, Jewish Educational
Alliance, City Club and Civic League
be invited to participate through q