The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-04-30
TO REVIVE RURAL
COMMUNITY LIFE
Church to Cultivate Play aE--
Nei9hborliness. Is Inter-
church Plan.

Revival of the rural community as
a 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 it. The community church,
which is neighborhood gathering
place, where people of all stations may
come together for play and instruc-
ton as we'll as for worship, is the
standard church which is the ideal
of the Interchurch World Movement.
How One Church Serves All.
The community church at Washing
ton Park, Denver, is commended as an
| example 1t serves community con-
tanning $4,000 people. 1t has an edu-
cational building for all types of Sun
day School work, for meetings and
classes. Another wing contains gym
nasium and space for banquets with
q 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
nels, but it's ministry flows out for
the service of the entire community.
A church of this type, with vigorous
community program supplementing its
spiritual ministry, is performing q
great service"
What the Standard Church Is.
While churches serving the COM
munity in this way originated in and
have been confined largely to the
cities, it 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 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
to suffice, are far below par 1t is
the purpose of the Interchurch move
ment to bring them up to par, by q
Joint effort of the cooperating demon
l nations.
Sociologists agree that the compare
tive lack of community life in the
s rural districts is one OF the CHIEF
causes for the tendency of the popula
ton to shift into the towns. The
i bows and girls find it more attractive
in the city than in the country where
j., companionship is limited, and the so
cial intercourse, which all young PEG
pie demand, is insufficient.
It Build up Church, Build up Community
Not only on the WORKOUT New Eng
land farms is the population gradual!
moving away: the same is true of thu
Northwest, in many places, according
~ to those who made eXacting rura
surveys for the Interchurch Work
Movement.
If The decline of the rural churcl
signalizes the decline Of the rural CON
munity. People living near a tow
'e are coming TO consider themselves
part OF the town and their farm
,s nearby as places where they go t
work during crop season.
Therefore, to build up the rurs
III church as a community center woul
st be a large factor toward building u
n the rural community. ia the opinio