The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-27
SOUND BUSINESS
BASIS FOR Church
Interchurch World Movement Nat
uraI Growth of Tendency to
Eliminate Waste.
AVOIDS USELESS COMPETITION
Religious Financierino RevoIutionized
by Success Of Men and Millions
Movement and Cooperation
Is Result.

The Interchurch World Movement OF
North America is an attempt by for
ward-looking leaders of the various
evangelical denominations of the Unit
ed States and Canada to coordinate
the resources in men, money and mate
rial of Protestant America.
Historically it lis 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
and treasury.
In former times, the home mission
society, the foreign mission society,
the church extension society and the
various philanthropic 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 it's own appeal to
its constituency for support.
This could only mean that these
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 we're entire
ly overlooked. Because of their
specialized training, the leaders Of
each agency regarded themselves as
peculiarly fitted for their tasks, and
jealousy 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 1t would be possible for the
agencies to get together for a COM
mon study of all the opportunities and
resources of their brotherhood, to
make out 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 it 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 Of
church financiering. The other great
denominations Immediately adopted
the plan. The UNCONVENTIONAL associa-
lions have come to be known as "for-
ward movements" and some thirty Of
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 plan to do INSTRUMENTATION
ally what the forward movements
have done within the various COM
munions. 1t means that every denomi-
national budget viii be made in the
light Of world needs instead of in the
semi-obscurity of incomplete informa-
ton. 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,
1t collects, by means of world surveys,
all the pertinent facts on which de-
nominational programs may be built
Second, 1t sets up the practical ma
chinery of cooperation. Third, 1t acts
in an advisory capacity whenever its
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 1t wishes to be