The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1922-03-03
Federal Councils Census Indl-
Gates Excess of Congrega-
tons Over Ministers.
SAY CONCLUSIONS AT FAULT
Or. &. o. Watson Takes Issue With
Statement That Shortage Exlsts--
Points to Wide Division Of Work
Among Clergy-System Faulty.


Washington, d. C.-Church congre-
cations outnumber ministers by more
than $4,000, 1t was disclosed here by
returns In nationwide census con-
Quoted by the Federal Council Of
Churches.
Church organizations or congrega-
lions throughout the United States
number 36,588, the Federal council an
nounced. The total number OF or
dained ministers In the country is 2O1.-
$50, a difference Of 85,3O6.s 10 ."
These figures include Protestant.
Catholic, Jewish and all n6hEsectarian
bodies, 1t was explained, or practical
ly every known variety Of religious
thought.
The returns show big increase over
the returns to the United States census
bureau made by churches In an official
count In 1915. At that time there were
227 ,4S7 church congregations and 1a1,-
$50 ministers.
Or. Watson's Comment.
In connection with the returns, Rev.
DIR. Z. o. Watson, secretary Of tn"
Washington branch of the council and
the man who conducted the present
count, said:
"A report is being circulated
throughout\th country to the effect
that religion Is short more thin &c.
900 ministers or religious leaders. I
do not know who is responsible for
the report nor do know the motives
behind 1t. Perhaps the report was
put out with constructive purpose.
Perhaps not.
'There is little to show, however.
that men are not responding TO the
call of the ministry or that churches
cannot obtain the services of ministers
where they are needed. Our returns
do show that there are many more
church congregations than ministers.
This, / believe, has always been the
cuse. The big question, however, Is
whether this means shortage of min
listers.
"Many congregations In country
places share ministers with other con-
gregations. In such cases 1t cannot
be said that there Is shortage of
ministers. In some cases one minister
has as many as five church congrega-
lions under his charge. This is usual
ly due to choice by the congregations
concerned.
ain many sections of the country
churches are FIVE or six miles from
tIAs pttt raj, tCto
has his residence In the town where
a large part Of his congregation lives.
These members want their minister
hear them, not out In the country. In
such cases the census figures return
the country church as without min
lister.
Case Of Friends Cited.
''In some denominations like the
Friends there are no ministers. All
these special circumstances tend to
make 1t appear that there is a short
age of ministers or not enough to go
around. Whether there really is a
shortage and the extent of 1t cannot
be learned except through a special
count taken for that very purpose.
So far as I know no such count has
ever been, made.
@In the count which the Federal
council has just coDcluded~1o effort
was made to determine the number Of
ministers who are retired. We simply
know that there are In the United
States 201 .280 persons fully ordained
and competent to accept charges
''Some OF the Protestant denomina-
lions have NOT yet succeeded In devils
Ing system Of bringing the minister
to the church. In these denominations
there are churches without ministers
and ministers without churches This
u due to 1 lack Of system for making
~: II. ~ ;gibti, s.''.. 3; 81