The Idaho recorder., 1922-02-24
Federal Councils Census lndi-
Gates Excess OF Congrega-
tIons Over Ministers.
SAY CONCLUSIONS At FAULT
Or. G. o. Watson Takes Issue Win
Statement That Shortage Exists
Points TO Wide Division OF Work
Among cieruy-system Faulty.

Washington, u. C.--Church congre-
cations outnumber ministers by more
than $4,000. Il was disclosed here by
returns In nationwide census con-
Quoted BY the Federal Council OF
Churches.
Church organizations or congrega-
tIons throughout the United States
number 236 5SS, the Federal council an
nounced The total number OF or
Gained ministers IN the country Is 20i,.
80, difference Of 3J,30s,
These figures include Protestant,
Catholic Jewish and nil non sectarian
bodies, II was explained, or practical
~ every known variety Of religious
thought.
The returns show a big Increase over
the returns 90 the United States census
bureau made by churches In an official
count In 1916. AT that time there were
.2T. .4ST church congregations and lhl.-
.f'J ministers.
Or. Watson's Comment
In connection with the returns. Rev.
pr. L. q. Watson. secretary Of th"
Washington branch of the council and
the man who conducted the present
count, said:
"A report Is being circulated
throughout the country TO the effect
that religion ls short more than 30
0Oo ministers or religious leaders.
do not know who h responsible for
a 4 H.. ftxn
behind H. Perhaps the report was
put out with constructive purpose
Perhaps not.
There Is little To show. however
that men are not responding 10 the
call of the mlnisiry or that churches
cannot obtain the services of ministers
where they are needed. Our returns
do show that there are many mors
church congregations than ministers
This. I believe. has always been ths
case. The big question. however, !,
whether this means u shortage of min
listers.
Many congregations In countr.
pIaces share ministers with other con
gregationS In such cases 1t canno
he said that there IS shortage o
ministers. In some eases one minlste
has as many as five church eongrega
,ious under his charge. This Is usual
h due 10 choice by the congregation
concerned.
In many sections of the countr
churches are ave or six miles iror
the nearest town. But the mlnlste
has hls residence In the town wher
a large part If his congregation live'
fh,se members want their ministc
near thrm not out In the country, |
su,h ,ases the census hgurcs retur
the vuuatry church as without a mli
ister
Case Of Friends Cited.
"In Soute denominations ike ti
Friends there are no ministers A
these special circumstances tend
make II appear that there Is a Shor
agc ~ ministers or not enough 10
around Whether there rrally Is
shortage and the extent OF II eann
be learned except through "a spcci
count tnken Tor that very pnrpo'
SO far as | know no such count h
ever heea made.
~In the count which the Fedei
eouncll has just concluded M Ell,
was made Ia determine the number
ministers Who are retired, We SLIM
know that there are in the Unit
states 20l.gsO persons fully ordaIr
and competent To accept charges
"Some of the Protestant denoml
tious have not yet succeeded in de-
Ing system OF bringing the minis
To the church. In these denominati
there are churches without minisi
and ministers Utthout churches Il