The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-26
FINDS FIELDS
FOR CHURCHES
OF ALL KINDS
Plenty of Opportunity For
Service in North Dakota,
Says Joint Board
SEEkING COOPERATION
Method of InterdenOmina-
tiOnal Cooperation Is
Explained
SEEkING COOPERATION


When representatives Of five re-
ligious denominations can travel,
study and confer together for whole
week. the interest of the public is
somewhat aroused. This is what has
just occurred in this State. Under
the direction of the National Home
Miss ions Council, five secretal les
and agents of general home mission
boards in conjunction with local de-
nominational leaders, have made q
joint field story of religious condi
tons of the state Of North Dakota.
Not every community has been visit
ed. yet the four teams travelling by
auto into different sections have been
able to gather much first-h hand in
formation concerning needs and the
general efficiency of religious work.
Particular effort has been made to
discover the unchurched fields. The
results of the field study were tabu-
lated and presented at meeting
of all the groups on Tuesday Of this
week-just one week from the day
on which the teams were assembled
at jamestown, says an announcement
of the group which continues the
story Of their activities as follows:
This Joint Study was the result of
a conviction on the part Of church
workers here as we'll as Home Mis-
sion Secretaries that both conditions
and the Christian ideals call for u
better distribution Of Christian forces
if the Church is to succeed and merit
support. The task is too grea: for
any single denominations The forces
of evil are we'll united and work as
allies. The social and educational
influences of communities have over
come the division forces of strong
ly accented denominationalism. Men
called of God toy invest the life
in Christian service are refusing to
60 where the scope Of action Is limit
ed by the presence of several
churches competing for place.
Trying to Keep Step
Christian workers are realizing the
necessity Of adapting methods to the
day in which they live. True to
the North Dakota spirit, the church
executives of this state are endeav-
oring to keep step with the wheels
OF progress. They propose to face
the task together and to devise u
plan whereby the hands of each may
be strengthened. At their meeting
in Fargo Tuesday, arrangements were
made for such an organization as will
make possible fellowship and counsel
in the work for the future.
This is not move for the uniting
of different denominations or the
promotion of union or independent
churches. 1t is rather an attempt
to distribute responsibility and to
cooperate so that unchurched fields
may be cared for and overchurched
fields may possibly in time find
some relief. There are plenty of
fields for all, and only through CO.
operation can all be efficiently serv-
ed. Experience on the field stleng-
thens the feeling that the union or
independent church does not offer
the desired solution. Such church
is selfcentered, having no connec.
ton with the wider circle of Chris
tian service. Judging by the present
efforts OF union churches to get to-
gether and the fact that an agent
has thus been employed to promote
the organization of such churches
this course only complexities the
problem by developing what is virtu-
ally another denomination. The bet
ter plan for the present seems to be
to divide territory, and not disin-
tegrate the religious forces at a time
when all their enemies are so we'll
organized.
Those in Study
The personnel of those entering in
to this study and conference includes
the following: Frank S. Hollett, Dis
trict Supt., Minot, N. D., On. E.);
John Morange, District Sup't., Bis
marck. N. D., IN. E); T. A. Olsen,
Fargo District Sup't., M. f. Church;
Louis E. Black, Gen'l Field Manager,
Presbyterian Board, Parkersburg, w.
Va; L. c. McEwen, Presbyterian Ex-
ecutive, Fargo, N. D.; NJ. r. Zeigler,
Home Missions Secretary, Church of
the Brethren, Elgin, Illinois; G. P.
Keeling, Pastor Presbyterian Church,
Park River; N. J. Richardson, Minot,
Assistant, Board of Home Missions
(Presb); J. Way Huey, Pastor, Gran
din, N. D., (Presb.); F. E. Stockton,
Baptist State Superintendent, Grand
Forks, N. D.; ]. G. Dickey, Assistant
State Superintendent of Congrcga-
tional Church, Fargo, N. d.; G. H.
Burrill, Baptist Director of Religious
Education for North Dakota, Grand.
Forks; P. E. Nystrom, Baptist Col
porteur Missionary, Bismarck; C. E.
Secretary Home Missions
New York City; George j.
Ross, Congregational Pastor, Sanborn,
N. D.; Oscar s. jacobson, Bismarck,
Pastor-at-large Baptist State Con-
vention; A. c. Hacke, State Superin-
Congregational Church, Far
60; E. c. Paustian, Mitchell, S. D.; !
of the Board of Home
Missions and Church Extension,