Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08
UNION TREND NOTED
AT CHURCH SESSION
Speeded by Evidence of End
of FundamentaIiSt- Mod
ERNST Controversy.

BY Consolidated Press
CHICAGO, December 7.-One of the
most significant trends in Protestant
church development continues to be
toward church union and cooperation,
the executive committee of the Federal
Council of Churches meeting here this
week concluded.
There has never been a time" &C
cording to the council committee or
function and structure, when so many
plans for uniting separated churches
were being put forward, both at home
and abroad" In this way the denom-
nations are strengthening themselves
so that they are better able to meet the
constantly growing problems of religious
adjustment.
This evident tendency, which has
some of the characteristics of mergers
now SO common in industry, has been
accelerated by evidence that the funda-
n1entalist-modernist controversy which
so upset the churches a few years ago
now is thing largely of the past.
One Merger Almost Effected.
some OF the new proposals for union
in the United States today contemplate
a wider inclusivenesS than that of de-
nominational family" the Federal Coun-
ell of Churches was advised. THE
emphasis, however, seems to be on the
coming together of these bodies, which,
while they have important differences
in forms of organizations and in histori-
cal background, feel themselves to have
very much in common in their point of
view and spiritual outlook.
THE plan which appears to be near
est to final consummation, and which
has the unique distinction of being the
first of churches in the United States
crossing major UNCONVENTIONAL lines
provides for the union of the National
Council of Congregational Churches
and the General Convention of the
Christian Church 1t has been fully
ratified by both bodies within the pres
ent year.
1.-THE plan of union, drafted this year,
designed to merge the Reformed Church
in the United States, the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ and the
Evangelical Synod of North America,
has already come before the highest
governing body of each of the three
denominations.
within the PreSbyterian-R reformed
circle of churches several proposals Of
union are In various stages of progress.
The Presbyterian Church (Southern)
and the United Presbyterian Church
have under consideration the draft of
q plan for organic union. Others also
are considering mergers. At the North
ern Baptist convention and the inter-
national convention of Disciples of
Christ report favorable to considera-
ton of a closer unity between these two
bodies was presented"
Expect Decided Progress.
Protestant churches are expecting to
make decided progress during the year
In building up their congregations with
the climax of their effort reached dur
ing the period of Pentecost, which falls
on June 8, SO days after Easter. At
that time religious groups vii f9lebrate
the 1,900th birthday of the chuiI:l.
The evangelism commission Of the
Federal Council Of Churches reports
that it now is taking on the average
20 members to win new convert to
the church in years time. 1t feels
confident that this situation can be
remedied if the emotional factors in
VOWED in the period of Pentecost can
be developed.
so long as it is taking on the aver
age 20 members to win ! person to
the church IN a year, the church must
be anxious beyond words to find a
Pentecost which shall do for one gen.
ertaion som:thing of what the first
Pentecost din for the first Christians"
the commission said.
With all of our increase IN equip
ment and knowledge there are % per
cent fewer in attendance upon the SUM-
day Schools of five of our largest de-
nominations than there were 40 years
ago, notwithstanding the great increase
in population. And the percentage OF
those who do not pass from Sunday
School to membership in the church
is even more disturbing.
But there is one matter over which
We might all take heart. The con-
troversies which have disturbed the
church for the last few years and Gre
ated much bitterness, are disappearing.
The spirit of brotherhood and fedora
ton Is In the air"
(Copyright, 1929