The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-28
Deems Church
Is Guardian of
Welfare Work
Pastor Says Responsibility
Remains Despite New
State Activity.
BY THE REV. CARL II. BARNETT
Pastor of Central Christian Church. Leb-
anon, Ind. and Chairman Of the So
cial Welfare Commission Of the
state Pastor'x Convention

cal welfare GOmmlssiOu VI hut
State Pastors Convention
Commenting upon the Public We'll
fare Act of the special legislative
session of 1886. socially-minded
minister remarked, 1T will soon be
so the church will have nothing to
do except to hold an occasional wor-
ship service"
He spoke facetiously. but his words
carried a meaning of more than
passing significance. They raised
the question of the church's stake in
the rapidly expanding program OF
social work.
Church leaders are divided on this
question, but the majority probably
hold to the view that the church is
the source of Christian ideals and
moral imperatives and would reject
the theory that it is primarily an
instrument for changing the social
order. Furthermore, they would
agree that the church should not at
tempt social work when the service
of other agencies is available. The
trend seems to be toward the rec
ognition of the reciprocal but dis
tinct functions of the two.
Church Social Interests Meet
The interests of the church and
social worker meet at many focal
points. The home, for example, is
of especial interest to the church
because it is the culture center of
spiritual values and through its pro-
gram of religious education the
church offers guidance for the real
iZation of these values.
But in many instances the church
finds its efforts completely nullified
by adverse conditions; by poverty,
ignorance, disease and degrading
environmental conditions. At this
point trained social workers come to
the rescue. They come equipped
with specialized training, with clint
cal practice in domestic relations,
with discipline in social work with
the problem child, with a knowledge
of psychology in relation to sex and
with numerous other specialized
equipments for dealing with the dis
ordered family life.
To undertake to fulfill all require
ments for rehabilitation and re-
orientation the church would sacri-
flee its own efficiency and at the
same time neglect the valuable COM
munity resources available for the
task.
New Needs to Be Met
If the new welfare set-up func-
lions as well as it has been con-
ceived, great areas of human need
hitherto neglected will receive the
attention of the community. 1t is
fatuous to say the church has no
stake in the adequate care of the
blind and INDECENT aged or in the
project for the protection of the ne
elected and dependent child and
constructive supervision of the life
of the youth on the border-line of
delinquency.
Not only has the church a direct
interest in this comprehensive public
welfare scheme, but it has an OBJ
legation. 1t has the obligation of
Interpretation. BY lifting the
scheme to the spiritual plane, the
church can bring to bear an in
formed judgment upon social or
der that would impede regenerative
efforts. and upon class of public
servants that would make profit out
of human misery.
Let us not be apprehensive but let
us welcome the changes that are
taking place in the reorganization of
the economic and political fabric of
the state insofar as they make for
the larger life Of the people.