Evening star., 1939-08-20
Protestant Churches
Press Social Welfare
Reform Plan
Seek to Avoid
Duplication and
Charity Roeketeerine'

VSAAoAS oAiA Va SAioA AbJ AaSh>pSSA
ing" ans more efficient methods OF
administering aid to those in need
of 1t are among the objectives of
the Washington Plan" developed
by the Protestant churches.
The plan was explained by the
Rev. John L. Nixon, once a mis-
sionary to the Apache Indians in
New Mexico. In Washington he has
achieved distinction as leader Of a
mission undertaken by Com
munity Chest supported agency, the
Department of Social Welfare of
the Washington Federation Of
Churches.
AS both a minister and a trained
social worker, Mr.. Nixon has a
varied experience. He trained for
the ministry at the Chicago Theo-
logical Seminary, but he added
to this training with an M. A. in
Social Service Administration at
the University of Chicago. Besides
his missionary experience he has
been student pastor, a case work.
er, a church settlement worker, and
he was formerly member of the
research staff of the Chicago Con-
gregational Union.
Though the comparatively young
executive of young" Community
Chest agency, he has, within two
years OF his leadership here, de-
veloped a program that is already
becoming nationally known as
The Washington Plan"
Other Cities Follow.
AT the National Conference of
Social Work in Buffalo this sum-
mer, where Mr.. Nixon presented
a paper on The Churchs Ap-
proach to the Social Needs of the
Community" it was revealed that
at least ten other cities have al
ready taken steps to adopt the
plan worked out here.
The Washington Plan" has been
developed to meet two major needs
laced by the Protestant churches
IN their desire to minister to the
social as we'll as the spiritual needs
OF people in a thoroughly con-
structlve fashion, Mr.. Nixon said
yesterday.
Wasteful duplication of services,
continued experiences of being VIC
tlmlzed by charity racketeers, and
lack OF precise knowledge of the
other welfare services of the COM
munlty have constituted some of the
pitfalls experienced all over the
nation by churches doing welfare
work, he pointed out.
1T is vitally important that we
chart our course" he emphasized.
Our first need is to define more
clearly the field of church social
work. Our second is to offer con-
structive guidance for our church
members as they seek outlets for
service.
Important to Christianity.
The service program of the
church is so important a part of
the Christian life that it is essential
that planning for it shall be as con-
structlve as planning for the prog
ram OF religious education.
To accomplish this in Washing
ton churches, we are developing well
fare committees, with representa-
tive and democratic membership in
each parish, and these constitute
the most vital phase of the Wash
lngton Plan.
The welfare committe is an off,
cial committee of the church organ
lied to guide and direct the social
welfare interest of its members and
various organizations. Its function
IN regard to the service interest is
similar to that of the Board of
Education of the church in regard
to the Christian education program.
Also, Mr.. Nixon explained, a
Church Workers League has been
organized for church social workers
and volunteers. 1t is affiliated with
the National Church Conference of
Social Work. The league, he said,
gives an opportunity for fellowship
IN the discussion of common prob
lens in the field Of church social
work, a common ground for sharing
methods and objectives, and also
provides reinforcement and stimu-
lation in the field of church social
work.
The organization of welfare COM
mittees for the advancement of the
service objectives of the church, has
become an important step toward
making the Washington Plan a
force in city-wide coordination and
unity for social welfare.
Mutual Problem.
The professional social agencies
function best when they are con-
sciously reinforced by the humani-
tartan spirit nourished by the
church, Mr.. Nixon said. Each
needs what the other has to give.
BY keeping that mutual relationship
vital the church is rendering an
important service and also saving
its own soul.
Clearing the names Of families
and individuals seeking aid from
churches is one of our important
services. Through the Social Serv-
ice Exchange, also heSt-supported
agency, information can be secured
regarding the welfare services, which
the family may already be receiving.
Thus duplication of effort can be
avoided making for more construc-
tive use of funds and resources in
helping where it is most needed"
The democratic and constructive
approach through the church well
fare committees marks the differ
ence between the Washington
Plan" and other methods that have
been tried, Mr.. Nixon brought out.
PovoI Ar>onu