Evening star., 1941-11-29

/ oi " "dSilllis Ioll
Almost at the same time dele
met in Indianapolis TO form an
! Indiana State council of churches
and church federations were pre-
viously organized in Austin, Tex;
ST. Petersburg, Fla, and Albany
N. Y.
Thus highlighted was the rapid
and continuous growth of interde-
nominational church federations
which has been taking place in cities,
counties and States-a growth which
has been marked even in certain
sections of the South which have
long resisted such interchurch asso-
Citations.
Two main reasons are behind this
growth.
First. according to observers. is the
increasing public demand for re-
ligious unity.
Second. is the recent affiliation of
the Protestant Episcopal, the Pres
byterian Church in the United
States (Southern), and the Church
of The Brethren with the Federal
Council of Churches, a development
which has increased the desire for
some type of federation among State
and city groups.
During the seven-month period
between April and November of this
year nearly a score of local COM
munities have launched moves to
set up councils or federations of
churches. They include Lewisburg
w. Va; Charlottesville, Va; Hop
kinsville, Ky; San Jose, Calf;
Bath. Me; Memphis, Tenn, and
San Antonio. Tex.
| indicative of the growth of the
/ federation idea Is the fact that three
church councils now have their own
buildings. They are the Illinois
Council OF Churches. the Washing
/ ton ID. c. Council OF Churches and
the Los Angeles Church Federation
Both the Illinois and Los Angeles
bodies acquired their buildings since
october.
! One Of the most significant moves
! in the field of interchurch co-opera-
ton is the growing leadership OF
ministerial associations in forming
/ church councils. According TO a
/ survey conducted by the field de-
/ partment Of the Federal Council OF
( Churches, some 80 out of 200 minis
terial associations studied stated
that they have considered a possible
expansion of membership and func-
/ ton so as to become substantially
/ a local council of churches.
There are. at present. throughout
/ the country, some 100 city and
/ county church councils with a regu-
larly employed staff and more thar
85 such councils with voluntary
| leadership. Church councils or fed
erations have been organized in 81
! States.
japanese Protestant Church.
A dispatch from Toxic this week
said that the Ministry of Education
has officially recognized the re
Gently formed Japan Christian AS,
| sociation comprising Protestant
Congregations having a membership
of 250000 persons"
Missionary leaders in this country
do not know of any such group as
the Japan Christian Association
But these leaders received cabled
advices this week from Toxic that
! the constitution of the recently
organized United Church of Christ
in Japan has been officially ap-
proved by the government with
minor revisionS."
Protestant leaders in this coun-
try have been eagerly awaiting rec
ognition of the United Church. The
Roman Catholic Church has already
been officially recognized
Government recognition of religi-
Gus bodies became necessary, it will
be recalled. as the result of legisla-
ton adopted by the japanese Par
| Lament in 1910. which barred for
eigners from occupying executive
positions in the Japanese church
and cut off all financial help tc
| churches from abroad.
AS a result of this situation. Jap
| anese Protestants formed the Unitee
/ Church of Christ, an amalgamatior
of more than 40 denominations as &
means of making up for the loss o.
! foreign donations and consolidating
/ the position of Protestant worl
Only two denominations-the An
glican Episcopal and the Seventh
/ Day Adventists - are not repre-
sented in the United Church.
Vatican Explains War Policy.
The Vatican, this week. mad'
clear its attitude toward the war
and thus brought to an end th'
speculations and rumors which hav'
been current ever since Myron c
Taylor made his flying trip to th'
holy see last September.
Pope Plus XII and the officia
Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Ro'
mano both made fundamental pro-
nouncements of policy indicating
that the Vatican intends to avoic
political controversies in the presen
| situation.
The Pope spoke at an audience
with the new Argentine Ambassador
to the holy see, Jose Emmanue
Llobet. He declared that "th'
church does not want to mix in dis
putes about the opportunity, utilit!
and earthly efficacy of diverse tenn
poral forms which are purely po'
litical institutions or activities"
At the same time the Pope stressed
the churchs desire and obligation tt
be the light and guide of con-
sciences in all those questions Of
principle in which men or their pro.
grams or their actions might run thu
risk of forgetting or denying the
eternal fundamentals of divine law.
The policy of the Vatican, as ex'
pressed by the Pope, is identica
with that taken by the Catholic
Church during the last war.
Plus x. after using all his influ'
| ence m rreServo peace died Short1,