Evening star., 1942-04-04

representatives of 16 Protestant
publishing houses. It will serve as q
Nationwide motion picture distrib-
uting unit and clearing house for
films and slides adaptable to church
use. The association expects to
issue a catalogue listing some $50
motion picture titles. The leading
denominations are represented In
the organization.
The salon of religious photog-
rapky. believed to be the first Of its
kind, will be held in connection with
the biennial meeting Of the General
Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches. June 1925, on
the campus Of the University OF New
Hampshire. The salon will be under
the direction of the denomination s
newly organized arts guild.
The churches have made rapid
strides within the past few years in
utilizing motion pictures, drama. art,
radio and newspaper publicity to
promote the message Of religion.
mmfWy o-b9heeg saofstmeh
That religion is becoming highly
public relations conscious is indi-
Gated by the increasing number OF
denominations which now have full
time public relations directors, and
by the fact that the National Reli-
gious Publicity Council, an organiza-
ton composed of public relations d.
rectors of most of the major church
boards and agencies throughout the
country, has the largest membership
list in its history.
Stress Public Relations.
Latest major denomination to set
up q public relations office Is the
Northern Baptist Convention which
organized a department OF publicity
in January Of this year with q full
time secretary. Its purpose Is to
distribute Baptist publicity to secu-
lar papers and religious journals
throughout the country. Prior to
the creation Of the department.
Northern Baptist publicity was
handled as part Of the denomina-
tion's division Of finance and pro-
motion.
The Lutherans are now planning
to greatly expand their public rela-
tions efforts by utilizing every pos
sible technique. Radio will come In
for particular attention. One OF the
features Of Lutheran radio Is
weekly broadcast to the world"
conducted over short-wave Station
WRUL In Boston. These broadcasts
20 out in a number Of foreign Ian
guages.
The Methodists have, within the
past two years, created commission
on public information to disseminate
news of the denomination to the
press. Headquarters are IN New
York, with branch offices in Chicago
and Nashville. One Of the rapidly
growing Methodist public relations
efforts is the division of visual edu-
cation, which maintains a photo
file of some 160 900 pictures descrip-
tive of the missionary work Of the
church throughout the world. The
director of the Methodist commits
sion on information is preparing
short lecture courses on public rela-
tions which he will deliver In all
the church's theological seminaries.
The Federal Council Of Churches
has also become public relations
minded. One Of its newest divisions
is the public relations department,
which is sponsored by the Laymans
Cooperating Commission Of the
Council. The commission includes
several outstanding editors and pub
fishers Of well-known newspapers
and magazines. The department is
now preparing q public relations
handbook for Use by local church
councils, ministerial associations
and clergymen throughout the
country.
Religious Drama Movement.
A revival of interest In religious
drama is also evident throughout
the churches, with Roman Catholics
and Methodists apparently taking
the leadership in promoting reli-
gious plays.
Roman Catholic activities are
centered in the Catholic Theater