Evening star., 1943-11-16

Un IMemDerSnlp
Souls, Not Budget Is
Main Business,
Dr.. Rodgers Says
While he praised the financial
record made by the 80 local churches
of the District of Columbia Baptist
Convention during the past year,
the Rev. James P. Rodgers today
deplored the fact that more mem
bers were not added to the conven-
ton by baptism in the same period.
Souls, not budget, is the main
business of the convention" DR..
Rodgers asserted as he presented
a digest of letters from the SO
churches annually made to the con-
vention at business session DR..
Rodgers was chairman of the recent
simultaneous evangelistic campaign
sponsired by the convention. He
Is pastor of the Petworth Baptist
Church, where the convention is
holding its 56th annual session.
The membership gained during
the past year was approximately
2,754 making total membership of
Is, l40 in the 33 churches. Members
admitted by letter totaled 1914 and
$40 were admitted by baptism.
S66l,953 Contributed.
Contributions to the mission pro-
gram OF the convention last year
totaled $s3,345 and the grand total
reported by the churches as being
contributed for all purposes was
$66l 1853. Last year the grand total
was $590,6l3.93.
DR.. Rodgers also deplored the de-
crease in total Sunday school en-
rollment, which showed a loss of
almost 5000 persons, He said that
this could be accounted for largely
BY the number of boys and girls in
service, but declared that the num-
Der OF newcomers here should offset
the decrease.
He urged the church leaders to
stress enlistment Of young people in
their various parish programs.
New Church Admitted.
The Fifth Baptist Church led the
convention with 1o1 baptisms during
the past year. National Memorial
Baptist Church was second with 81.
The East Corner Baptist Church.
3738 Minnesota avenue NE, was
voted member Of the convention.
The church has a present member
ship OF 65 and 1854 enrolled in the
Sunday school. The Rev. David F..
Chastain, jr.. is the pastor.
DR. Clarence w. Crawford, pastor
Of Calvary Baptist Church, preached
the convention sermon today.
An agreement for cooperation in
Washington between the District
Convention and the Northern Bap-
tist Convention will be presented.
The agreement, to be presented by
the executive board. looks to expan-
sion Of the missionary program in
the Nations Capital, it was pointed
out today by DR.. M. Chandler Stith,
new executive secretary of the Dis
trict convention.
Similar cooperation is planned
with the Southern Baptist Conven-
ton, 1t was stated.
To Propose Budget.
The Executive Board also will
recommend a budget of $114,480 for
the coming year, of which $3l 900
would 60 for mission work in sthe
city. Proposed expenditures include
$25 900 for the two homes main
tanned by the denomination here,
one for women and one for chill
dren, and $4,000 for the Northern
and Southern Baptist Conventions
for their work at home and abroad.
Elgin Smith. treasurer, will report
that expenditures by the convention
during the past year totaled more
than $4,000 and that the organi-
zation is in good financial condition.
Today's program also called for a
testimonial dinner honoring Robert
l.. Haycock, superintendent of the
District public schools and superin-
tendent of the West Washington
Baptist Sunday school.
Memphis Evangelist Speaks.
The need for an evangelistic mes
sage was stressed by DR.. Robert G..
Lee, evangelistic minister of the
Bellevue Baptist Chuch. Memphis,
Tenn, before the ministers confer
ence which opened the three-day
meeting yesterday.
There is no place today for a
suffering and stammering minis
ter" he added. 7,
DR.. Lee drew attention to the
complexities and problems of pres
ent-day civilization in an address
last night. There has been no time
IN the history of the world" he
said, when the younger generation
has been bequeathed such a mess as
that in which the world finds itself
today"
Juvenile delinquency was discussed
by DR.. Sparks w. Melton of the
Freemason Baptist Church, Norfolk,
IN devotional talk last night. He
declared that God Is calling on us
to cooperate with Him in solving
these problems"
George B. Fraser, convention
president, presided over the formal
opening session last night. Welcome
to the Petworth Church was ex-
tended oy Herbert w. Ludwig, chair
man OF the board of deacons, and
the church choir sang several special
numbers.