The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-23

LIT, "A, IL WdTIlSHu&S, 1OESlSAA counsellor for the Church Committee on Overseas Relief and Reconstruc- ton, will leave shortly for London, where he will renew acquaintances and plan for the future with ecu- menical church leaders from the liberated areas and Geneva repre- sentatives of the World Council of Churches. Because of the war, no such direct meeting and planning has been possible for several years, He will carry greetings from the Protestant churches of America, and pledge their united aid in whatever ways are practicable, in the rees- tablishing of continental church life and church programs. An import ant part of his business will be to ascertain just what help Is most ur- gently needed and at what point American church funds and person. nel will be wanted.
 On their way to London at the present time. and planning to meet pr. Warnshuis there, are Dr. Visser t'Iooft of the World Council Of Churches at Geneva, which repre-. sents S4 denominations in 28 coun- tries, and Pastor Mare Boegner, head of the Protestant Federation of France. If possible, pr. Warm shuts will continue his trip to Gen. eva to confer with other leaders there before returning to the Unit ed States.
 Dr. Warnshuis will visit ecumen- ical leaders on behalf of the Church Committe on Overseas Relief and Reconstruction and of the American Committee of the World Council of Churches. He will also carry spec cial commissions from many denom- national groups here to their fam fly" connections or corresponding church groups overseas. Among these groups which he will repre- sent are:
 American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.
 American Board of Commission CTS for Foreign Missions (Congre- gationaO.
 Board of Bishops of the Evang- elical Church.
 Board of Missions of the New Je. rusalem Church in the U. 8. A.
 Church of God.
 Evangelical and Reformed church
 Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
 Methodist Church (Geneva Area)
 National Lutheran Council.
 Presbyterian Church in the U. 8.
 Presbyterian Church in the U. s. A.
 Protestant Episcopal Church.
 Reformed Church in America.
 United Christian Missionary So- ciety Disciples of Christi.
 He will also carry special com missions for the International Mis- sionary Council, of which he was for many years executive secretary, and for the Church Committee for Relief in Asia.
 President Roosevelt, in Q letter to pr. Warnhshuis regarding hiS proposed trip praised the object ot the mission and the part 1t would play in the Inomentous task of rec habilitating spiritual work In the stricken areas, and expressed the hope that God might speed and prosper the work.
 "The churches both of the United States and of Europe are keenly alive to the opportunities and the demands which the present situa- ton lays upon them," says pr. Warnhuis. The churches have been the strongest force on the continent to withstand Nazism and all 1t means. They have protested valiant- ly, and ct great cost to themselves against the Hitler regime. They have the respect and confidence Of those of their countrymen who still carry the love of liberty in their hearts. But the task of the recon- struction before them is enormous. Their orphanageS and hospitals have been destroyed and their social work disrupted by dwindling per- sof1nel. No paper or presses have been available to produce Bibles or religious literature. Parishes have been scattered and church buildings destroyed. Theological schools have been closed and there is great need of special training programs for youth and for lay church workers. These reports have come to us from time to time during the past years, and indicate that the help of Amer ican churches will be sorely needed and very welcome in aiding the churches Of Europe again to assuffie positions of leadership iii their com. Hllunities, where they can act as re- vitaliging Christian certers of in. fluefice in the rebuilding process. American churches want to help their own family churches, but even more, the churches Of America want to work together to GfoW tIaoir ghr.sllan concern fof helping