The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-13

Al the IL 81 ulttLAlE VI hAN nv
year Of the Ladies Literary Club in
/ the Club House on Wednesday, the
program was a survey OF religious
activities now being carried on in
and around Ypsilanl. Mrs. r. A.
Weir, chairman, spoke Of the chal-
/ lenge to religion in contemporary
| life. She described the World Coun-
Gil OF Churches. which includes 50
non-Roman denominations all over
the world. 1t is headed by the Arch
bishop of Canterbury. Its aim is TO
work away from the indiyidualism
OF former times to uniticatlon of
effort in promoting social values
and a real brotherhood OF man. She
stated that as early as 1887, the cler-
gy, both Catholic and Protestant, of
Europe saw this war coming and
organized TO fight the forces OF dis
Indignation. with the result that the
churches are still unamended and
unconipromised."
Mrs. Keunard Poster told OF many
new sects and denominations which
have established congregations here
in the last few years. Among them
are the Church OF God on Congress
ST., the Mennonite Church on W.
Cross St. the Assembly OF God on
L. Michigan Ave. the Evangelistic
Mission on River St, the Church
OF the Nazarene on y. Prospect ST.,
and the Christian Reformed meet
ing In the Presbyterian Church.
There are two Lutheran churches
in the Willow Run area, one on
Michigan Ave, belonging TO the
Missouri Synod, and one on Mid.
way Blvd, belonging to the National
Lutheran Council. This Is only
partial list as there are more than
% churches in this area. The tenets
and methods OF these churches
vary widely. while each 10 filling
need OF It's own people.
Mrs. Weir introduced Rev. Phil
lippi, who assists Rev. Hugo Fenker
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
on River ST. He described succinct.
ly the work carried on by his church
to promote religion among the new
corners to this city. Pastoral calls
are made on persons who attend
church, Sunday School is held dur
ing the church service for children
from two years up, so that parents
are free to attend. Religious meet
ings are held once or twice a month
during week days. Theer are three
young peoples organizations which
sponsor parties as we'll as services.
All members and friends OF the
church are encouraged to take part
in all activities. In the Willow Run
Lutheran Church there are chap
lain and two deaconesses. Rev. Phil
lippis talk was helpful TO the un.
derstanding Of the problem OF the
religious groups In this community.
Mrs. Clarence II. Pace introduced
Rev. Morgan Lewis. area minister
OF the Presbyterian Church. He is a
graduate OF - the Seminary at
Princeton. He explained that pro-
noting religious activity in the
Willow Run area was hampered by
various conditions. One is its size.
comprising $500 acres, in which
about 1900 people are living
where $4,000 were expected. Also,
the spare. time OF these people is
very limited and is spread over diff
ferent shifts. making II necessary
to have Sunday School at 1890 and
church service at 1870. There are
80 groups or organizations claiming
the spare time OF the people and
among them are % religious work
ers. Practically all the states and
Mexico are represented although
the majority OF the immigrants are
from the South. There are there
fore many religious groups present.
There Is a rapid turnover in the
population too. many only staying
a month or so. There have been
four approaches to the task OF min
istering to this varied and changing
population. A year ago. the Mich.
igan Council OF Churches sent Rev.
Warren Jackson here as an inter.
UNCONVENTIONAL worker. Later, they
sent in area ministers OF the several
| churches. He came last June under
this plan. Later. the government
offered leases to any churches
which wished TO build. The Luther.
| an and Catholic Churches built or
are building on this plan. The Bap-
tist and Presbyterian Churches hold
services in the schools. Another
church has been built just off Fed.
eral land. Rev. Lewis concluded
that about 20 per cent OF the people
| are being ministered to and while
this Is not an encouraging figure