Evening star., 1948-09-12

TWO washington ministers have
returned from the first World As
senbly Of the World Council of
Churches In Amsterdam In a spirit
of humility and hope.
They are the Rev. DR.. Fred S.
Buschmeyer, pastor of Mount Pleas
ant Congregational Church, and the
Rev. Dr. T. T. Roberts, minister Of
the Minnesota Avenue Christian
Churh.
DIR. Buschmeyer, active in the
national councils of his denomina-
tion, said ASSEMBLY delegates from
the United States created some sur
prise among their fellow churchmen
from European nations. They did
not prove to be the bombastic
speechmakers who had been ex-
pected.
Sat Quietly Much Of the Time.
1--WE sat quietly much of the time
he recalled last night as he sat at
his desk, hoping he would be able
to convey the spirit Of the meeting
to his congregation today.
He said he felt many delegates
would 90 home to sit in quiet hui
mility at frequent intervals, explain
ing:
"One couldn't help but come to
realize no one individual can preach
the Gospel of Christ in its entirety
or Dear witness to the entire will OF
God. Gods design isn't revealed in
any one of U.s."
This humbleness is the hope of
the world, as he sees it, DR.. Busch
meyer declared. The churchmen
came to see international affairs in
new perspective" he said, and
drew new courage from the realiza-
ton that religion, when religion
is truth, has a virility and strength
that nothing else possesses"
Tradition of Separation.
DR.. Buschmeyer emphasized he
did not mean to imply world wide
meeting of clergymen alone could
bring peace. He said it could EN-
phasize,' however, the growing con-
victicn among peoples that secular
institutions ARE not adequate to
the needs of man."
The United States is fortunate in
having tradition of separatism
which has resulted in a free inter-
play" of the influences of Church
and State without permitting the
conventions of the latter to become
intertwined with the thinking of
church leaders, he commented.
while no one of us exists wholly
apart from long national heritage,
the United States delegates probably
were less Influenced at Amsterdam
by long established concepts than
were some of the European dele
gates, he said,
In his reflections on the assembly,
DR.. Buschmeyer did not dwell on the
approval of a report which urged re-
lection of the 'idealogies Of both
communism and laissez faire capi-
talism and should draw men away
from the false assumption that these
extremes are the only alternatives.
Conscious of Shortcomings.
He indicated, however. he be-
lieved those present had been made
conscious of the shortcomings of all
man-made systems. Therefore, he
said, conflicts in the plane of eco
nomic and political concepts could
be resolved only If all peoples met
in the higher plane of Divine truth.
DR.. Buschmeyer said he was glad
to see the conference place empha-
sis on the Importance of active
church thinking by laymen and lay
women. s-.
"A church that will be redemp-
tive church is not clerical organi-
zatior," he added. There must be ]
a sense of religious vocation in the
rank and-file membership in addi-
ton to the sense of whatever may
be the secular vocation"
The Congregationalist minister
said many delegates were saddened
by the realization their work toward
a program of continuing co-operas
ton among Christians of the world
so far had not included participa-
ton by representatives of the
Roman Catholic faith.
Impressed BY Procession.
DR.. Taylor said he was impressed
by the procession which opened
the assembly-the leaders of church
groups from all parts of the world
walking together.
I'VE talked and worked In
spirit of brotherhood under God"
he commented. There was no
thought of the denominational."
DR.. Taylor said the United States
group was moved by the recollec-
ton of an English, clergyman that
seekers for a haven of religious free