Evening star., 1949-05-25
Assembly Proposes
Reduction in Synods
By Presbyterians
BY cospor konnes
SsoF SsoH Cosssspondenf

BUFFALO. N. Y. May 25.-Tha
i6lst General Assembly OF th'
Presbyterian Church In tn.
q. 8. A. today passed overtures fol
action by the Presbyteries durini
the year that may make majol
changes In the administructiv'
structure of the church.
One Of the overtures would di-
vide the denomination into /.
regional synods having approx.
mately 100000 members In each
region. Twelve synods. which
would be a sharp reduction, have
been suggested. However. there
may be more, or less. subject II
the needs Of the denomination.
Another overture would greatly
increase the authority Of the
General Council Of the Assembly
Proposed changes to this effect
would include enlarging its mem.
bership from Is to As members
six of whom shall be women. Each
OF the IL regions would be rep
resented on the enlarged council
by one minister and one ruling
elder. thereby assuring adequate
representation for each section.
Council viii Get Authority.
The duties Of the council would
be increased to supervise "all Of
the concerns Of the church" and
1t will be given authority "in any
time Of emergency to take what.
ever action is necessary to meet
the emergency"
It will be, the overture stated
the conscience. heart and thu
church." Included in this over.
ture is 9 recommendation creating
the Office of general secretary Of
the General Council who shall
serve as its executive officer.
Still another overture recon-.
mei1ds the formation Of a per-
manent Nominating Committee tt
nominate the officers of the as
sembly and the boards. councils
and other agencies of the denomi-
nation.
These proposed changes cannot
be put into effect until the 267
presbyteries report back to, the
162d General Assembly to be held
next year at Cincinnati.
Conference Seen Needed.
A top Presbyterian leader said
last. night that a conference be-
tween Protestant and Roman
Catholic leaders ION the highest
possible level" was desperately
needed as soon as possible.
Speaking at a meeting sponsored
by the Board of Foreign Missions
the Rev. DR.. John Sutherland
Bonnell. pastor of the New York
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
declared "there is a desperate
need" for the conference to work
out q method of getting along
together until a settled policy or
the subject of religious freedom
can be established.
Tho call of the Presbyterian
leader for such conference is In
line with q proposal recently made
by D meeting at Cleveland spon-
sored by the Federal Council Of
Churches Of Christ In America. Al
the. Cleveland gathering 1t was
urged that Protestant and Catholic
leaders get together to plan a
common campaign against COM
ununism.
Freedom From Coercion.
DR.. Bonnell declared that by
religious freedom he meant free
dom from coercion by any earthly
power whether political or eccle-
siastical that assumes the prerog.
ative Of God and attempts tc
prescribe the conscience OF the
individual"
The Protestant Churches are
going to lose rural America "te
the Holy Rollers and the Roman
Catholic Church" unless it solves
the twin problems of church va
cancies and sharp competition In
this field. DR.. Jesse Hays Baird oi
San Anselmo. Calf. past mod
orator Of the General Assembly
told the gathering yesterday.
Young men are coming out OF
seminaries disillusioned because
they have to compete with other
young ministers having churches
within areas unable to support
more than one church, DR.. Baird
declared.
The assembly yesterday passed
q new type Of proposal for raising
the budget Of the church.
Instead of setting a definite
figure, the budget will be raised
BY each church setting its own
figure.
w. c. Magathan OF Washington
q member of the Takoma Park
Presbyterian Church. was nomi.
mated yesterday for reelection te
the general council.
Two Protestant Groups
Step Nearer to Merger
By the Assoeiatsd Press
BUCK HILL FALLS. Pa. Ma.
Identification Of the Unitet
Presbyterian and the Reformes
Church Ia America will be places
before the Presbyteries Of TIN
two groups.
Meeting together yesterday a
the close Of their annual conven
tions, the two groups approved un
Ion into one body Of some 42s.oo'
members.
Delegates to the United Preshy
tartan Assembly anrrnvad min,