Evening star., 1950-02-21
New York Judge Bars
Reformed Church
Merger Permanently
BY the kssoeiotsd Press

NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-The
general council of the Congrega-
tional Christian Churches has
been restrained permanently by a
New York State Supreme Court
Justice from seeking to consolidate
the church with the Evangelical
and Reformed Church.
Justice Meier Steinbrink signed
. final Judgment yesterday in the
Brooklyn branch Of the Supreme
Court.
He ruled in favor Of the Cad
man Memorial Congregational
Society and the Cadman Memorial
Church of Brooklyn.
The two plaintiffs had filed suit
TO prevent the consolidation, as
ordered by the general council of
the Congregational Christian
Churches.
Cites traditional Autonomy"
The Cadman church contended
the proposed merger would de-
prive individual Congregational
Churches of their traditional
autonomy"
Loren M. Wood, attorney for the
general council, said the question
OF an appeal from Justice Stein
Drinks ruling will be discussed.
He said members of the council
and various mission boards in
volved will meet tomorrow and
may discuss an appeal at that
time. Or, he added, the question
might be decided the first Of next
month at the general councils
Executive Committee meeting.
The court judgment declared
the general council had mo power
or authority to proceed with the
unification program.
Independence Recognized.
Further, the judgment recog-
nized the independence and au-
tonomy of the local church in all
matters temporal and spiritual"
and the association of churches
through voluntary organizations,
'but without ecclesiastical au-
thority."
Justice Steinbrink's decision was
shat the council-except for cer-
tain functions-was an advisory
body and had no authority to act
for individual churches.
The proposed new organization
called the United Church of
Christ-would have had nation
wide membership of almost
100000.
The Congregational Christian
Churches denomination has SITS
churches in the United States,
with a membership of more than
1,184.000. The Evangelical and
Reformed Churches denomination,
with membership of more than
7l4,000. has about 5000 churches
In the Nation.
Justice Steinbrink's ruling left
individual church members free to
act.
He ruled that the general coun-
Gil Of the Congregational Chris
ton Churches, "as a representa-
tive body, is enjoined and re-
strained from merging or uniting
itself with the Evangelical and
Reformed Church or with the gen.
eral synod or other body thereof
or with any other body or organi-
Eation whatsoever. !
Council Restrained.
The justice also restrained the
council from using any congrega-
tional properties or funds to fur
ther the proposed merger.
Justice Steinbrink said indi-
vidual members Of the council
were free to affiliate with the
other group-"but in so doing
they act and speak for them
selves" and not for the Congre-
gational Church or the general
council.
The justice said individual
members or churches which seek
a new afiliation cannot use "any
of the accumulated funds and
properties of the Congregational
Christian Churches held or con-
trolled by the defendant, the gen.
eral council or the said agen-
cies, boards and corporation of
the Congregational Christian
Churches"
The final judgment followed
Justice Steinbrink's S ruling in favor
of the plaintiffs last January q.
At that time he temporarily re-
strained the council from merging
the churches, but authorized
members of the council to pro-
ceed with the merger as indi-
viduals If they desired.
Crawford Consii