Evening star., 1953-10-11
The Week in Religion
By RELIGIOUS News Service

By Religious News Service
A report submitted last week
by a special board of review
that investigated the activities
of the Council for Social Action
of the Congregational Christian
Churches is being studied care
fully by many American re-
ligious leaders.
One reason for the widespread
interest is that the report deals,
in part, with the oft-debated
question Of a church's proper
role in dealing with problems
that are both social and political.
Many denominations in Amer
lea have their councils. boards
or commissions on social action.
although in some cases they are
unofficial bodies not responsible
to the church governing body.
Opinion Divided on Term.
Most major denominations feel
that social action is an import
ant part of Christianity. But
opinion is frequently divided on
just what the term means in
connection with social legisla-
ton.
How far should a church
agency go into politics? Should
it act as a lobbyist, even in the
best sense of the word, and at
tempt to influence legislators and
the public for or against pend
ing measures? Or should it only
try to stimulate voters and legis-
lators to think the problem out
from a Christian point of view?
These were questions raised by
attacks on the Congregational
Social Action group, which is an
official body. The criticism de-
veloped within the denomination
in the last two or three years.
Charges of Socialist" activity
and attempts to mix the denomi-
nation in power politics" were
made against the Social Action
Council by laymen in Southern
California, Minnesota, Chicago
and elsewhere.
Criticisms Made.
In it's report the board made
a number of criticisms. It
recommended that the Social
Action Council pay more atten-
ton to educating church men,
bers and less to speaking for
them on social issues through
lobbying" activities.
1.-The main function of the
Council for Social Action" said
the board, "iS to speak to the
churches rather than for them.
It is in position to speak for
them only when it speaks ade-
quately to and with them"
The investigating group added
that it felt the agency should
speak for the churches "only
when specially demanded" and
when "sure of substantial una
nimity in the denomination as to
the Christian course in any po-
litical area"
Should Speak with Care"
And on those occasions it
should speak with care and dis
cernment," the report declared.
The board recommended that in
issuing public pronouncementS
or urging government action the
agency should act only with ap-
proval of IA of it's 18 members.
The Social Action Councils
literature, the board found. "has
sometimes been definitely slant-
ed in the direction of a particu-
lar political or economic pro-
gram"
But despite these criticisms
and other warnings, the board
said it could find mo reason to
believe that any members of the
present staff are dishonest, dis
loyal, subvversive, pro- -Commu-
mist or other than conscientious
and sincere Christians"
Calls for Election Changes.
The board approved continu-
ance of the Social Action Coun-
Gil, but recommended some
changes in the election of its
members and in the constitution
of the agency's 250-man body
of associates.
The investigating group child
ed the General Council and Ex-
ecutive Committee for not hav-
ing sufficiently bestirred them
selves to see to it that a body
which is responsible to them
truly represents the diversity of
thought within the communion"
The Board of Review was
made up of prominent business
and professional Congregational
Christian laymen. One of them,
Representative Judd. Republican,
of Minnesota. submitted letter
of supplementary recommended
tions proposing that the council
be reduced in status and made
a commission.
Would Abolish Office Here.
DR.. Judd also ca led for aboli-
ton of the councils Washing
ton office. He said he was for