The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-25
Plan Afoot To Unite American
Presbyterian Churches Again
Strong Opposition
In South May Halt
Merger Plans OF
Church Leaders
BY GEORGE CORNELL

NEW YORK R-Church unity
moves, afoOt today in the ranks of
a dozen Protestant denominations,
have blossomed into a working
plan for American Presbyterians.
If the plan succeeds, it will be
the biggest sealing of a historic
church split since Northern and
Southern Methodists set the prece-
dent by joining forces in 1899.
Were all hopeful" said DR..
John A. Mackay,. president of
Princeton Theological Seminary
and moderator of the Presbyterian
Church in the U. S. A. (Northern).
But there is strong opposition in
the South.
DR.. William c. Robinson of the
Presbyterian Church in the U. S.
Southern and professor at
Columbia Theological Seminary,
Decatur, Ga, said 40 per cent of
Southern Presbyterian leaders OPP
pose the present plan.
However, the Rev. Frank W.
Price of Richmond, Va, modera-
tor Of the Southern church, pre-
dicted the merger plan will win
out, despite strong opposition.
IF we fail to achieve unity at
this favorable opportunity" he
said, 1T may be many years be-
fore another attempt is made"
Steps already taken by the two
bodies, as well as a third branch,
the United PreSbyterians, have
brought them to the forefront of
wide, variform movement to
heal riffs in divided Professionalism.
During the last 80 days. the
three Presbyterian bodies project
ed a merger which would unite
them into a single body, called
1.-THE Presbyterian Church in the
United States with member
ship totaling 3l2 million.
Annual general assemblies OF the
three branches, within the last few
weeks, voted unanimously to sub
nit the 297-page merger plan to
local presbyteries and churches for
a years preliminary study.
But the unanimous vote by the
Southern Assembly admittedly was
gained only because it committed
the church merely to a years APP
praisal, and gave no final sane
ton.
Objections by some Southerners
include:
That the Northern church per-
mits too much liberty by its min
listers in theological interpreta-
tons. and some are not orthodox
enough.
That the aller Southern
church (about 100000 members
would be swallowed up" and
| dominated by the larger Northern
church (about ga million mem
| bersl.
Ironically, there have been nc
/ indications that racial segregation
would be a major issue. it was
the slavery question that caused
! the original split in 1861.
! Or. Robinson, considered by both
North and South as one OF the
more moderate opponents of the
plan. predicted that unless it is
/ altered it ultimately would be de
/ fealed when put TO vote by local
presbyterieS
Both Dr.. Price and Or. Mckay
/ conceded this was the key hurdle
| Price said considerable ma.
jority'' of the Southern Assembly
probably viii approve the plar
next spring, at the end Of tbs
/ years study.
But after that, II still must gel
/ final approval by a vote of loca
presbyteriey. and there, he said
the result is still in doubt"
However, Price said, eth,
tides OF the spirit are rising In th'
three churches and will. / believe
bear us by 1885 into the haven O
united Presbyterian church"
During the ensuing year. minis
ters and officials Of the tire,
churches VIII be conferring regu
larly in ironing cut detailed prob
lens and procedures involved il
a merger.
After the vote by next year,
assemblies. and The subsequeu
vote by local presbyterIeS. ii tht
pian il approved. It thea waald q
back for a ilnal vote IN tie l95
F assem- b}les. wilh union coasum
mated By 1886.
M v.wtvrxy fnnr.