Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-13
The Week in Religion
Protestant Denominations
Note Rise in Church Unity

BY Religious News Service
Progress in church unity and
support of the Supreme Court
decision barring segregation IN
public schools were highhghts
of national meetings of major
Protestant denominations.
Most denominations adopted
increased budgets for the COM
ing year and in some instances
they set new records. Major
allotments were for home and
foreign missionary activities.
All-time membership and other
gains were reported to several
conventions. At least four de-
nominations mapped plans to
launch church expansion pro-
grams.
Among the denominations
which held their annual sessions
were the Presbyterian Church
in the u. s. A., the Presbyterian
Church in the U. s. (Southern).
the United Presbyterian Church,
the American Baptist Conven-
ton, the Southern Baptist Con-
vention and the Seventh-Day
AdventiStS.
Three Groups Back Merger.
One of the most significant
actions taken by the general as
Sembles Of the three major
Presbyterian bodies was approx
al of a plan to unite in a single
denomination.
The Presbyterian Church in
the U. S. A., the largest Of the
three bodies, voted first. With
a nearly unanimous decision its
general assembly meeting in De-
troit Endorsed the plan. The
Southern Presbyterian Assembly
at Montreal. N. c.. voted in ia
vor of it, 283 to 1859. At Akron.
Ohio. the United Presbyterian
Assembly approved the plan
with only three dissenting votes.
Before the merger can be real
lied, however, it must be ap-
proved by three-fourths Of the
presbyteries Of the Southern
Church and two-thirdS Of those
in the United and U. S. A.
Churches.
Advocates Of the union are not
too optimistic about the vote in
the Southern preSbyteries. The
balloting at the Montreal con-
vention showed there was con-
siderable opposition to the
merger in the rural presbyteries
of the Southern Church.
If union is finally accom-
plished, it will create a new body,
with 3.5 million members, known
as the Presbyterian Church Of
the United States.
Court Ruling Hailed.
Approval also was voted by the
three Presbyterian General AS
semblieS of the recent Supreme
Court decision barring segrega-
ton in public schools.
The U. S. A. Assembly hailed
the ruling with humility" be-
cause the action of the court was
necessary to make effective that
for which our church has stood
in principle" and with thanks
giving" because the decision was
rendered with wisdom and
unaninaity."
The Southern Presbyterian &C
ton approving the Supreme
Court decision also recommend
ed abolition of segregation in all
churches, church courts and col
leges of the denomination.
At Akron the United PreSby-
terianS called on all members to
observe the spirit of the courts
decision.
Baptist Conventions Act.
Similar actions indorsing the
Supreme Court segregation rul-
ing were taken in Minneapolis by
the American Baptist convention
and in st. Louis, Mo-, by the
Southern Baptist convention.
American BaptiSts were urged
to increase their opposition to
other areas of segregation -
housing. employment, recreation,
church participation.
When a vote. was called on
the segregation ruling at the
Southern Baptist convention, less
than 100 Of about 10000 regis
tered messengers (delegates) dis
approved Of the Supreme Courts
decision.
The adopted resolution called
on Christian statesmen and lead
ers to spearhead public thought
so that the decision would not
be made the occasion for new
and bitter prejudices. Instead,
the Southern Baptists said, 1t
should result in q movement to-
ward a united Nation embodying
and proclaiming a democracy
that will commend freedom to all
peoples.
In another action. the Presby-