The Detroit tribune., 1955-06-04
People at Work"
RELIGION IN INDUSTRY
BY Ed TOWNSEND

&c. S. Moniior
Five years ago the r. Reynolds Company in Winston
Salem NJ C.. undertook unique experiment: II built
cahedrasasse Gothic chapel In main office building
and put minister its payroll pastoral counselor for
the eompanys $4,000 employees. The object was 10 help
workers solve Of the despset personal problems
inner tensions that outside jurisdiction OF the
Renoids personnel department.
Nobody knew in advance how the experiment would
work out There were recognized hazards we'll possible
advantages in the religion in industry" idea.
Recently the Rev. Clifford n. Peace. Methodist minister
who became the Reynolds parson In 1850 told national
management organization that the hazards maerared
and the benefits FAR exceeded snyones expectations.
During the hveyear period he said. Reynolds records
showed that Cd the family life OF the eompanys employees
has become stable and happier ~ the workers morale
has increased ~ the rate OF employee dopped
and ~ industrial accidents have dropped There qves.
ton he said that the chapel pastoral counselor are
major factors in these changes for the better.
The minister puts in regular hvsday 4o.hovr week.
usf like the shift workers in the Reynolds plant During the
work day he always available for conferences Workers 90
TO him voluntarily company time they not doeked
that Is. they lose pay while away their obs-snd
no record kept OF who visits the pastoral counselor why
A. first there hssanee about approaching the
psasanfaeed medlvnbv former Army chaplain
as we>ss about talking 10 him eonhdentay about personal
problems Although he accepted minister his status
as company counselor made many reeen about troubles
that might have bearing on their Jobs
All that Is past During the past five years according to
the Rev. Mr. Peace 56l workers have met individually with
him in $3.50 sessions Their problems have varied from the
minor tensions and emotional problems one serious in.
stance Of wife smotionay distravsht. who seemed de-
termined TO kill her husband
In addition TO the individual conferences the counselor
meets weekly with Is separate groups Of workers-nore
than 1000 and from executive staff people down
TO owestrsed wokmen-for prayer and meditation in the
chapel
This is place where through therapeutic listening our
people communicate and drain of sueh tensions as
anxiety anger srief and guilt the counselor said ~ the
place where they always find way OF laying hold
power by which they can live adequately and
creativey"
The Rev. Mr. Peace and Reynolds stress that the help
the individual employee finds the program is reflected in
his relations with his employer.
"An employee becomes problem for manage.
until he first has become problem for hmssf the
problem employee is who has emotional problem
which he neither solve escape the counselor told
the management group An employee does breed tension
smong fellow workers until he has first failed solve his
inner tension; he does problems for manage
TO solve until after he has failed solve his own
problsms.'
Charles 3. Wade. Jr. RsYrold. personnel manager.
echoes that
While the Reynolds uss ot religion in industry is one
Of the best known today. 10 Gar from only company
with chapel and pastoral counselor industrial CHAPLAIN
dwesern manufactures several years ago placed the
idea Of plant grounds chapel before employees Offering
10 build the plant workers volunteered 10 build the
chapel in of time given the building supplies and today
every work day begins with short religious meeting.
The program has spread rapidly in years that
few weeks ago cos community relations department in
Washington began quiet study Of the religion in industry"
idea The department noted that is "a subject Of great inn
portanee" 10 Unions
Some employers in ell sincerity have made available
space for chapel meditation and have made no
wh hAva lad in
devotional services" clo unions were informed
Other employers have misvssd religion in industry
programs and there real danger that an unssrupuous
employer could this Of diseoursqinu his en-
poysss from joining continuing their membership in labor
unions"
Interestingly the clo itself made limited use o. the
industrial chaplain ldss when conducting s Opera
(Continued Next Column TOPl