Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-04-27

ar SrSsioNA ot Fht VuhtI'llilihl
al Protestant body in America
Immediately Following the ser.
rSial issue that will be- discussed
by the 766 delegates, representing
~ conferences IN the United
states and "a conferences over
seas, viii be tho matter of segre-
CATION
In 1879 when the Methodist
Episcopal Church, the Methodist
Epiacopai Church. South and the
Protestant Methodist Church.
were united to form The Meiho-
dat Church, the new church IL.
vidcd into 1vo geographical Iurts-
dlctiona and one racial the Cen
trail Juriadiction,
According TO Or i.ud Estes ~
Memphis, Tenn, secretary OF tho
General Conference, more than a
hundred memorials treHolutlonH or
pctitionsl have been filed asking
for the abolishinR or continuing
of the Central Iurisdietion, which
has the ~ Negro annual confer
ences of the denomination. spread
ing practically over the entire ma
ton. or study of the Iurisdic-
iional Hetup.
However, all ~ tho Negro
churches and pastors arc not In
the Central Jurisdiction, as there
are Negro churches In the North
western, North Central and West
ern Jurisdictions, There are no
Negro churches IN the Southeast
ern and South Central Iuriadic.
ton, which are predominantly
southern Jurisdictions,
Practically all Of the Negro
iraderu. many NOS Asskssn white
leaders and al least Q few liberal
southern whites are agreed that
tho Central Jurisdiction In legal
segregation" In the denomination
and that u should be abolished.
Some ~ the leaders, and they viii
not all be nouiherners will advo-
cate privately. " not publicly, that
the controversial issue should not
be pushed too vigorously and That
n gradual approach" should be-
made IN the matter Tho most out
spoken advocates of indignation
are Insisting that the dcnomlna.
ton must begin In this Hesslon OF
tho General Conference (which In
the law making body 81 the de.
nomination. Ia abolish HegreKa-
ton IN the church by voting Ia n
balish the Central Juriadiction.
n viii take n two thirds vote of
the delegates who vote ON the
question Ia send u 10 the annual
conferences In referendum ana
two thirds 1f the annual confer
encrs In the United States must
vote favorably N the Central
Jurisdiction In Ia be abolished.
Bishop Richard g. Rainea. for
n years pastor 81 the Iicnnopin
Avenue Methodist Church, Min
neapolis before his election 10 the
cplsoopacy In ipis and head Of
the Indiana Area. told the moro
than one hundred members ~ the
press NJ a dinner meeting In the
Ieaming,nn Hotel on Tuesday
night. that he IN for Indignation
In the church
, Ernest wilkins. ~ n, asais-
tnnt Secretary Of Labor and the
secretary ~ tho Judicial Council
~ The Methodist Church tths
Supreme Court" ~ the d,nOmina-
tom was one 81 the speakers nj
Tuesday nights meeting for tho
press One ~ the nine members 81
the judicial Council. must be, by
tho action 81 the igts General
Conference n Negro. Mr. wilkins
must retire n, this session ~ the
General Conference because ~ the
eight year law for members Of the
Judicial Council.
Another member Of the Central
Will be- elected 10
succeed the brilliant former Chi
cngo attorney from nominations
made by the bishops Of the Gen.
trail Jurisdiction NJ this session OF
tho General Conference.
seven ~ tho 70 biahops OF the
Council OF Bishops
are the four active and three re-
tired general superintendent Of
the Central Jurisdiction. All OF
the Negro Bishops and their
wives, with one possible exception
are attending the general Confer
ence.
The active bishops are willis J.
King. head Of the Liberia tAfrica,
Area and since 1903 administering
the work Of the Louisiana. Missis-
aippi ana Upper mississippi con-
ferences Of the New Orleans Area
since the death Of Bishop Robert
N. Brooks; Edgar A. Love Of the