Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-03


porary committees setting up
major faiths participate as part
operating on a long-term basis.
1t is the latter that furnishes
the sinewS of the cooperative
effort of religious bodies theo-
logically incompatible. These
groups, through a desire to
achieve goals recognized as de-
sirable by all but impossible of
attainment through individual
efforts. have banded together for
more effective action.
Probably the best known of
the cooperative agencies is the
Washington Federation of
Churches. This organization was
set up on March Is. 1920. when
representatives from so congre-
cations gathered in Mount YER
non Place Methodist Church to
form the federation. DR.. Charles
Wood. minister Of Covenant
First (now NationaD Presby-
terrain Church. was the first
president and DR.. Lucius C.
Clark, pastor of Hamline Meth
lodist Church. the first executive
secretary. He later resigned to
become chancellor of American
University.
Boasts 240 Churches
Today the federation has 240
churches and five agencies rep
.resenting % protestant denomi-
nations. Every denomination has
at least one member on the board
of directors. The interdenomina-
tional aspect can be pointed up
by noting the church Affiliations
Of succeeding executive secreta-
ries-Dr. w. L. Darby. Presby-
terrain: DR.. William r. Barnhart,
Evangelical and Reformed: DR..
Worth M. Tippy. Methodist. and
DR.. Frederick E. Reissig. the pres
ent incumbent. Lutheran.
Its activities are many and
varied. Among them are the in
stitutional ministry. Christian
education, social welfare. radio
and television programs. United
Church Women. service commits
sion of the church working with
military and government person
mel. youth and young adult ac-
tivitieS. commission dealing with
social issues of the community
and the comfy commission for
research and church planning.
For example. the federation
sponsors more than so radio and
television programs each week.
In the educational field it trains
$500 teachers and church work.
ers each year for their jobs with
in local congregations. Its reli-
gious ministry provides chaplains
for hospitals. prisons. training
schools, and homes for the aged.
Today the federation is pioneer
ing by training volunteers to go
into training schools and conduct
church school classes there on
an equivalent basis to those in
our churches.
"One of the federation's re-
sponsibilities is to help unite all
the Christian forces within the
city and suburbs to face the
greatest needs of the area to-
Igether," DR.. Reissig explained.
The local church is interested
in itself and the denominations
in its churches. Together we are
interested in the total commun-
ity picture"
Affiiliati0n Contemplated
DR.. .Reissig emphasized the
federation does not presume to
speak for all Protestants on all
occasions or on any one occasion.
The federation does not arrogate
to itself a position 1t does not
hold. But we feel that we are
working for those groups in our
federation and helping those
who do not belong by represent
ing the Protestant point OF
view"
The federation's growing i'm
Iportance is reflected by the
serious consideration nearby
Virginia councils are now taking
regarding possible afiiliation with
the Washington body. II that
step does take place. the fedora
ton will change its name to the
Metropolitan Council OF
Churches. Under those circum-
stances 1t would not be surpris-
ing to find nearby Maryland
councils contemplating a similar
move.
Interfaith cooperation is ex-
emplified in the local Office OF
the National Conference Of
Christians and Jews. Its CO.
chairmen this year are former
Secretary Of the Interior Oscar
Chapman, Protestant; w. T
Vandoren, Catholic. and Aaron
Goldman. Jewish.
The conferences major objec-
tive is to promote better under
standing among the different
faiths. Its best-known medium
is the annual Brotherhood Week
held additionally the week In
which George Washington's
birthday falls. This year CO.
chairmen for the churches anc
synagognes arc DR. Albert p