Evening star., 1960-10-26
Church Group
Gives Post 10
Mrs. Hastings
BY CASPAR NAMES
Star Stan Writer

LOUISVILLE, KY, Oct. 26.-
Mrs. j. Warren Hastings of
Washington, D. c.. today was
elected a vice president Of the
international Convention Of
Christian Churches Disciples
Of Christi. t
Mrs. Hastings is the widow
Of DR.. ]. Warren Hastings, who
was minister Of National City
Christian Church until his
death last April.
DR.. Perry E. Gresham. presi-
dent of Bethany (W. Va Col
lege, was elected president Of
the 2-million-member denomi-
nation.
Other vice presidents elected
were DR.. Robert G: Storey Of
Dallas, Tex, and o. w. Nc
Gully Of Toronto, Canada.
Native Of Lynchburg
Mrs. Hastings, q native Of
Lynchburg. Va. is q graduate
of Lynchburg College and has
a master Of arts degree from
Yale University. She is cur
rently a member of the general
board of the National Council
of Churches and a director Of
the National Capital Area
Council Of Churches.
Mrs. Hastings has been pres
ident Of the United Church
Women Of Washington and i
at present a director Of the
Washington City Bible Society
Meanwhile, the assembly. up.
holding the autonomy Of 10.
cal congregations. has voted
down q motion on race rela.
tions at National City Christian
Church in washington.
The statement. appended Il
the National City Christian
Church Corp. annual report
recommended that "the loca
congregation be encouraged tC
move In the direction Of In.
tegration for the inclusion Of al
races In its membership"
The corporation owns the
more than S. million in build.
ings and property at Thomas
circle where the congregation
worships. -, ss
Charges that National City
Christian Church discrimi-
mates against Negroes brought
forth the argument that sincl
the buildings and property be-
long to the corporation. "thii
church does not adequately rep
resent" the denomination in tho
Nations Capital.
Mrs. Hastings Comments
But Mrs. Hastings said:
Rarely a Sunday goes b.
without some Negroes worship
ing at the church. There ha
certainly been no policy writtel
down that they cannot be ad
mitted to membership"
The Rev. Thomas E. Waters
associate minister of the church
told the gathering, II think tn
majority Of people do no
realize how far along Nations
City. Church has come in thi
respect. On Wednesda
night we have a church nigh
dinner program and it is nc
at all uncommon for people O
different races to be presen'
There is no Discrimination
whatever here"
Within the last six week
the minister of the Twelft
Street Christian Church re
tired" Mr.. Waters continued
Permission was asked by ther
to use our facilities in his homo
The members of that churc
held a reception and a Dime
for him in Scott Hall of ou
church"
Redundant" Motion
The Rev. James Clayto
Pippin, minister of First Chris
tian Church in Falls Churcl
Va, contended the conventio
would be setting a "preceder
Of telling a church what to d
I also believe this motion
redundant, since. we have a
ready passed a motion that q
churches be asked to have int
grafton"
Two Virginia laymen, D
Orville w. Wake Of Lynchbul
and David N. Sutton Of We
Point, were elected yesterds
to represent the Disciples I
Christ on the general boar
Of the National Council (
Churches.