Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Mefhodisfs
Laud Kennedy
0nChurch Aid
BY CASPAR NAMES
star staff Writer

STAR 6t4l1 Mk1tGT
NORFOLK, Va, June Is. -
Virginia Methodists praised
President Kennedy today for
his firm stand on separation Of
church and state.
He deserves the support Of
every Protestant churchman In
America" the Virginia Method
list Conferences Board Of So
cial Concerns declared In its
annual report. There has been
tremendous pressure placed
upon him by his own church to
break down this well-estab-
ished American principle"
The statement then called
upon Methodists to work con-
tinually toward maintaining
this principle, but at the same
time warned them against
bending the line for their own
profit.
Each of us, at some time,
may experience an easy way to
finance our various church
projects through use Of State
or Federal funds. Let us not
sacrifice the principle for easy
money"
Sharp Debates Seen
The boards report, submit
ted today to the 1900 minis
terial and lay delegates repre-
senting $4,000 Virginia Meth
odists at the annual meeting
here, contained several recon-
mendations expected to stir I'D
a sharp debate.
One demand is that repre-
sentation on community, State
and national levels provide all
citizens with an equal voice
in Government. Virginia is
currently in the throes Of a
reapportionment battle per-
tanning to its State Legislature.
I'VE call for the constant
revaluation Of our political
structures -, at community,
State and national levels-to
keep government of the people,
by the people and for the peo-
pie. We hold that all citizens
OF the Commonwealth should
be afforded equal voice in gov
eminent"
Another points out that the
public schools in Prince Ed
ward County are still closed
as q means Of avoiding inte-
grafton in the clasSrooms, and
adds:
your board is hopeful that
the people throughout the State
are coming to a realization that
the opening Of these schools is
in the interest Of all people
concerned. YCss:- hoard Is ready
to cooperate in any manner to
help find q solution to this
problem"
Extremism DepIOred
The growth Of extremist
groups on both the right and
the left was criticized in still
another statement, which urg-
ed Methodists mot to become
involved in either extreme"
Members Of Methodist
churches also were warned by
i the board that their successful
fight against "whisky-by-the-
drink" legislation last year in
Virginia must not blind them to
other evils.
"One gets the impression
that a solution to the alcohol
problem would solve the other
problems. A Christian must be
known for social concern
rather than alcohol concern"
The Board Of Hospitals and
Homes announced today that 1t
is recommending the establish
ment of q new school Of nurs-
ing "aS a joint operation Of
our new Virginia Wesleyan COL
lege and some qualified hospi.
tai in the Norfolk area. To-
gether they would offer girls
a four or five-year program as
found necessary to enable them
to get a diploma in nursing
and a college degree at the
same time"
The projected Virginia Wes-
leyan College. sponsored by the
Virginia Methodist Conference.
Is scheduled to open In Sep
TENDER. 1864, with a freshman
class Of 300. A four-year liberal
arts college, it will be on the
boundary Of Norfolk and Prin-
cess Anne County.
Methodist Bishop Paul Neff
CARRIER Of Richmond is presid-
ing over the conference. which
opened Monday and closes to-
morrow, when ministerial APP
pointments for the coming year
will be announced.