~Wtt&1 - - Hoover Library

New Look for Religious Organizationsby Robert E, Whitfield, '67Western Maryland College students, likeconcerned churchmen throughout thecountry, hnve become increasingly awareof the change which taking place in religiousisstructures, and the challenge it pre-sents to those involved in them. In responseto these changing demands and emphases,those involved on campus felt that the timefor definite action had come. They realizedthat the existing structures were not adequateto accomplish the tasks at hand. TheStudent Christian Association had becomequite small in tenus of those actually involved,and its voice considerably reducedin influence. The Religious Life Councilsuffered from lack of a sense of purpose,and seemed only a paper organization.Therefore, in a move designed to makeWMC more adequately reflect the eccumenicalthrust of our age, and to servemore relevantly in it, the SCA has Yieldedits responsibilities to the more broadly basedReligious Life Council.This change was initiated by the feelingthat the presence of two interdenominationalan unnecessary division structures was ofresources and concern. It represents a shiftfrom the dominance of a primarily ProtestantChristian organization to one in whichall religious interests are entitled to equalrepresentation and in which all have beenactive participants, Jewish students wereautomatically excluded from the SCA, andCatholic students did not feel at home init. Both, however, have shown real interestand concern for the work of the RLC, andofficers of the RLC have come from bothgr~~:. Religious Life Council was formedhy the President of the College during thelate 1950's. Until recently, its activity waslimited to such projects Religious EmphasisasWeek. The SCA cabinet includedrepresentatives from denominational groups,and it served as the co-ordinating body forthem. Two years ago, the co-ordinatingfunction was given to the RLC, and along~~; ~~'in~~ ~~~~~n:~o~h~ ~:d~~;~~~i~~tian Association then became the planningand presentation of hi-weekly programs forthe campus, and the direction of some studentservice projects. The existence of afixed membership in the SCA was terminatedin the past year, and this factormade the Beal transition to the ReligiousLife Council easier.The RLC, according to a statementadopted following the "merger," conceivesits purpose to involve the following aspects:I. Providing an ecumenical dialogue withinthe college community; 2. Presenting programswhich meet the needs of the college;3. Taking interest in the affairs of the collegeand the world, including statcments onvital issues, and service to our fellow humanbeings, and 4. Co-ordinating activitiesof campus religious groups. This purposewill be carried out primarily by the workof six committees.A program committee, headed by thevice-chairman of the RLC, has assumed themajor portion of the work of the SCA. Itis responsible for presenting bi-weeklyprograms for the campus as whole. Itais not the intention of the RLC to find alowest common denominator of religioushelief to reflect in its programs. It is, rather,representative of. differentto present programspoints of view, so that ecumemcallybased dialogue may take place betweenthem, as is proper an academic community.inA service committee is re,spomible foradministering all tutoring projects in whi.chstudents are involved. It also deals Withother aspects of involvement in the Iife,o_fthe world, particularly in the area of CIVilrig~ts~mmittee on the Arts is responsiblefor presentations relating religion and contemporaryculture. This will involve, for example,a return visit by Ed Summerlin duringthe 1966-67 year for the direction of aservice in liturgical jazz.Another committee is concerned with theplanning and direction of an exchange ofstudents and faculty with a Negro collegein the south for a period of a week-to tendays. It is hoped that such an "experimentin human understanding" may take placeduring the second semester of this year,and become an annual event. Preliminarycontacts are being made, and further reportswill hopefully be given in future issuesof THE MAGAZINE.Remaining committees are responsible fororganizational details. Formal membershipof the RLC consists of officers and committoochairmen, two representatives of eachcampus religious group, and faculty sixmembers chosen by the President of th"college.Such an organization as the RLC cannever be static, but must constantly changein response to new conditions whichdemonstrate the activity of Cod in ourworld. Hopefully, this most recent changewill channel its labors more directly intothe mainstream of the revolution of our age,and in doing so, better follow where Godis leading.ROBERT E. WHITFIELD is chairmflllof the Religiolls Life Council and11member of ODK. He is a 11re-mill-Merial studellt at the college.PrayerLord, we know you love the worldthat you created and redeemed,We who stand in the world offer ourselvesand our society for your blessingand healing.Tench us your ways in the world andin this life which we share together.Don't let us restrict you to a narrowghetto labeled religion, but lead us toworship you in the Fulness of life asthe lord of politics, economics andthe arts.Show us how to express our Jove foryou in very specific, human serviceto other men.Lord, change our hearts from heartsof stone to hearts of Hesh, and let usgive thanks to you for all of life.MALCOLM BoYDpagefifteen