Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

NAE CONVENTIONABORTION, CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION,VIET NAM WITHDRAWAL RECENT N.A.E.RESOLUTIONSLOS ANGELES, Calif.—The three-million memberNational Association of Evangelicals declared abortion tobe "morally wrong" except to safeguard the mother'shealth or in the cases of pregnancies resulting from rapeor incest, during its annual convention here April 20-22.The resolution represented one of the first collectivestatements by a conservative Protestant body on abortionin recent years. The only major Protestant churchesspeaking out on the issue have been liberally leddenominations that have favored liberalization or repealof abortion restrictions. The Roman Catholic Church hasremained opposed to abortion for any reason.In other resolutions, the convention condemnedhomosexuality, endorsed President Richard M. Nixon'stroop withdrawal program from Viet Nam, and offeredcooperation with responsible environmental solutions.In a resolution on the purpose and funding ofevangelical Christian higher education, the NAE votingbody affirmed full support of evangelical Christiancolleges and called for a Congress on Christian HigherEducation for the purpose of reinforcing the strategic roleof the evangelical Christian college in the mission of thechurch, guaranteeing its existence, and ensuring its integrity.A resolution on the Frankfurt Declaration byleading German churchmen applauded their efforts andintentions, while carefujly recognizing differences withregard to sacraments and baptism. The resolution calledfor increasingly closer fellowship.A resolution on evangelism and Key 73 urgedevangelicals to rally in the spirit of Key 73 and to pray forevery effort to reach men for Christ.On an important and far-reaching statement onparental responsibility in education, the NAE delegatesreminded "all Christian parents, legislators and educatorsthat God has given rights and responsibilities foreducation to parents. We thus assert our conviction thatlegislative safeguards for responsible pluralism ineducation must be provided. We also believe in the rightof Christian parents to establish Christian schools thateducate their children with a philosophy and pedagogyconsistent with their Christian faith." The resolution saidthe NAE will give all possible counsel and support to thosewho work to keep the focus of education in the hands ofthe parents.The group of resolutions represent some of the mostfar-reaching and significant moves of the NationalAssociation of Evangelicals in asserting its position onsocial and political matters.VIETNAMESE YOUTH LEADERS VISIT U.S. FORN.A.E. CONVENTIONLOS ANGELES, Calif.—Two top leaders of a VietNam youth social service and relief organizationheadquartered in Danang spoke to over 500 delegates ofthe National Association of Evangelicals' 29th annualconvention at a World Relief Commission luncheon heldtoday at the International Hotel.Mr. Ho Van Mat, director and president of theChristian Youth Social Service, brought greetings fromthe Christians of Viet Nam to those of the United States.He thanked the guests for helping to bring the gospel ofJesus Christ to Viet Nam through "the lives and sacrifices"of dedicated missionaries."We recognized," he said, "the love of these peopleto God and have tasted of their love for men."Mr. Nguyen Van Do, secretary-general of CYSS,reported rapid growth in the organization which beganwith seven young men in 1964 who contributed personalfunds of $5 a month, to 200 members and 400 helpers in1971 with a monthly income of $2,000. CYSS, the Vietnamesecounterpart of the World Relief Commission, nowalso administrates two high schools, an elementary school,a day-care center, two vocational schools, two ice-makingplants, a bakery and eight swine-raising operations of 700hogs. Two additional vocational schools for orphans wereturned over to CYSS by the government of Viet Nam.Plans for this year include the construction of a two-storyoffice building and chapel at Hoa Khanh and a high schoolin the delta area.Young people in the Christian Youth Social Servicedonate their summers and vacations to working at oddjobs, with the profits put into the organization's projects.Many of the youth give a week or two of their time on arotating basis for food distribution to refugees or fornecessary construction work.Sharing the platform at the luncheon was Dr.Everett S. Graffam, executive vice president of NAE'sWorld Relief Commission. He thanked the 2,000 churcheswhich contributed to WRC during the year and reportedthat the Commission was one of the first organizations toprovide relief in the Peruvian earthquake and thehurricane and tidal wave disaster in East Pakistan.Graffam said that the World Relief program in 1970touched the lives of 15,000 children in the Hoa KhanhChildren's Hospital in Viet Nam; 10,000 people a day wereinvolved in food-for-work community developmentprojects; 19,000 school children were given bread daily intheir school programs; 1,000 orphans, widows and warvictims were in \ocational rehabilitation programs daily;and se\eral hundred thousand war victims and refugeeswere given relief food.MAY i9, i97i 9