Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

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DenominationsMembership in churches and synagogues of the U.S.totalled 128,469,636 — up slightly in the downward trendfrom peak church attendance in 1958Blame for the decline among churches seeking to be"relevant" was laid to many reasons. Officials of theLutheran Church in America said a "materialistic ethos"is the greatest cultural factor causing a decline in itsmembership growth. Blamed also were religious indifference,affluence, urbanization, and populationmobility. The American Lutheran Church said mergers ofcongregations and dissolution of local churches in ruralareas with declining populations accounted for mostlosses in that denomination.The United Church of Canada reported losses inmembership, total number of persons under pastoral careand income. The denominational paper, United ChurchObserver, reported that the church's (Sabbath) schoolswere "dying" and that, at the present rate of decline, fewwould be able to stay open more than five years. Attendance,the Observer said, has plummetted to its lowestpoint in the history of the church.The United Presbyterian Church opened its 182ndGeneral Assembly with reports of declines in totalmembership and in number of churches. And for the firsttime in a century, a drop in the ranks of Roman Catholics,amid a general rise in population figures, was discovered.Merger talk remained strong in 1970. Committeeswere formed by members of The Wesleyan Church andthe Free Methodist Church to discuss a merger."Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)" is the tentative name fora proposed merger of the nation's two largestPresbyterian denominations — the United PresbyterianChurch in the U.S.A. and the Presbyterian Church in theU.S. (Southern). Disciples announced plans to develop acommon 200-acre campus with Roman Catholics for jointfacilities to accommodate their theological facilities.Overseas, a major step in the ecumenical movementwas made with the announcement of merger by the WorldAlliance of Reformed Churches and the InternationalCongregational Council. The new organization will resultin the 59 million-member World Alliance of ReformedChurches.The Inter-faith Committee for Religious Careersopened a drive to solicit recruits for ministerial positionsbut poor pay, uncertainty about their roles in a changingsociety, conflicts with church authorities, and lack ofencouragement from people in the pew were driving moreand more pastors from the pulpit. The salary of ministersin 20 major Protestant churches was still far below thatoffered by most other professions.Unless a wave of evangelical renewal sweeps overProtestant Christianity, present-day churches maybecome spiritual ghost towns, Dr. Carl F.H. Henry told theAmerican Baptist Convention in Cincinnati. "It is nocredit to churches to keep up venerable traditions thatnow accommodate the indifference of multitudes to theGospel when there are more vital ways of enlistingthem," he said.EducationThe two dominant issues on the educational scene,from a religious viewpoint, were prayers in public schoolsand federal aid to parochial education.While a former president of the Baptist WorldAlliance called the seven-year debate in Congress overlegislation to permit prayer in public schools a "waste oftime," a Massachusetts woman was sentenced to jail for60 days for crusading to put prayer back into Brocktonschools. In Netcong, New Jersey, voluntary presessionprayers were even outlawed despite the approvalof the local school board.Delegates to the 22nd national Conference on Churchand State were advised in Detroit that the U.S. SupremeCourt never said that a student may not pray, but only thatthe school may not make the student pray. In Leyden,Massachusetts, a court ruled that public school childrenmay continue reciting classroom prayers if their teachersdo not take part.Despite the Administration's lean toward widening offederal aid to parochial schools, the "parochiaid" drivelost its steam in 1970.For the first time in its century-long history, theUniversity of California at Berkeley introduced religion asan academic discipline. The move illustrated thatalthough prayers in public schools are few, there is moretalk than ever about religion.Other highlights in education during 1970: All-whitecongregations in Mississippi opened their own schoolsrather than integrate. A North Carolina father went to jailfor five days rather than allow his daughter to be busedout of his neighborhood to achieve integration in anotherschool. Christian higher education was involved generallyin a fight for survival.PressThe religious press in 1970 was in trouble. A survey of10 major denominational periodicals indicated that all butone of the magazines suffered circulation losses. Churchmemberships were down, circulation had dropped, advertisingwas scarce, printing costs were sky-rocketingand postal rates increasing. Meanwhile, those raunchy,dirty, misspelled little underground sheets wereflourishing!Continued next weekJANUARY 20, 1971 7
OPPOSE PLAN OF UNIONOpposition to the Plan of Union formerging nine protestant denominationsinto one 25-million member "Churchof Christ Uniting" has been registeredby the Presbytarian Lay Committee,a group of United Presbyterian laymen."The Lay Committee is opposedto the COCU Plan of Union," statedRoger Hull, Chairman of the Committee'sBoard of Directors, "becauseit would abolish the United PresbyterianChurch and all of its individualmember churches as such and as aresult, the local congregation wouldlose the right to vote on matters whichare traditionally >and historically theresponsibility of the congregation underour presbyterian form of government— such as the selection of itsminister, its place of meeting, itsbudget, its property, its programs, theelection of its elders, trustees, andother church officers.""In opposing this Plan" continuedMr. Hull "the Lay Committee has takena positive stand in favor of preservingPresbyterianism. We are committedto being Presbyterian. If there aremembers who wish to leave the PresbyterianChurch for this new Church,we extend them our good will, ourrespect and our best wishes. We, whoare Presbyterian, intend to remainPresbyterian."This action of the Lay Committeewas taken by the Board of Directorswho approved unanimously a Resolutionopposing the Plan of Union whichhad been drafted by Consultation onChurch Union (COCU) and presentedto each of the nine denominations forstudy and later action. The Board consideredthe following provisions of thePlan to be unacceptable:— provisions which deprive membersof a congregation of their presentright to select a minister for thatcongregation and which substitutetherefor the nomination of ministersby bishops and district and parishcommittees and their election by theparish — not by the congregation.— provisions which deprive membersof a congregation of their presentright to elect their own officers andwhich eliminate the offices of eldersand trustees of individual congregations.— provisions which deprive membersof a congregation of their presentright to determine the general programsof their congregation and theuse to which funds contributed by themOpen Letter from President of Synod's Board of TrusteesDear Editor:From information available in the statistical reports of the 1970 MINUTES OFSYNOD for the year ended December 31,1969, three columns were used to develop permember contributions to Synod's Budget as shown in the accompanying tabulation:congregations, communicant members (domestic) and reported contributions toSynod's Budget. The average per member contribution to Synod's Budget in 1969 was$32.69 but it would have taken $53.58 per member to raise Synod's Budget for 1970.Itwill be approximately the same for 1971.It is very difficult to draw conclusions from this tabulation concerning where aparticular congregation is on the list. For the 72 listed congregations there probablywould be 72 different sets of circumstances, reasons, and motivations as to whyitiswhere it is. However, the most important question for all to ask is "Are we givingallwe can to support the work of the denomination? "While this information is too late to be useful for 1970, it is in time to take actionfor 1971 if we are going to be successful in raising the funds which are so badly neededfor the work of the church.Sincerely,John M. Mitchell1.2.3.k.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.ll+.15.16.IT.18.19.20.21.22.23.2k.25.26.27-28.29-30.31.32.33.3k.35.36.CONGREGATIONS ' CONTRIBUTIONS TO SYNOD'S BUDGETRanked by Per Member ContributionFor the Year Ended Dec ember 31, 1969Contribut ions toCommunicantSynod's BudgetCongregationMembers*Total* Per MemberBethelBroomallNew YorkGenevaSouthfieldKansas CityBelle CenterRose PointWaltonLos AngelesCollege HillGreeleyTopekaSan DiegoOakdaleSterlingSanta AnaOrlandoWinchesterNewburghWilkinsburgBloomingtonFirst Beaver FallsWhite LakeOld BethelCambridgeFour MileMarionMorning SunSharonAlleghenyPhoenixPark CityMinneolaNew AlexandriaNorth Hills20696k15751733767861231121021333772985896IOU^05998169182k5026kk29150753619kk7910*+$ 3,673.kk11,300.855,500.0012,118.713,660.005,0^0.002,300.003,705.00k,k29-195,682.855,ll+2.U2i+,683.235,985.001,589.693,052.00l+,0l+5.002,327.003,730.19k, 000.001,517-992,196.653,525.006,000.00600.00800.001,6i+8.25825.001,327.60850.00k, 292.732,056.1+2985.25513.251,112.501,935.^82,535.00$183.6?163.7885.9^77.1871.7669. oi*62.1655.3051.511+6.20•+5.911(5.911+5.001+2.961+2.391+1.281+0.1238.8638.W37.9537.2335.9?35.5033.3333.3332.9?31.7330.1729.3128.6227.1(227-3727.0125-282U.502U.388 COVENANTER WITNESS
Page 1 and 2: OLUME LXXXVI NO. 1 JANUARY 6, 1971
Page 3 and 4: THE COVENANTER WITNESSOfficial orgr
Page 5 and 6: Glimpses of the Religious WorldRev.
Page 7 and 8: REV. J. PAUL WILSON WRITES:Nicosia,
Page 9 and 10: sinners may require clarification i
Page 11 and 12: SomeThis and That inAs the New Year
Page 13 and 14: THECOVENANTEROfficial organ of theP
Page 17 and 18: Students ElectedTo "Who's Who..."Tw
Page 19 and 20: George Gillespie's View ofThe Media
Page 21 and 22: The Children'sPrayer Brings A Lost
Page 23 and 24: a father, will he give him a stone?
Page 25 and 26: NOTICE OF CALLOn November 22, 1970,
Page 27 and 28: STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENTTHE WHITE
Page 29 and 30: THE COVENANTER WITNESSOfficial orga
Page 33: 1970 — Many voices, many bannersR
Page 37 and 38: The Children'sCorner^ffTRUDY'S SECR
Page 39 and 40: Catechism it is said, "Justificatio
Page 41 and 42: our services. Dr. Felker has been a
Page 43 and 44: Home for the Aged in Hot Springs."
Page 49 and 50: an aid to missions. In country afte
Page 51 and 52: How Safe Are You:Rev. D. Howard Ell
Page 53 and 54: The Children's CornerFounded on fac
Page 55 and 56: great sinners and so they repented
Page 57 and 58: NOTICE OF CALLOn the evening of Jan
Page 59 and 60: IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING!Paul Speiche
Page 63 and 64: Glimpses of the Religious WorldTHE
Page 65 and 66: Mrs. Kenneth Sanderson:American Aca
Page 67 and 68: Sabbath evening message at the Carl
Page 69 and 70: The Children's CFounded on factGOPA
Page 71 and 72: Real treasures, therefore, are notm
Page 73 and 74: NOTICEPacific Coast Presbytery is c
Page 75 and 76: Some This and That in W. M. S."ON D
Page 81 and 82: Sabbath evening message at the Carl
Page 83 and 84: For Christ's Crown and CovenantLex
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The Children'sA life sketch of Dr.
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of that tribe were called Levites.
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IN HOSPITALMiss Mildred Blair of th
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CLARKES TO HOSTGENEVA TRUSTEES,FACU
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THE COVENANTER WITNESSOfficial orga
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Glimpses of the Religious WorldRev.
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compressed mud. Visualize if you wi
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Why7777 77 777????????????? 1111111
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, *< is.!')"V -J >-T „,The Childr
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the fellow-servant probably could h
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CHANGE OF ADDRESSSynod's Board of T
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$ tie de Vivrefryof'givingi/eneva C
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part of the stem of the original Ch
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Address at Carleton Conference by o
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fr-~''-
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upon it,it withered. The wise virgi
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Department—Raymond Hemphill; Adul
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floiedeVimfry of tiringVr/eneva Col
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DialogueMrs. Ronald Stegall, Nicosi
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WASHINGTON, D.C.Fe bruary 2-4, 1971
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The Children's CornerDr. John Peopl
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Used his Talents Aright.The owner o
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CHANGE OF ADDRESSKnight, Isabelle M
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W Mil that will Surprise You! QjfMo
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YOUR COLLEGE IS ALIVE AND LIVINGIN
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An address given at a District Farm
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The Children's CornerDR. PEOPLES AT
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winepress in it, and built a tower,
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study group is being held every oth
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BILLY GRAHAMTO ADDRESS N.A.E.29TH A
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the presuppositional structure of t
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The Ethics of EvangelismIn a world
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The Children's CornerMDR. PEOPLES A
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favorable results are observed. The
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PRE-SYNODIC CONFERENCEFor Reformed
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pic de VimgoyofCMutir/eneva College
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COVENANTER WITNESS READER SURVEYI.
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The Ethics of EvangelismRev. Donald
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Finally, nothing can be accomplishe
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1963 meeting, to 'urge the Congress
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Lesson Helps for the Week of April
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of work, especially the worshipat K
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centers of work, especially the wor
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thought the Buddhists gave it the a
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OLIJME LXXXVI NO. 13 MARCH 31, 1971
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You Ask MeWhy?You ask me why I send
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One of the Principles of the Reform
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Urbana '70 CommunionRev. RobertAlmo
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CHRIST'SGARDENALCOHOL. THE IGNORED'
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Sabbath SchoolLessonLesson Helps fo
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service, money. Also what is disple
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A soup supper was held in thechurch
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jD^e^ttei n*S&MFOR..N ^ t e elA.VOL
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For the Board of EvangelismHowTo Un
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Hews From Our Mission Field*0ADear
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Rev. T. M. Hutcheson Writes:America
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2. Phraseology. Hebrews 12:27 susta
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Lesson Helps for the Week of May 2!
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will shine." Christians are often j
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church extension work. He suggests
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VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 15 APRIL 14, 1971
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The Christian life is often charact
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When Sorrow ComesRev. Robert McMill
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MYBIBLE(Part II)by Rev. Robert More
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Biblical group bound together by th
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Lesson Helps for the Week of May 9i
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is love. Jesus loves us and seeks t
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and accomplishes what the world dee
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VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 16 APRIL 21, 1971
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Faith In ActionWhen moderns speak a
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MYBIBLE(PART III)TOD A YS ENGLISHVE
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It isn't that the men with the AACS
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temperance sermons, have become, in
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our friends in the Home, and someti
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news, however, the Good News of God
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'Vi'VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 17 APRIL 28,
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I'M THE ONLY MOTHER MY CHILDRENWILL
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The Role of a Father in the Christi
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The Priorities of the Christian Mot
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THE PEACE SYMBOL OR SATAN'S MARK?Re
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How Was a Work Located There?The As
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Synod InformationAT GENEVA COLLEGEJ
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VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 18 MAY 5, 1971 ST
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Christian Education For Christian Y
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News From Our Mission FieldsLarnaca
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communists into the prefectural ass
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throughout whether more stress shou
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Prayer MeetingTopicfor June 2,1971S
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He entered Geneva in 1941 to haveBO
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OLUME LXXXVI NO. 19 MAY 12, 1971 ST
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"Living ByWe are witnessing a world
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Faith Of Our FathersWhen we speak o
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The Christian Home — A WitnessMrs
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The National Covenant Of ScotlandTh
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Lesson Helps for the Week of June 6
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1. The Minutes of Synod, 19702. The
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BOOKSFrom The Study Window by Rev.
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Qsma^^^tiM* * •3LUM E LXXXVI NO.
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The Way of SalvationTHE BASIC ISSUE
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TIPS FOR SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERSMrs
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The Christian AndMr. James L. Mitch
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NAE CONVENTIONABORTION, CHRISTIAN H
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The 1970 Action of SynodIt is good
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students from campuses throughout t
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• "-VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 21 MAY 26,
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God Is GoodThe Psalmist cries out,
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The Peace of GodPeace in the home,
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And how are we going to respond?"We
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you rise. . . .'"Fathers must alway
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Many of this age group are in theAr
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Mrs. Lou Wilkey led the prayer forh
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Gtfenrtrite.VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 22 JU
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Putting Trust To Workby T. Frederic
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News From Our Mission FieldsKobe Sh
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1971 SummerTrainingProgramBy Rev. K
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Society, a small mission, is intere
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Scripture: I Samuel 16:7; Matthew 5
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The resolutions condemnedhomosexual
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(ptfettrtife.VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 23 J
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The Origin and Principlesof the Ref
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Christian VictoryThe Christian may
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earthly prince, in a regal processi
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William and Pitsa Sterrett'IFalk an
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Lesson Helps for the Week of July 4
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Prayer MeetingTopicFor July 7SOLOMO
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SCHOOL NEWSGrades 4,5,6 — On Frid
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G^^^{^^Wlte ii-OLUME LXXXVI NO. 24
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How To ReadA Christian Bookby Rev.
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Instead Of Their FathersRev. John M
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Only dynamic Christian faith and Ac
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covenant people, yet this mediation
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Lesson Helps for the Week of July 1
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share briefly what conferences have
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We welcome the following youngpeopl
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VOLUME LXXXVI NO. 25 JUNE 23, 1971
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The Rest We NeedThe Rev. Joel H. Ne
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The Joy Of A Broken HeartRev. Rober
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"For He hath said, I will never lea
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denied the reality of those things
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Sabbath SchoolLessonForJulyl8,1971G
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congregations. They are under, five
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that met in Chicago, March 2-5, to
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!•••;-•Ov^tttWtfeiMl/iteu.f
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Fifty-Two Memorial DaysCongregation
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Prayer HindrancesDr. Herbert R. Hay
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struggle for existence is no longer
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Games Christians PlayBy Judi Chaffe
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hour," he stated brusquely. "Accord
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of Dunnedin, Florida, were called t
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