Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Castle, Del.; Mr. John Sweitzer, Managerof Plant and Purchases, Earlham College,Richmond, Ind.; Mr. David Watkins,Dean and Director of Libraries, FordhamUniversity, Bronx, N.Y.Each institution receives a reportfrom the Evaluation Team several monthsafter its visit, giving a critique of eachphase of its program and recommendationsfor improvement. Theevaluation process has proven verybeneficial as member institutions undergothis thorough review every ten years.CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GROUPEXPERIENCES15 PER CENT GROWTHIncreases of fifteen per cent in bothnumber of schools and pupil enrollmenthave been recorded for the third consecutiveyear by the National Associationof Christian Schools. Sixty-two thousandpupils are enrolled in 345 elementary andsecondary schools located in 40 states and35 countries.Illinois recorded the greatest percent of increase in member schools. Thelargest number of schools is listed inCalifornia. Twenty-two other statesreported increases in member schools.Indiana, Ohio and Michigan join Illinois inmaking the Mid-west first in regionalgrowth statistics. New Jersey, New York,Pennsylvania and Maryland combine tomake the Mid-Atlantic region the secondmost active in Christian school growth.Forty states are now represented on themembership roster.The expanding interest of overseasschools for missionary children in NACSfellowship is indicated by the 46 schools in35 overseas locations. In recent monthsmembers of the NACS Board havetravelled to the Caribbean, South Americaand the Orient to strengthen the educationof missionary children overseas.When asked for an explanation of thisunusually vital private schoolorganization, Dr. John Blanchard,Executive Director, observed, "As theonly national non-sectarian association ofits kind, the NACS attracts schools thatare strongly committed to Biblical valuesand continuing educational improvement.Our schools emphasize spiritual impactand academic content and our efforts todeal with social, racial, political anddenominational problems are developedwith Biblical discernment. Many parentsdesire this balance of education for thebenefit of both heart and mind."A New Conservative Church AssociationPHILADELPHIA — A committeemade up of ministers and elders fromseveral Presbyterian and Reformeddenominations has agreed on a statementof purpose and a constitution for a newconservative association of churchmen.Meeting here was the steeringcommittee of the National Presbyterianand Reformed Fellowship, a body formedin Des Plaines, 111., last fall in a gatheringof some fifty conservative leaders fromten churches in the Presbyterian andReformed tradition.According to the statement hammeredout by the committee, the NPRFwill "join for encouragement and mutualassistance those who seek in our time theunity of a pure witness to the Word of Godand the testimony of Jesus Christ."The statement, together with theproposed constitution, will be presentedfor adoption to the parent fellowship at itsnext full meeting in Atlanta, in April.The new organization developed outof a 1969 rally of Presbyterian ChurchmenUnited, a conservative ministers'organization in the Presbyterian ChurchUS. Visitors who attended the rally fromother churches decided to meet again inthe interest of a larger association. TheNPRF is the fruit of that decision and thesteering committee meeting here consistedof the officers and one membernamed from each denominationalgrouping.Although just organized, NPRF hasalready come to the official attention ofthree denominations and from these, theOrthodox Presbyterian Church, theReformed Presbyterian ChurchEvangelical Synod and the ReformedPresbyterian Church of North America,representatives participate with the officialsanction of their churches.The ministers and elders involvedparticipate as individuals from each offour additional denominations, theThe NACS office in Wheaton, Illinoisserves as a clearing house and source ofinformation in all phases of theeducational process and school operation.By its promotion, placement and newschool services the NACS strengthens thisrapidly growing private schoolmovement.Christian Reformed Church, thePresbyterian Church US, the ReformedChurch in America, and the UnitedPresbyterian Church USA.From three additionaldenominations, members have attendedpreliminary meetings of the newfellowship, but without yet making thedecision to join: the Associate ReformedPresbyterian Church, the ConservativeCongregational Christian Conference andthe Reformed Episcopal Church.According to the statement approvedhere, "the present crisis of identity andcontinuity in the Presbyterian andReformed Churches in the United Statescalls for immediate, urgent and activeobedience on the part of all those whoacknnowledge the sovereign authority ofJesus Christ, the only King and Head ofHis Church, as He rules it through theScriptures of the Old and NewTestaments, the Word of God written, andby His Holy Spirit.The statement continues: "Reformeddoctrine and presbyterial churchgovernment furnish the basis for and thethrust toward a Scriptural ecumenismthat is both contemporaneous anddynamic."Officers of the NPRF are, the Rev.Russell E. Horton (RCA) of Lansing, 111.,the Rev. August J. Kling (UPUSA) ofMiami, Dr. Donald J. MacNair (RPCES)of St. Louis, and Dr. G. Aiken Taylor(PCUS) of Asheville, N.C.It is anticipated that headquarters ofthe fellowship will be established inWashington, D.C.According to a spokesman, membershipin the fellowship is open toministers and elders (or their equivalent)from any Presbyterian or ReformedChurch who share in the objectives of theorganization. Address: First PresbyterianChurch, 609 Brickell Ave., Miami, Fla.33132.BUILDING TODAY FOR TOMORROWLife is a Book in volumes threeThe Past, the Present and the Yet to BeThe Past is finished and laid away,The Present we're living every day.The third and last of volume three—Is hid from sight-God holds the keyJANUARY 27, 197115