Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-05-01 / 5. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 5 iS)ilent <JL^ove The touch of a warm handshake, Soft glances from loving eyes; Kind words tenderly spoken, The heart will rapturize. A gentle deed of kindness, An understanding gesture; A smile, warm and friendly, Fill the soul with laughter. The depth of loyal friendship, A blessing from God above; Nothing could be as lasting, As faithful silent love. Margaret F. Csóványos Consultation on Church Union New York, New York, April 12: “The Consultation on Church Union has regained its credibility,” says the Rev. James O. Gilliom, Upper Montclair, N.J., a United Church of Christ delegate to the 11th Plenary Session of the Consultation. Mr. Gilliom described the session in Memphis, April 1-6, as “a turn around where reality has been recognized.” The Consultation, consisting of eight member churches, elected Bishop Frederick D. Iordan, Hollywood, Calif., chairman for the next two years. Bishop Jordan, the first Black COCU chairman, is director of urban ministries and ecumenical relations for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Based on evaluation of some 3,000 responses of local churches to the draft Plan of Union submitted in 1970, the delegates concluded that the churches are unable to agree to the proposals for structural union, but were not far apart “in matters of faith, worship and the nature of the church’s ministry.” Emphasis for the immediate future will be in grass roots ecumenism with local churches urged to form “generating communities” to serve as examples for the Consultation’s further work on the proposed structure. The congregations were also requested to hold communion services in common, creating “Interim Eucharistic Fellowships.” A Commission on Institutional Racism will be established to form strategy for “compensatory action” to deal with the existing racism which is seen as “a barrier to church union.” Dr. Yoshio Fukuyama, professor of religious studies at Penn State University and formerly director of social research for the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, declared that the churches must begin compensating minority races for past exclusion “even before any united church comes about.” Dr. Fukuyama is the author of the new book, “Ministry in Transition.” Dr. Cirilo A. Rigos, of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines currently serving on the staff of the United Church Board for World Ministries, said, “It is quite embarrasing in non-Christian cultures for Christian missionaries to be engaged in the propagation of their denominations. Our joint efforts must witness to the reality of one God and the servanthood of one church.” UCC delegates to the Consultation in Memphis include: Rev. Fred P. Register, Pasadena, CA. chairman of the delegation; Rev. Ruth J. Beck, Sheboygan, WI; Ms. Barbara Couture, Elyria, Ohio; Rev. James O. Gilliom, Upper Montclair, NJ; Rev. Dr. Robert V. Moss, New York, N.Y.; Mr. Rudolf G. Schade, Jr., LaGrande, IL; Mr. Archie G. Thornton, Washington, D.C.; Rev. Peggy Ann Way, Oak Park, IL.; Mrs. Valerie Witholt, Springfield, MA; and Rev. Otto E. Sommer, Bethlehem, PA. The eight member denominations each sent ten delegates to the session representing a total membership of 22 million. The COCU participating denominations are: African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church in the U.S., United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church. Special to the Conferences New York, N.Y., April 18 — The United Church of Christ experienced a 1.7 percent drop in membership in 1972 and a 1.6 percent drop in 1971 according to the Rev. Joseph H. Evans, Secretary of the denomination. This loss of membership is similar to that of five other major Protestant denominations, according to the “Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches for 1973” to be released in May. The current official UCC membership figure, according to Mr. Evans, is 1,895,016, a loss of 33,658 from the 1971 figure of 1,928,674. There are 6,635 churches and 9,480 ordained ministers currently in the United Church of Christ. The Year Book of American and Canadian Churches is compiled and edited by the National Council of Churches and published each year by Abingdon Press. The statistics in the 1973 Yearbook reflects from 1971 membership, personnel and financial reports. According to the Yearbook “roughly 62.4 percent of the U.S. population are members of churches.” This is a slight decrease from 63.2 percent in the previous year. While the percentage is smaller, the actual figures reflect a gain of 343,689. The membership gain has not kept pace with U.S. population growth. The largest church in the U.S. remains the Roman Catholic church, with 48,390,990 members
