Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-03-01 / 3. szám
14 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA “The Iroquois league was acknowledged as a model by the molders of the U. S. Constitution. . . . Iroquois women knew their rights long before their white sisters looked for liberation; they not only elected the government, farmed and raised their children but they also owned their homes.” Although there has been some change in the treatment of Indians, exploitation of them has not been stopped. “A current example of the denial of Indian rights is the assault on Indian fishing — ‘protected’ by Federal treaty . . . On October 13, 1965, state troopers tear-gassed and black-jacked two dozen Indian men, women and children fishing in the Columbia River, confiscating their tackle, smashing their canoes and slashing their nets. Less than 10 per cent of the river’s salmon catch is taken by Indians; the rest go to commercial fisheries and sportsmen. “While the State continues to seize the nets, boats and motors of Indians, Washington, D.C. is supplying 10.000 outboard motors, 50,000 sets of fishing gear and 27,000 fingerlings for the Vietnamese.” Thomas Orrin Bentz PREPARATION FOR LUTHERANREFORMED/ROMAN CATHOLIC MARRIAGE DIALOGUE COMPLETED Rome — Detailed plans for implementation of a dialogue on the theology of marriage and problems of mixed marriages between Lutheran-Reformed and Roman Catholic representatives were formulated at a meeting here before Christmas. The preparatory meeting followed preliminary examination of the issues carried out jointly by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Lutheran World Federation at two meetings in Cartigny, Switzerland, in November 1969 and March 1970. The Cartigny findings, which have been received by the respective assemblies of both the WARC and LWF last summer, recommended a joint Lutheran-Reformed conversation with the Roman Catholic church on marriage questions. At the Rome consultation, the Cartigny proposals were examined in relation to the Motu Proprio of March 31, 1970, and plans for the eventual dialogue were formulated for submission to Catholic, LWF and WARC authorities. In a press statement issued at the close of the meeting, participants “stressed their unanimous agreement on the immediate relevance and urgency of the whole question of the theology of marriage and the problems of mixed marriages.” The statement continued: “The participants also emphasized their common conviction that the churches have a particular responsibility to clarify the Christian understanding of marriage in the context of the contemporary crisis on the meaning and the institution of marriage.” “The group further recommended that the planned dialogue should center on the basic theological issues which lie behind the juridical and canonical questions affecting the problems of [mixed marriages.” Taking part in the meeting were: WARC — Dr. Rudolph Ehrlich of New College, Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Rev. Richmond Smith of Geneva, theologicdl secretary of the Alliance. LWF — Church Inspector Maurice Sweeting of Valentigney, France, and Dr. Harding Meyer of Geneva, the federation’s secretary for ecumenical relations. RCC — Father Jerome Hamer, OP, secretary of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity; Msgr. Marcel Uylenbroek, secretary of the Council on the Laity; Msgr. Josef Tomko of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Father Franz Beffart of the Central Catholic Institute for marriage and family questions in Cologne, Germany, and Father Andre Joos and Father August Hasler of Rome, both members of the Vatican unity secretariat. RPPS I. WHAT DOES THE MINISTER REALLY EARN? During coming months when lay boards are considering the minister’s compensation, they might well take a long look at just what a minister’s salary is. Is car expense, conference expense, insurance and pension payments considered part of that income? If so the total could offer a very distorted picture of what a minister is paid. Is car expense considered as compensation wjien a minister’s car is largely used on the job? Ministers report an average loss of over $900 a year on their cars—church related car expense that comes out of the minister’s pocket. Are social security compensation payments calculated as part of the minister’s income? The business world considers company contributions to social security as overhead. Does your minister’s wife work outside the parsonage? Why? For additional income? Does your minister moonlight? Why? These last two points might well serve as signals of trouble ahead. Strip away the fringes—that the worker in industry does not count as part of his compensation—and see what your minister really earns. Is it adequate? II. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO OPERATE A MINISTER'S CAR? It depends, of course, on the size of the car and the part of the country. But even with variations, 11 cents a mile is a fair average cost. That includes all expenses and depreciation. Whether the car is traded in three years or six does not have much affect on the per mile cost. So for every 1,000 miles of church business driving, the minister should be collecting $110.00. How does your car compensation compare with this benchmark? You can know exactly what car expense takes out of your budget by keeping a careful records, for two months or so, of the driving you do on church business. Keep a notebook and pencil on the car dash. Make it a habit to mark down the start and finish speedometer reading and the purpose every time you use your car. It takes very little time and the facts you are able to show could go a long way in convincing your Board that an adjustment is needed. III. UNEMPLOYED MINISTERS A year ago congregations were having difficulty finding a minister. Today the situation is reversed, with many qualified ministers unable to find a congregation. Financial troubles of small congregations is the main problem. Many of them have disbanded and yet the seminaries are flooded with students, some of which may be due to the draft. Episcopal, Church of Christ and the Unitarians all report an over supply of ministers. One exception—the Roman Catholic Church is short of priests in many areas, so much so that the Washington Diocese is planning to install a computer to match jobs and men. Ministers Life Line
