Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-01-01 / 1. szám
10 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA CHURCH UNION PRINCETON, N. J. — About 600 regional executives of nine church denominations took part in 13 conferences concluded around the nation in November in which the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) sought to initiate broad study of a plan for uniting the nine in one church. The bringing together of bishops and other key juridical officials represented the widest involvement ever of regional level decision-makers in the 10-year-old COCU effort, according to the Rev. W. Clyde Williams, associate general secretary of COCU. The Rev. Mr. Williams said most of the conferences resulted in church leaders dividing up their regions into states or districts and naming individuals to assume responsibility for seeing that the union plan is studied widely at regional and local levels. The regional executives of the nine churches were given the initiative in the conferences to organize for interdenominational study in ways best suited to their partcular regions. In San Francisco, for instance, church leaders from northern California and northern Nevada set up plans for the study in six different locations and opted for having a ratio of five lay persons to every clergyman in the study process. The conference in Atlanta, Ga., October 1, covering the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, drew the largest participation of the 13. There were 101 church leaders that took part in the meeting convened by Episcopal Bishop Robert F. Gibson of Virginia. Members of the executive committee of COCU convened the conferences and made it clear that the plan of union offered to the churches last March now needs “grass roots” rewriting and refinement. They noted that COCU offices in Princeton, N. J., stand ready to assist in any way in the study process. There was little debate on the plan of union itself at the conferences. Most of the regional officials were content to follow the stated purpose of simply laying plans for study. One frequently expressed concern at the conferences, however, was acted upon by COCU even before the last conferences were held. Many church executives felt the study period was too short. The COCU executive committee immediately extended the period five months to June 1, 1972. Up to this point in developing a plan of union, COCU has operated through 90 persons, 10 delegates from each of the nine denominations. Dr. Paul A. Crow, Jr., Princeton, N. J., general secretary to COCU, spoke to the Minneapolis regional conference, asserting that the attitude churchmen bring to the study is as crucial as the plan of union itself since the growing together in interdenominational study is a part of the union process. Bishop Frederick D. Jordan of the African Methodist Episcopal Church told the Los Angeles gathering that “concerned. diliigent, critical and prayerful” study of the plan is vital. Mrs. Ralph Stair of Waukesha, Wis., a United Presbyterian laywoman, in her convener role for the Chicago regional pointed out that deep commitment is needed to bring the study process into already crowded church calendars. United Methodist Bishop James K. Mathews told the Boston regional that if there are elements of the plan of union that just “won’t wash” now is the time to find out. Dr. Charles Spivey of New York City, declared to the Denver regional conference that for a plan of union to be acceptable it must come from the bottom up, and this, he said, is the reason COCU is seeking local help in further drafting of a plan. Other conferences were held in Seattle, Wash.; Washington, D. C.; Cleveland, Ohio; Memphis, Tenn.; Dallas, Texas; and St. Louis, Mo. Denominations involved in COCU are: The African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church U. S., United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. I DO NOT KNOW I do not know, I cannot see, What God’s kind hand prepares for me, Nor can my glance pierce through the haze Which covers all my future ways; But yet I know that o’er it all Rules He who notes the sparrow’s fall. I know the hand that hath me fed, And through the year my feet hath led; I know the everlasting arm That hath upheld and kept from harm. I trust Him as my God and Guide, And know that He will still provide. I know not where His hand shall lead, Through desert wastes, o’er flowery mead; Mid tangled thicket set with thorn, Mid gloom of night or glow of morn; But still I know my Father’s hand Will bring me to His goodly land. Farewell, Old Year, with goodness crowned, A hand divine hath set thy bound. Welcome the New Year, which shall bring Fresh blessings from my God and King. The Old we leave without a tear, The New we hail without a fear. —Anonymous.
