Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-01-01 / 1. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 7 CHURCHES AFFECTED BY PROPOSED TAX REFORM Congress is considering legislation which calls for the elimination or review of income tax deductions for charitable institutions, including gifts to churches. The bill, Tax Policy Review Act of 1972, calls for the termination of charitable contribution deductions by January 1, 1976. Also to terminate by the same date is a provision allowing the exclusion of the rental value of parsonages. The bill was simultaneously introduced in both houses of Congress by Rep. Wilbur D. Mills (D., Ark.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Sen. Mike Mansfield (D., Mont.), majority leader in the Senate. The purpose of the bill, according to Mills and Mansfield, is to provide “an orderly and systematic review of virtually all provisions of the Internal Revenue Code giving any special exclusion or deduction or special tax rate to any particular group or category of income.” The inclusion of items in the long list of provisions to terminate by certain dates does not mean approval or disapproval of this deduction allowance, the sponsors said. Among the other provisions scheduled to terminate are medical and moving expense deductions; the capital gain treatment of lump-sum distribution from pension funds; the tax exemption for credit unions and certain mutual insurance funds; the deduction for nonbusiness interest; and the exclusion from gross income of scholarships and fellowships. The bill would cause 54 sections of the tax code to lapse in three groups of 18. The first group would end by January 1, 1974; the second would lapse by January 1, 1975; and the third list, including charitable contributions and the rental value of parsonages, would end by January 1, 1976. Mansfield said the measure would bring about tax reform by causing Congress to review and renew every preference if it is to be continued. “If a preference has clear validity, then Congress will renew the provisions,” Mansfield said. Mills agreed that many of the provisions scheduled for termination “appear to be desirable under present circumstances.” The intent of the bill, Mills pointed out, was “to be sure that the provisions will be reviewed.” ab (The American Baptist INPUT is a weekly for local church leadership. With the permission of its editor, Norman R. DePuy.) * Mrs. Frances Kovach, organist of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Conneaut, Ohio, has been serving in this position for 25 years. The congregation headed by Mr. John Yesso, chief elder, presented a gift to Mrs. Kovach and greeted her at the Thanksgiving Sunday service on November 26. At its ninth triennial meeting in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 3-7, the 750-member General Assembly of the National Council of Churches: FORMALLY LAUNCHED Plans for reorganinzing the National Council along structural lines that will increase flexibility in operational style and help speed ways to get things done. PLACED AUTHORITY For policy-making in the hands of a 347-member Governing Board, which will hold two business meetings a year instead of the former (250-member) General Board’s three. ENSURED Broader representation on the board by setting quotas for women (one-fourth of the membership) ; for lay persons (one-half) for youth under age 28 (one-eighth) ; SPECIFIED That racial and ethnic representation on the board should reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of each denomination. APPROVED The NCC restructure task force’s plan to create five sections for the board to deal separately with such concerns as human need, renewal, culture, Christian unity, and systemic change. STIPULATED That general financial support for the Council come from member denominations on a basis of assessment according to denominational income, and PROVIDED That financial support for programs be based on member denomination options, with each free to participate or not in any given program mandated by the board. ELECTED AND INSTALLED The Rev. W. Sterling Cary, New York City, United Church of Christ official, as NCC President for the next three years, to succeed Dr. Cynthia C. (Mrs. Theodore 0.) Wedel BESTOWED ON Mrs. Wedel the Russell Colgate Distinguished Service award in recognition of her devoted ecumenical leadership. NAMED Additional top officers headed by First Vice President Mrs. Victor Baltzell, Dallas, Texas, the Christian Church (Disciples), a regional ecumenical leader RE-ELECTED Dr. R. H. Edwin Espy as General Secretary who earlier announced plans to retire from the post at the end of 1973.
