Magyar Egyház, 1956 (35. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1956-01-01 / 1. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ ENGLISH SECTION New York, Nov. 1 — Giving to Protestant Churches is continuing to increase and in 1954 reached a total of over $1,600,000,000, it was announced today by the National Council of Churches. Contributions reported by 47 Protestant and 2 Eastern Orthodox bodies with a combined U.S. membership of more than 34,000,000 totalled $1,687,921,729, declared the Rev. Thomas K. Thompson, executive director of the National Council of Churches’ Department of Stewardship and Benevolence. The figure represents a jump of $145,000,000 over the previous year. Most denominations reported for fiscal year 1954. The great bulk of contributions was earmarked for local congregational expenses, a breakdown showed. The new annual figure is $1,353,553,358, with 48 church bodies reporting, as compared with $1,233,766,530 reported by 47 bodies last year. These funds went to pay for ministers’ salaries, church maintenance and repairs, fuel, lighting and similar expenses, and capital improvements. Eighteen of the 48 church bodies reported that more than 31 percent of all their congregational expenses had gone into new building programs, reflecting the unprecedented church construction boom that is nation-wide among all denominations and faiths. Significant gains were also shown in benevolence giving, Mr. Thompson said. Contributions for churchsponsored home and foreign mission programs, overseas relief, orphanages, homes for the aged and hospitals amounted to $334,368,371. The year’s increase amounted to more than $25,000,000 as compared with $22,000,000 last year. For foreign missions alone, 49 church bodies reported contributions of more than $65,000,000, Mr. Thompson said. Forty bodies that reported both years showed contributions to foreign missions of $64,017,082 this year compared with $59,215,291 the year before. A major portion of these funds go to support church mission schools and hospitals in scores of countries overseas. Highest per member giving, the report showed, was recorded by the Wesleyan Methodist Church whose per capital total contributions amounted to $176.91. Seven other denominations reported annual per member contributions of more than $100. They were: the Seventh Day Adventists; the Brethren in Christ; the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church of America; the Orthodox Presbyterian Church; etc. The largest total giving was reported by the Methodist Church whose 9,202,728 members gave $345,416,- 448, up $30,900,000 from last year’s previous all-time high. Average member giving was $37.53. The Presbyterian Church in the TJ.S.A. came third, with $158,110,613 from more than 2,500,000 members whose average giving was $61.47. THE PREACHER HAS AN EASY TIME . . . If he is young, he lacks experience; if his hair is grey, he is too old. If he has five or six children he has too many; if he has none, he is setting a bad example. If his wife sings in the choir, she is being too forward; if she doesn’t, she is not interested in her husband’s work. If he speaks from notes, he has “canned” sermons and is dry; if he speaks extemporaneously, he is not deep. If he spends too much time in his study, he neglects his people; if he visits, he is a gadabout. If he is attentive to the poor, he is playing to the grandstand; if to the wealthy, he is trying to be an aristocrat. If he suggests improvements for the church, he is a dictator; if he makes no suggestions, he is a figurehead. If he uses too many illustrations, he neglects the Bible; if not enough, he is not clear. If he condemns wrong, he is cranky; if he does not, he is a hypocrite. If he preaches forty minutes, he is windy; if less he is lazy. If he fails to please everybody, he is hurting the church; if he does please everybody, he has no convictions. If he preaches to tithe, he is a money-grabber; if he does not, he is failing to develop his people. If he receives a large salary, he is mercenary; if a small salary, it proves he is not worth much. If he preaches all the time, the people get tired of hearing one man; if he invites guest preachers, he is shirking responsibility. YET THEY SAY THE PREACHER HAS AN EASY TIME?? MEGJELENT Nagy Lajos esperes könyve "TESTVÉRI SZÓ BUJDOSÓ MAGYAROKHOZ" Toronto, 1955 Kanada. Ara $2.00. BESZEREZHETŐ: A szerkesztőség címén vagy a McKeesporti egyháztól.
