Church Night
Public school officials in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area are being asked to set aside a “church night” in scheduling their weekly programs. John M. Staz, president of the United Churches of Greater Harrisburg, suggested that Wednesday evenings be set aside by school officials so that students will be free to attend services.
Protestant Panorama
The first Protestant university in the Congo will open at Stanleyville in the fall. Classes will be conducted in both English and French. Although an intensive financial campaign is under way in the Congo, most of the financing of the university must come from American and European churches.
Southern Baptists are reorganizing their home mission program. A special department of survey and special studies is being created. In all, the home missions board’s projects will be increased from seven to fourteen.
Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) plan two special offerings in October to raise $300,000 for an emergency program in moral and civil rights. Some of the money will be given to Negroes hit by economic reprisals and some to ministers evicted from pulpits because of their stand on race.
Delegates to the annual conference in Rome of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Italy voted to support the calling of an Italian Evangelical Conference. Church officials anticipate that such an assembly will be held in the fall of 1964.
Scofield Memorial Church of Dallas, Texas, will inaugurate a “Southland Keswick Convention” next year. The first of the conventions will be held January 19–26. It will be directed by Dr. Harlin J. Roper, pastor of the Scofield Memorial Church.
Miscellany
The crash of a single-engine plane in Guatemala claimed the life of missionary pilot Joel Paul Robertson of Air Crusade, Inc. A fellow missionary said the engine failed during a Scripture-distribution flight.
The Post Office Department unveiled its design for the 1963 Christmas stamp. The special five-cent stamp features a three-color reproduction of the nation’s Christmas tree with the White House in the background.
There were 373 Protestant churches which sponsored credit unions as of the end of 1962, according to a report by the Credit Union National Association.
Columbia Pictures signed a $20,000,000 agreement with Italian movie producer Dino de Laurentis to film The Bible, a screen epic concentrating mostly on the Old Testament.
More than 100 business and professional men in the Southeastern United States are forming a national foundation for “broadening the audience” of evangelist Tom Haggai. A Southern Baptist, the 32-year-old Haggai has been in increasing demand as a speaker on a national scale.
UNESCO’s annual bibliography of translations says the Bible once again ranks as the world’s most-translated book.
Personalia
Five Years Meeting of Friends elected a Whittier, California, housewife, Mrs. Helen Walker, as presiding clerk, top post in the Quaker organization. She is the first woman ever named to the office.
Dr. Joseph R. Washington, Jr., Negro scholar and a Methodist minister, named dean of the chapel at Dickinson College.
Peter Day, editor of The Living Church, appointed “ecumenical officer” of the Episcopal National Council.
The Rev. Eli F. Wismer named general director of the National Council of Churches’ Commission on General Christian Education.
The Rev. J. H. Quiring appointed president of Mennonite Brethren Bible College.
Dr. Douglas B. MacCorkle elected president of Philadelphia College of Bible.
The Rev. Roger Goodman elected moderator of the Baptist General Conference.
The Rev. William J. Reseigh elected to the newly created office of executive secretary of the Primitive Methodist Church.
Dr. James H. Hunter appointed editor of The Evangelical Christian.
The Rev. Youngve R. Kindberg elected general secretary of the New York Bible Society.
Dr. Helen Kim, noted Korean Christian educator, awarded the $10,000 Ramon Magsaysay prize of public service.
Worth Quoting
“We want to show that Christianity does not permit a person to organize life like Time magazine—a place for politics, a page for business, religion in its section in the back. The Gospel must permeate every area of life.”—Paul A. Schreivogel, associate director of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Walther League, at a press luncheon prior to the league’s convention in Washington.
“I was asked to bring a request for more missionaries.”—Jean-David Mukeba, press secretary to Congo President Joseph Kasa-vubu, in an address to members of the Presbyterian U. S. Board of World Missions.
DEATHS
DR. ARNOLD T. OHRN, 74, retired general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance; in Oakland, California.
DR. F. FISHER SIMPSON, 76, retired editor of The Texas Methodist; in Fort Worth.
FRANK MILLARD, 66, general secretary of the Scripture Union of South Africa; in Bideford Devon, England.
