News about North and South America: December 24, 1956

‘Deep Divisions’

Cutting the Gospel “down to a size that fits” into our culture has resulted in “one of the deep dilemmas facing contemporary overseas mission work.”

In expressing this opinion at the annual meeting of the National Council of Churches’ Division of Foreign Missions, Dr. Eugene L. Smith of New York, chairman of the division’s executive board, charged that Protestant theology in the United States has been moulded by “our fabulous and unmatched prosperity.”

The official, in his address to some 300 representatives of 45 Protestant denominations at the five-day conference in Buck Hill Falls, Pennsylvania, stated:

“To the very degree we become successful, influential and established, we move away from the radical and, therefore, disturbing elements of Christian truth. We expurgate the Gospel of those elements which embarrass us by their radicalism, their grandeur or their terrifying purity.…

“By preaching a culturally-rooted Christianity, many have been guilty of theological parochialism at its arrogant worst. From such aggressive blindness, the Church has suffered deeply, and there have developed some of the deep divisions within Christianity.”

Charging that contemporary preaching often smacks of “obscurantism” and “lack of clarity,” he said ministers frequently feed their congregations “theological half-truths” and fail to preach “the whole Gospel” in terms that can be understood by the average man.

Dr. Roy G. Ross, general secretary of the Council, said Christianity in the Far East was hampered by Protestant divisiveness and an awakened new missionary zeal on the part of other religions.

Much of the divisiveness in Asia was attributed to “sect groups.”

Referring to a mass resurgence of Buddhism in the Far East, he said Buddhists “plan to train and send missionaries throughout the world.”

Dr. Leslie E. Cooke of Geneva, Switzerland, director of the Council’s Division of Inter-church Aid and Service to Refugees, said “the new independence of overseas churches established through western missionary activities does not mean they no longer need our help, but it does require the development of new patterns of assistance.”

He said a “significant part” in determining the new strategy for missions may be played by the growing program of inter-church aid in which Christians of one nation share funds and material goods with those of other nations in times of emergency.

Dr. Cooke emphasized, however, that inter-church aid can never be a substitute for missions.

Deadline For Ministers

Most ministers will forfeit their coverage rights under Social Security if they fail to file application forms by April 15, 1957.

The only clergymen not faced with the deadline are those already covered and those who became ministers after January 1, 1955. New ministers have at least two years after their ordination.

Under changes made in the Social Security Law by Congress in 1954, ministers for the first time can be covered. But each minister must decide whether he wants to be covered.

The coverage will be as a self-employed person, even though he receives a salary from the congregation. Each must file by April 15 a report of earnings to the Internal Revenue Service, along with the regular income tax form. A Social Security tax of three per cent will be paid on earnings up to $4,200. The tax will increase to 33/8 per cent for 1957.

Churches and institutions are not involved or obligated in any way. Many churches, however, are adding the cost of the tax to the salaries of ministers.

God Is Good

A young woman missionary, who helplessly watched her baby son slowly freeze to death and later saw hope ebb for the safety of her missing husband, will continue evangelistic work among the nomadic Indians of a lonely sub-Arctic outpost.

The husband, Albert Kelly, 26, serving with the Central Alaskan Mission, disappeared in a skiff while seeking help after his family was marooned on a desolate island in Glena Bay. His wife, Vera, 25, was later rescued from a rocky beach with her daughter, Rebecca, 3.

They had been without food or shelter for four days and nights. Nearby lay the frozen body of four-month-old Thomas, a victim of starvation and the bitter Alaskan cold.

Mrs. Kelly, recuperating in a hospital, said:

“My husband may be dead. My baby is dead. But I still have my faith in God. Despite everything, God has been good to us and I want to continue in His service.”

Inauguration Decanters

President Dwight Eisenhower has pulled the plug on plans of distillers to promote the sale of whiskey in special inauguration bottles listing the names of all U. S. Presidents.

Gerald Morgan, special counsel to the President, sent a protest to Judge William C. Bryant, Ohio liquor director, resulting in sales of the decanters being stopped there.

Clayton M. Wallace, executive director of the National Temperance League, said he had been informed that Morgan’s letter to Judge Bryant stated, “The President wished it known that he had not been asked to give his consent to his name appearing on the bottle, and that he had not given such consent.”

Assembly Line Art

“The most callous people in the country are making cheap church art by the tons; the most devoted people are sitting in front of it every Sunday, and somebody is taking in the cash at the expense of good art and good people.”

So said artist Siegfried Reinhardt while in Des Moines, Iowa, to judge a religious art competition. A teacher of advanced painting at Washington University, St. Louis, he assailed what he called a “cultural delinquency” in American church art and urged wider use of original paintings in churches.

Christian Athletes

A Fellowship of Christian Athletes is flexing physical and spiritual muscles for a big job in American cities.

Talks are planned before high school and college audiences by a star-studded lineup of speakers, including such noted athletes as Donn Moomaw, All-America football player at U. C. L. A.; Otto Graham, retired quarterback of Cleveland Browns; Robin Roberts, pitcher with Philadelphia Phillies; Doak Walker, former All-American and all-pro in football; Carl Erskine, no-hit pitcher with Brooklyn Dodgers, and others.

In a four-day conference at Estes Park, Colorado, this year the athletes gave tips to several hundred young men on how to play well and live right. Remarked Moomaw, regarded as one of the greatest linebackers in the history of football:

“You are either on the team of God, or you’re off. There is no in between … no second team. If you’re on God’s team, Jesus Christ is your coach and quarterback and you follow Him.”

The athletes have received a number of requests to appear in schools throughout the country. A few of the city fathers, however, added provisions that the talks be about God in general and not Jesus Christ in particular.

FCA directors have adopted a policy against the acceptance of invitations where members are not free to witness for Christ.

The decision, in addition to the conviction of members, was influenced by such remarks as the following from a track speedster at Michigan University:

“I’ve just realized I’ve been trying to lead a Christian life without Jesus Christ. It can’t be done.”

CHRISTIANITY TODAYis a subscriber to Religious News Service, Evangelical Press Service and Washington Religious Report Newsletter.

Not In Vain

The killing of five American missionaries by Auca Indians in Ecuador last January had a direct effect in the volunteering of some 2,000 young persons for foreign missions work.

This report was made by the Rev. Robert B. Savage, program director of radio station HCJB at Quito, Ecuador. He said he heard of the volunteers through the ministers of various congregations.

Digest …

► Dr. Arthur R. McKay, 38, pastor of First Presbyterian, Binghamton, New York, appointed president of McCormick Theological Seminary.… American Bible Society plans 225 translations of Gospels into new languages in next quarter century.

► Southern Baptist Convention announces goal of 425,000 converts for 1957. Denomination baptized 416,867 in 1955.… 100,000 new Protestant churches seen as need in next 20 years.

► Methodist Church increases membership to new high of 9,444,820.

► Missionary radio station HCJB celebrates 25th anniversary.… U. S. tobacco acreage allotment cut 175,000 acres for 1957.…

► Howard A. Hermansen, associate pastor of Moody Church for 10 years, resigns. No future plans announced.… 1957 budget of $13,290,000 adopted by General Board for National Council of Churches—including $7,636,000 for relief, rehabilitation and world missions.

► Presbyterian Church in U. S. A., with record budget of $9,112,398 for overseas missionary work, votes to dissolve three missions in India so work can merge with United Church of Northern India.

► Dr. V. Raymond Edman, president of Wheaton College, and Mrs. Edman plan to spend some of Christmas holidays in Ecuador with missionaries and the five missionary widows. As missionary in Ecuador, Dr. Edman was smitten with fever and once given up for dead. This will be Mrs. Edman’s first trip back in 25 years.

► Dr. Powhatan W. James, biographer and son-in-law of the famed preacher, George W. Truett, dies in Dallas, at 76.

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