SECOND SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE Congrcsisf ON PURPOSE AND METHODS OF Sitter = Cfiurcf) Jf eberationsi STATE - COUNTY - LOCAL PITTSBURGH, PA. October 1st to 4th, 1917 Under the Auspices of the Commission on Inter -Church Federations of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America FRED B. SMITH, Chairman REV. ROY B. GUILD, Executive Secretary ALFRED R. KIMBALL, Treasurer THE REASON The Congress will be held in recognition of five pressing demands manifested by the Churches and Christian Organizations in every part of the country. FIRST : The growing conception of the Kingdom of God as re- lated to the entire community. The clearest visioned leaders of religious work have come to understand that the problem of the Church and all its varied organizations is to Christianize the entire community rather than alone to build up individual churches and societies. The realization of this ideal is possible only by the united effort of all the Christian forces. SECOND: The recognition of the fact that the complete Christian program is possible only by co-operative effort. That the older and primary duties of the individual Church are not to be neglected is everywhere acknowledged, but the more modern developments have also revealed vast opportunities which will be neglected unless they are met by the combined forces of all the churches. Some of these opportunities are suggested by the names of the Sub-Commissions which it is proposed to have report. THIRD: That all the cities and towns of the country may have the benefit of the experiences of the workers in the cities where this form of Christian effort has been undertaken. Inter-Church Committees and Federations have been springing up in many places in response to this growing sentiment. Some have succeeded admirably, others are languishing for want of direction. The Congress will seek to release the best knowledge gained by the study of plans that have worked and also give strong warning of methods which have hitherto failed. FOURTH : To reveal a Christian program worthy of the demands to be made upon organized Christianity by modern life. The world has yet to learn how to live in permanent peace. The final platform for this life will be based upon the great principles of Christianity. Indeed, the present World War is the greatest summons Christian men have ever had to perform the physical and intellectual duties of citizenship and at the same time the duty of keeping alive the spiritual message of the Gospel. FIFTH: To issue a hand book of methods of inter-church work. No comprehensive text book upon this form of Christian effort is in existence. The call for one is widespread. Out of the reports of sub-commissions, the platform addresses and discussions, a carefully prepared manual will be published. The Congress will proceed upon the following plan for its program: THE PROGRAM FIRST: A review of the progress of inter-church work and relations during the past five years. SECOND: Reports of Sub-Commissions upon the following phases of work: I. PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF ORGANIZATION 1. Relation of the Local Churches 2. Relation of the Kindred Religious and Philanthropic Societies 3. Relation of the Ministers 4. Relation of the Laymen 5. The Finances 6. Principles Applied to Cities, Counties and States 7. The Promotion of Federations. II. COMMUNITY EVANGELISM 1. Simultaneous Campaigns 2. Street Meetings 3. Shop Meetings 4. Intensive Personal Evangelism 5. The City As a Missionary Field 6. Tabernacle Evangelism 7. Rural Evangelism III. WORLD EVANGELISM 1. Recent Developments in Missionary Theory and Practice 2. Mission Study Institutes 3. Missionary Conventions 4. Every Member Canvass Campaign 5. Missionary Lectures 6. Adequate Annual Program 7. Enlistment in Christian Vocations 8. Missionary Literature IV. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 1. Teacher Training Institutes 2. Week Day Bible Schools 3. Development of the Teen Age Life 4. Organized Adult Bible Class Movement 5. Inter-church Athletics Note- V. SOCIAL BETTERMENT 1. A Social Program for Federations of Churches 2. The Church as a Social Center, Public Recreation 3. The Social Evil 4. Juvenile Delinquents, Jails, Work Houses, Farm Colonies and Prisons 5. The Relation of the Churches to the Municipal Authorities 6. The Churches and Reform Movements 7. Habits of Industry. 8. The Churches and Charitable Agencies. VI. CHURCH COMITY 1. State Comity 2. City Comity a. New Districts b. Relocation from over Churched Districts 3. Combination of Churches VII. INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND GOODWILL 1. Present Status of International Friend- ship 2. Principles essential to permanent Friendly Relations 3. Adequate Educational Programs 4. Occasional Inspirational Messages 5. The Churches' New Opportunity in the Era of Reconstruction VIII. RELIGIOUS PUBLICITY 1. Federation Bulletin 2. Newspaper Publicity 3. Paid Advertising in Daily Newspapers 4. Local Federations of Churches and Religious Publicity 5. Principles of Religious Publicity •The scope of each may be modified in the process of the investigation by the Sub-Commissions. THIRD : Discussion and supplementary conferences upon special topics. Ample time and opportunity will be given for thorough discussion and additional conferences upon special topics. FOURTH: Addresses by the best exponents of the ideals reported upon by the sub-commissions and of the prophetic messages of the Church. FIFTH: Special session upon the theme of permanent international peace. The universal desire for permanent peace and the duty of Christians to seek such a peace founded upon the rule of right and love, by means consistent with good citizenship, will be discussed under the leadership of Rev. Frederick Lynch of the Church Peace Union, Rev. Sidney L. Gulick of the World Alliance, and James A. Macdonald of the Toronto Globe. SIXTH: That the Churches and Christian Organizations of the nation may have an unbiased appraisal of the Congress and its findings a “Committee on Observation and Recommendation” will be appointed which will be asked to report at the closing session upon such phases as they deem most important in the interests of the Kingdom of God. SUB-COMMISSIONS Basis of Organization, Preparation and Presentation of Reports In recognition of the supreme importance of the work to be done by the Sub-Commissions they will be given close attention and co-operation upon the following basis: — Personnel of the Sub-Commissions The Committee of Direction of the Commission on Inter-Church Fed- eration of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America will appoint the Chairman of each of the eight Sub-Commissions and request him to recommend from three to ten additional members to be associated with him. This list to be revised by the Committee and the final appoint- ment confirmed. Purpose of the Reports The Sub-Commissions are to be strongly urged to keep constantly in mind that the reports are to be of such a character as to be of immediate and permanent value to the committees undertaking various forms of inter-church work giving particular attention to cities and towns. These reports after final revision are to be printed in a single volume as a text book for Inter-Church Federations. Each report to be confined to approximately 5,000 words. Method of Preparation FIRST: A meeting will be held by each of the Sub-Commissions of as many as are convenient to New York City soon after final appoint- ment. SECOND: The Chairman will divide the general subject into such divisions as seem most suitable and make assignments to the various members for investigation and report. THIRD: Each member will seek information from reliable sources, by personal interviews and correspondence, giving first consideration to the results in the cities where Inter-Church Federations are in successful operation and always to those features which can be reported in sharp, clear, vigorous, practical form. FOURTH: A conference will be held on April 1 6th of the Chairmen and as many members as possible, at which time the first draft of all the reports will be submitted to prevent overlapping or omission. FIFTH: Each report will close with specific findings upon the most vital elements involved in the subjects dealt with. SIXTH: The first complete reports must be ready by June 10th, copies to be mailed to all members of all Sub-Commissions and selected lists of religious leaders for criticism and suggestions. SEVENTH: Corrected copies must be back in the possession of each Chairman by July 1st to be revised in the method he may deem most expedient. EIGHTH: Final reports must be submitted to Mr. Guild, the executive secretary of the Commission, by August 1st. NINTH : Advance printed copies will be mailed to registered delegates by September 1 5th for their consideration before reaching the Congress. SUB-COMMISSION S-Continued Method of Presentation FIRST: Each Sub-Commission will be given from 25 to 40 minutes at the Congress to accent the major items and principles of its report. This will be followed by one hour and a half to two hours of actual discussion by the delegates upon the salient features. The discussion will be guided by a business committee to be appointed in advance. SECOND: After discussion the reports will go back to the Sub-Com- missions for final revision and then to the Committee of Direction of the Commission for approval and publication. THE DELEGATES The estimate is made that from 600 to 800 will be in attendance, selected as follows: FIRST: Each State and Local Church Federation to be represented by from ten to twenty-five delegates. SECOND: Every city and town in the country to be invited to send from five to ten representatives whose interest would be vital to putting into practice, upon their return to their respective fields, the principles established in the Congress. THIRD: The various national Christian and Philanthropic Organiza- tions to be invited to send from five to ten representatives. FOURTH: Members of the Commission on Inter-Church Federations and representatives of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. NOTE 1. A registration fee of $2.00 will be charged and admission will be confined to delegates except for some of the platform meetings. 2. Those selecting delegates are asked to plan, as far as possible for an equal proportion of ministers and laymen. THE FOLLOW- UP The committee in charge of the Congress will guard against the exploitation of untried or impossible schemes and will provide for max- imum conservation of the new ideals to be released by the following methods: FIRST: In the cultivation and election of delegates, emphasis should be constantly given to the permanency of the program to be outlined. SECOND: From the reports, addresses and discussions, to issue, following the Congress, a handbook of Principles and Methods of Inter-Church Activities. THIRD: The delegations from each town or city to be committed to a plan for duplicating the program in ten to twenty-five of the surrounding towns or communities, as soon as possible after their return. FOURTH: The Commission on Inter-Church Federations through its secretaries, members and friends to give particular attention to the cities represented in assisting toward the permanency of the plan. PLA TFORM ADDRESSES In order to give further emphasis and inspiration to the subjects treated by the Sub-Commissions, the evening sessions of the Congress will be devoted to platform addresses by men of acknowledged prophetic vision in this form of Christian activity. This statement is issued so far in advance that absolute decision upon the part of the speakers desired is difficult. Barring unforeseen circum- stances the following will address the Congress. DANIEL A. POLING RAYMOND ROBINS GOV. CARL E. MILLIKEN REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN JAMES A. MACDONALD DR. ROBERT E. SPEER MUSIC INTERNATIONAL MALE QUARTETTE Hotels and Congress Headquarters The sessions of the Congress will be held in the ball room of the William Penn Hotel. The headquarters for the Commission will be on the 17th floor. Following are given the rates for William Penn and some other hotels. Arrangements for accommodations must be made by the delegates. This should be attended to at earliest date possible. WILLIAM PENN, (European): Single Room $2.50 per day up. Double bed for two persons $4.00 per day up. Two single beds for two persons $5.00 per day up. HOTEL HENRY, 417 Fifth Avenue; Single room $1.50 up, with bath $2.50. Double room $3.00 up, with bath $4.00 up. SEVENTH AVENUE HOTEL, 7th and Liberty Avenue: Single room $1.25 up, with bath $2.00 up. Double room $2.50 up, with bath $4.00 up. MONONGAHELA HOUSE, Smithfield and Water Streets: Single room $1.50 up, with bath $2.00 up. Double room $2.00 up, with bath $3.50 up. FORT PITT HOTEL, 10th Street and Penn Avenue: Single room $1.50 up, with bath $2.00 up. Double room $3.00 up, with bath $4.00 up. COLONIAL ANNEX, 6th Street and Penn Avenue; Single room $1.50 up, with bath $2.00 up. Double room $2.50 up, with bath $3.00 up. HOTEL ANDERSON, 6th Street and Penn Avenue: Single room $1.50 up, with bath $3.00 up. Double room $3.00 up, with bath $4.00 up. HOTEL SCHENLEY, Forbes Street and Biglow Boulevard: Single room $2.00 up, with bath $2.50 up. Double room $3.00 up, with bath $4.00 up. For further information about accommodations write to Rev. C. R. Zahniser, 245 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh. The following Congress Committee representing the Council of the Churches of Christ in Pittsburgh will give care to local details and the comfort and convenience of the delegates: Rev. W, 1. Wishart, Chairman Rev. J. W. Brown Mr. Harry Dunlap Rev. G. Herbert Ekins Rev. G. W. Englar, Rev. H. C. Gleiss Mr. Ralph W. Harbison Rev. W. H. Heinmiller Mr. John C. Hill Prof. Carman Johnson Rev. Daniel L. Marsh, Rev. G. W. Montgomery, Rev. R. J. Pilgrim Mr. Harry G. Samson Mr. Fred B. Shipp Mr. W. H. Schuette Rev. Charles Reed Zahniser, Executive Secretary No detailed program will be printed. The opening session will be held in the banquet room of the William Penn Hotel at 8 o’clock Monday night the 1st of October, at which time the Congress will be organized, and the committees will be appointed. This session will otherwise be devoted to an interpretation of “The World Situation in Religion”. Additional information can be secured through Rev. Roy B. Guild, Executive Secretary, Commission on Inter-Church Federation. 105 E. 22nd Street, New York, N. Y. LATER. The Committee confidently hopes and ex- pects that Dr. John R. Mott will give the opening address Monday night, October 1st. This statement is based, however, on the following quotation from Dr. Mott’s letter. "It is my hope that I may be able to render the service you have requested, but in view of the present world situation I cannot bind myself to be in any given place as far in advance as the first week in October.” DR. JOHN R. MOTT