DIAMOND POINTS I // INTERCHURCH WORLD MOVEMENT III HFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY What It Is. The Interchurch World Movement has been called into existence for the purpose of developing a plan whereby the evangelical churches of North America may co» operate in carrying out their educational, missionary and bene- volent programs at home and abroad. Origin. It had its beginning in a meeting held in New York City, December 17, 1918, in response to a call of the Foreign Mission Board of the Presbyterian Church South. The one hundred and thirty-five persons in attendance unanimously agreed that the times demand a degree of efficiency and power on the part of the evangelical churches, which can be effectually secured only by the cooperation of all. The Plan Formed and Received, A Committee of Twenty was created to report a plan of organization and procedure. The report of this committee was received, and approved in turn by the Foreign Missions Conference of North America, the Home Missions Council, the Council of Church Boards of Education, the Sunday School Council, the Federation of Women’s Boards of Foreign Missions, and the Council of Women for Home Missions. Each of these bodies heartily pledged its cooperation in making the plan a reality. More than sixty denominational and jnterdenominational agencies have endorsed the Movement. Announced to the Country. The plans of the Movement were presented widely by means of a series of regional conferences, and much helpful criticism and many constructive sugges- tions were called forth. One hundred leading pastors, after a two days’ conference at Pittsburgh, in April, 1919, enthusias- tically and unanimously approved the Movement. An Inter- board conference of five hundred men and women from twenty- eight communions and largely representative of the official de- nominational boards and societies, was held in Cleveland, April 30-May ly 1919. Here the idea of the Movement received the most careful consideration, and the conviction was unanimous that it was providential, necessary and imperative. Scope. The Interchurch World Movement has set itself the task of discovering and grouping the facts ^ concerning the world’s needs; of building a program of inspiration and edu- cation based on these facts ; of developing spiritual power adequate for the task; and of securing enough lives and money to meet the needs. Survey and Budget. The facts are being ascertained by means of a world-wide survey and the needs of the world as revealed by this survey are being budgeted in terms of men and money suffident to meet them. Education. The “Interchurch Bulletin’’ informs workers in the churches and in the Movement of the latest developments in the program of the organization. Several periodicals — “World Outlook,’’ “Everyland,’’ “La Nueva Democracia” — are pub- lished by the Movement for the dissemination through the churches of information concerning the Kingdom. Literature explanatory of the Movement and designed to develop the spiritual resources of the churches, Christian stewardship and life service, is widely distributed by the Movement. Conferences. The Movement by- means of training conferences for state leaders and pastors is preparing to carry the message of the world’s needs to the last church and is seeking to lay upon each member a personal responsibility with reference to the whole task, Enlistment. A great spiritual campaign will seek the enlist- ment of the entire life of consecrated men, and of money sufficient to carry to completion the whole program of the organization. Administration. For economy and conservation in the work of the Kingdom, interdenominational cooperation which has been steadily increasing during recent years, is to be carried just as far as the condition of separate organizations will permit. But the Movement does not in any way, seek to displace or interfere with the autonomy and responsibility of administra- tion of the cooperating agencies. Contributions. In the financial campaign the funds raised among the several constituencies, should be sent directly to the regular treasurers of such bodies. A central treasury, however, will assemble and report the financial facts of the campaign and will disburse funds for the common expenses of the Move- ment. It also will serve as a clearing house for all cooperat- ing agencies, receiving funds not sent through regular denominational treasurers and distributing the same on a pro rata basis as agreed upon by the several agencies cooper- ating. Expenses. The immediate expenses of the Movement are being met through credits established by the cooperating boards of the churches. These boards do not advance money, but they do provide credit on which the Movement can borrow. Cost. The cost of the campaign will depend upon the size of the budget. The larger the budget, the less will be the pro- portional cost. Financial campaigns of the size heretofore un- dertaken separately by the cooperating agencies usually cost from seven to twelve per cent, of the total amount secured. It is expected that the cost of this campaign will be reduced to about four per cent, of the total, effecting a saving of fifty per cent, or more. Extent of Cooperation, It is left to each denomination to de- termine the extent to which it will cooperate in the financial campaign. If any denomination has obtained all the money it needs for the next five years it can enter on all the other phases of the Movement, if it so desires. Relation to the Forward Movernents. The Interchurch Move- ment comes as a natural culmination of denominational for- ward movements, the leaders of which were quick to realize that the objectives which they had in mind could be attained in a still larger way by working together. With revised pro- grams and unified aims, they now seek to do their work col- lectively through the instrumentality of the Interchurch World Movement. No.264.I.200.Dec.,1919.