1942: Congregational Christian Churches

The General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches was held in Durham, N. H., in June. Rev. Ferdinand Q. Blanchard of Cleveland was elected Moderator for the ensuing biennium; Rev. Alfred Grant Walton of Brooklyn, president of the Home Mission Boards, and Rev. Russell Henry Stafford of Boston, president of the Foreign Board. The 1942 session was noteworthy as being the first to include active participation by ecumenical delegates from several other denominations, enjoying all rights in the meeting except that of voting. The central act of worship of the Council was an ecumenical service participated in by ministers of six denominations using eight languages in the Lord's Prayer.

Most of the time of the Council was occupied in seven study seminars holding parallel sessions. No strictly theological issues arose, although progress was reported in the work of the Theological Commission which will later submit to the churches a re-statement of Congregational belief. A general re-statement of the social ideas of the churches was presented by a committee and received without action as a basis of study.

The most controversial topic arising was that of the attitude of the denomination toward war. Rather severe divergencies of judgment resulted in separate voting upon two resolutions, one declaring for 'support of the present war effort of our country at whatever sacrifice of life and treasure,' the other declaring the 'futility of war as a method to achieve goals which should be sought.' Of 544 delegates voting, 409 favored the first statement and 135, the second.

Resolutions were passed strongly approving the work of army chaplains and of the denomination Commission for War Victims and Services, which had enlarged its staff by the appointment of a relief agent in Europe. The organization of an Arts Guild to foster improvement in church architecture and the liturgical arts was consummated.

1941: Congregational Christian Churches

No national ecclesiastical gathering occurred during the year but important regional meetings were held in Springfield, Mass., and Omaha, Neb., augmenting the annual sessions of the Boards of Home and Foreign missions. Very active visitation of churches has been carried on by the energetic lay moderator, Ex-Gov. William E. Sweet of Colorado. Rather sharp differences of opinion with respect to war appeared within the churches. There was much opposition to the formal entry of the United States into war, while an important group of leaders earnestly advocated a negotiated peace.

The Congregational Christian Churches undertook to meet the war situation by the appointment of a responsible committee representing all the missionary boards and the General Council. This committee has raised funds for the assistance of chaplains in the Army and Navy in the service of the men under their care, in the belief that the Church has a responsibility to follow its men who go into the forces defending their country. The Congregational Christian Churches have also organized a Committee on Aid to War Victims which is carrying forward a vigorous campaign for funds for the assistance of refugees in this country and war victims abroad and has been able to send considerable sums of money to the aid of suffering Congregational churches in England and to ministers in distress.

In preparation for the next national meeting of the denomination, to be held at Hanover, N. H., June 23-30, 1942, a Theological Commission has been organized which brings together for a cooperative thinking seven leading theologians from as many seminaries. This Commission is planning a long range program in behalf of intelligent theology in the Congregational Churches. A strong Committee of Thirty-Five has also been constituted to propose revisions of the formal Statement of Social Ideals adopted by the General Council in 1925.

The Congregational Christian Churches have shown a modest growth in membership during the year and a considerable increase in gifts to missionary and benevolent work. The American Board (the foreign missionary agency of these Churches) has had many serious problems due to the necessity of withdrawing missionaries from Japan and relocating many other missionaries whose work has been interrupted by war. A significant event of the year was the celebration of the 125th anniversary of Advance, the national publication of the denomination.