CGCM Conference & council 1950
GENERAL CONFERENCE Convened at the Lone Tree Church, Galva, Kansas November 5-10, 1950
Moderator: F. H. Wenger Asst. Moderator: Reuben J. Koehn Secretary: P. G. Hiebert Asst. Secretary: Frank P. Wiebe
Short memorial services were held in behalf of the ministers and deacons who were called to their reward since the last General Conference 'of 1946. Ministers: F. C. Fricke, Sam Fricke, Conrad Holdeman, Jacob F. Barkman, Tobias A. Unruh, C. G. Buerge, Jesse Johnson. Deacons: P. P. Penner, Abraham Wedel, Jacob Schmidt.
1. Voting Procedures
Article 1,1939 Conference shall be amended to read: Resolved, A 75 percent majority vote of all delegates present will be necessary to adopt, amend, or repeal any Conference article. (Refer to Art. 4, 1956 Conference.)
Two-thirds majority vote of all delegates shall be required to enact
or repeal a Conference Council resolution. .
2. Arrangements Committee
Resolved, That the General Conference Arrangements Committee be increased from a three-member committee to a four-member committee.
3. Church Problems Committee
Resolved, That each district choose a Church Problems Committee recognized by General Conference; said committee members shall be available for consultation in cases of difficult Church problems, and that at least two of the committeemen of the respective district be called for consultation, to act at their discretion. They may also be called to other districts. (Refer to Art. 5, 1983 Conference.)
4. Leading Minister's Term of Office
The duration of office or service of a pastor or leader in a congregation shall be specified to a maximum of three years (where more
52 1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE
than one minister is resident) after which time they may be reelected, or
another one chosen.
5. Release from Ministerial Office
A minister who finds he is not able to fill the office of the ministry, or has become incompetent because of age or for other reasons, may be given an honorable release from such responsibility.
6. Suspension and Reinstatement of Ministers
Resolved, That under certain conditions a minister's call may be suspended either temporarily or permanently. This should be done in consultation with the Church Problems Committee. It was further concluded that on occasions of reinstating a brother whose ministry has been temporarily suspended or he voluntarily withdrew, this shall be done by giving him the right hand of fellowship and commissioning him to carry on his calling as before, in the presence and unity of the congregation.
7. Divine Healing
Resolved, That Art. 11 of the 1917 Conference be amended to read: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him" Qames 5:14). And the Savior says, "They shall lay hands on the sick..." (Mark 16: 18). Therefore, we believe the ministry
and gifts of healing should be encouraged and practiced in the fear of God and by direction of the Word and the Holy Spirit. The anointing with oil, laying on of hands, and prayer to be administered by the ministry or by their approval. But carefulness should be exercised to guard against impure and extreme practices common among professing Christians.
8. Head Garments for Sisters
We approve a plain bonnet, hood, or dark kerchief as consistent for
an outdoor garment for sisters.
9. Devotional Covering during Baptism
We approve the baptizing of sisters without removing the
devotional covering.
10. Automobiles
It is inconsistent for a Christian to own high priced and flashy cars.
(Refer to Art. 15, 1959 Conference.)
1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE 53
11. Recorder
We consider the use of the recorder inconsistent to Christian
welfare. (Refer to Art. 6, 1956 Conference.)
12. Attitude toward Inconsistent Brethren
We believe it is inconsistent for brethren to use intoxicating liquors as a beverage. Provo 23:29-32; 1 Cor. 6:10. Therefore we revise Art. 18 of the 1946 Conference to read as follows: That it is inconsistent for brethren to use intoxicating liquors as a beverage, to use tobacco, to shave or mar the beard, to fail to act according to the Scripture in behalf of excommunicated members, and dress contrary to Bible teachings; such brethren should be admonished according to the teaching of the Scriptures, nor can they be used in responsible positions.
13. Labor Unions
Resolved, That it is inconsistent for members to belong to labor unions under the present setup. Because of insufficient information this resolution was shelved for the present. (Refer to Art. 21, 1956 Conference.)
14. Simplicity at Funerals
Resolved, That we conduct our funerals in simplicity without floral
array. (Refer to Art. 9, 1974 Conference; Art. 2, 1983 Conference)
15. Drift toward Worldliness
Resolved, We consider the drift, and the cause of the drift, of the
Church toward worldliness; also the lack of spiritual life among both younger and older members. Quite a number of ministers, ministers' wives, and lay members expressed their convictions as to the reason for the drift. Beginning with the ministers, a number of confessions were brought. The ministers and parents, as well as all members, in the face of a decided drift toward worldliness, should make it their concern to prayerfully study the cause and remedy it by acknowledging their mistakes wherever most beneficial, whether to individuals or in congregations. (Refer to Articles 1 and 2, 1983 Conference.)
16. General Mission Reports
A. Activities Report-By Harry D. Wenger, Frank Isaac, Jake Ensz, Qac. D. Toews of the Canadian work) J. D. Toews, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta Mission among the Cree and Chipawa Indians; Frank
54 1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Isaac and J. K. Ensz, Bethel Mission and surrounding labors and oppor
tunities in Mexico; Simon Wedel, Tucumcari and :l~mentina Spanish
Mission; George Nichols, Navajo Indian project in Arizona; John 1. Penner, language study for the workers; Ervin Harms, Sunday school and other literature in the Spanish language; a Spanish hymn by Bro. and Sis. Jose V. Garcia.
B. Financial Report-By F. B. Ratzlaff. Report accepted as read.
17. General Mission Quotas
The General Mission quota of 30 cents per member per month shall be raised to 60 cents for at least one year. The delegates from Canada shall bring this decision of the quota of 60 cents to their respective congregations and agree on what they can contribute as their quota. This privilege is given them due to their heavy D.P. program and a lower standard in their national economy.
18. Regarding Mission Field Marriage Problems
A. We unanimously agree that ministers officiate at marriages of
members only, as Paul teaches, "only in the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:39).
B. We cannot recognize common-law marriages. We believe such conditions in the mission fields should be dealt with at the discretion of the workers on the field and upon consultation with the mission board. (Refer to Art. 19, 1993 Conference.)
C. Regarding divorce and remarriage-Art. 20 of the 1933 Conference Council should be referred to. (Refer to Art. 3, 1983 Conference; Art. 9, 1993 Conference.)
19. Publication Board
A. Messenger report
By Jonas B. Koehn. Report accepted as read.
Financial report by G. H. Dyck. Report accepted as read.
Resolved, We increase the subscription price of the Messenger of
Truth from $1.50 to $1.75 per year, and in case it becomes a weekly the price may be set at $2.00 to $2.25 per year.
Resolved, That the Messenger of Truth be changed from a biweekly to a weekly, to become effective as soon as proper arrangements can be made. To supply the proper material three contributing editors were chosen.
1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE 55
B. Messenger of Truth
Editor: Reuben J. Koehn, Goltry, Oklahoma
Associate Editor: Lee Shultz, Elk City, Kansas
Contributing Editors: John M. Penner, Ste. Anne, Manitoba; Harry
Harms, Atmore, Alabama; F. H. Wenger, Moundridge, Kansas
C. Botschafter der Wahrheit
Editor: John 1. Penner, Kleefeld, Manitoba
Associate Editor: Jac. 1. Wiebe, Ste. Anne, Manitoba
Contributing Editors: Joe Isaac, Kleefeld, Manitoba; John B. Toews,
Steinbach, Manitoba
20. Sunday School Literature
Resolved, We approve the use of our present Sunday school literature.
21. Spanish Quarterlies
The Proofreading Committee, the General Mission Board, and the Publication Board shall be authorized to supply our Spanish missions with Sunday school quarterlies and other reading material.
22. Funds for the Publication Board
Resolved, That a steady inflow of funds be provided for publication purposes. Therefore, this Conference recommends that the Sunday school collection of the last Sunday of each quarter, or any other method of collecting that individual congregations may prefer, be sent to the Publication Board treasurer, G. H. Dyck, Hesston, Kansas, for such purposes.
23. Membership Transfer Cards
A recommendation or transfer card shall be printed suitable for use
when members move from one congregation to another.
24. Church History
Resolved, We approve the publishing of the History of the Church
of God, written by Bro. John M. Penner.
25. Primary Bible Study Lessons
Resolved, We publish the Primary Bible Study Lessons compiled by Bro. A. 1. Toews.
56 1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE
26. Diary of Noah Leatherman
Resolved, We publish Bro. Noah Leatherman's diary of experiences
while in camp during World War 1.
27. Thirty-three Articles of Faith
Resolved, We reprint the Thirty-three Articles of Faith, omitting all
reference to the Apocrypha.
28. Hymn Book Committee
A. Report by Harry Wenger.
B. The price of the Christian Hymnal shall remain at $2.00, and
other means shall be sought to cover additional expenses.
29. Historical and Doctrinal Writing and Proving Committee
Report given by F. H. Wenger on translating and proofreading of Spiegel del' Wahrheit, also on History of the Church of God by John M. Penner.
30. Bible Course Compiling Committee
Report on senior lessons by Frank P. Wiebe.
Report on primary lessons in the absence of J. D. Toews by P. G.
Hiebert.
31. Inner Central Committee
A. Financial report read by Fred P. Becker.
B. Activities report by A. 1. Yost.
32. Voluntary Service Program
A Voluntary Service Program shall be sponsored by the Church, yet continue to operate with the MCC. The Inner Central MCC and the mission boards shall be responsible for the administration of this program.
33. Charitable Institutions Reports
A. Report of Linden Home, Swalwell, Alberta, by Walter Unruh and
Gladys Loewen.
B. Financial report of Bethel Home, Montezuma, Kansas, by Dan Schmidt; activities report by John A. Koehn.
1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE 57
34. Charitable Institutions Board
A. General Conference approves the Charitable Institutions Board elected in 1947 by the Western District Conference (Art. 13) as a general board. Its duty is to help solve major problems of the different institutions, in cooperation with the different operating boards.
B. The Charitable Institutions Board is commissioned to take an active part in solving the problems of Mercy Hospital, privileging it to operate partly as a hospital and partly as a convalescent home for an unspecified period of time, subject to next Conference.
35. Mennonite Union Aid
A. Secretary A. J. Unruh brought a financial report. The MUA
rec ommended seven resolutions, which were accepted. They were
recorded with the MUA. Refer to MUA booklet of rules and regulations.
B. An accident prevention and first aid course shall be compiled
and each home of the Church be supplied with the booklet, that tragic
accidents and fire losses may be prevented.
36. Peace Problems Committee
The Peace Problems Committee of Canada and United States of
America shall cooperate in their endeavors, but the committees shall
be elected by their respective districts.
37. Colonization Board
The Colonization Board and the Rehabilitation Board shall be merged under the name Colonization Board. The money formerly in the Rehabilitation Board treasury to be left in the merged Board treasury. The Pacific churches shall elect their members in their district.
Ministers and Deacons Present MINISTERS
Harry Harms, Atmore, Ala.; A. T. Koehn, Edward Jantz, D. H. Dyck, Sam Nichols, Jacob H. Loewen, Winton, Calif.; J. E. Friesen, Ben T. Koehn, Jesse Koehn, Livingston, Calif.; Francis Peters, McDavid, Fla.; Ernest Dirks, Enoch Dirks, Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
Norman Eicher, Burns, Kans.; Claude Unruh, Durham, Kans.; Frank Unruh, Jonas B. Koehn, Abe D. Koehn, Galva, Kans.; Paul Becker, Sedgwick, Kans.; .
John A. Ensz, Abe Toews, Inman, Kans.; John A. Koehn, Albert Unruh, Ervin Harms, David Koehn, Montezuma, Kans.; Vernon Giesbrecht, Hiram Mininger, Cimarron, Kans.; E. W. Frank, Vernon Nightingale, Orlan Wedel, Copeland,
58 1950 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Kans.; Jesse H. Jantz, Neodesha, Kans.; F. H. Wenger, Moundridge, Kans.; Albert Dirks, Ervin Nightingale, Scott City, Kans.; Lee Shultz, Elk City, Kans.; Harvey Yost, Greensburg, Kans.; Harry D. Wenger, Hesston, Kans.; John A. Becker, Canton, Kans.; Lincoln Jantz, Haviland, Kans.; Milferd Wenger, Newton, Kans.; Carl Dirks, Halstead, Kans.; P. G. Hiebert, Hillsboro, Kans.
Pete Decker, DeRidder, La.; F. F. Haynes, Glenn Litwiller, Middleton, Mich.; Reno Hibner, Ithaca, Mich.; Henry Dirks, John Esau, Rich Hill, Mo.; Clifford Mastre, Grafton, N. Dak.; Peter P. Toews, Wales, N. Dak.; C. L. Gearig, Wauseon, Ohio; Geo. Nichols, Sam W. Koehn, Elmer Boehs, Isabella, Okla.; Reuben Koehn, LeRoy Wedel, Goltry, Okla.; Dan Smith, Fairview, Okla.; Edd Unruh, Chickasha, Okla.
F. F. Hiebert, Dan Boese, Albert Toews, Swalwell, Alta.; Isaac Toews, Linden, Alta.; Frank Wiebe, Mt. Lehman, B. c.;
Jacob T. Wiebe, Peter A. Penner, John M. Penner, John P. Dueck, David W. Penner, Ste. Anne, Man.; Herbert Barkman, Steinbach, Man.; John 1. Penner, Kleefeld, Man.; Ger. F. Goossen, Walter P. Goossen, Rosenort, Man.; John D. Penner, Morris, Man.; Jose V. Garcia, Campo 45, Mex.
DEACONS
C. T. Koehn, Dave Giesbrecht, John Koehn, Winton, Calif.; Alfred Koehn,
Livingston, Calif.
Henry Redger, Peter H. Koehn, D. J. H. Schmidt, Sam Schmidt, Montezuma, Kans.; Fred Ratzlaff, Jonas w. Koehn, Laurence Becker, Galva, Kans.; Jacob Wedel, Archie Schmidt, Greensburg, Kans.; Menno Dirks, Sedgwick, Kans.; 1. D. Friesen, Conway, Kans.; Fred Nightengale, Simon Unruh, Scott City, Kans.; Jesse Nichols, Cimarron, Kans.; A. L. Yost, Moundridge, Kans.; E. H. Schmidt, Simon Wedel, Walter Dirks, Copeland, Kans.; John A. Johnson, Jacob Unruh, Abe Schmidt, Halstead, Kans.; G. H. Dyck, Hesston, Kans.; Albert Koehn, Canton, Kans.; John M. Jost, Hillsboro, Kans.; Allen Schmidt, Burns, Kans.; C. C. Wedel, Tampa, Kans.; 1. K. Ensz, Inman, Kans.
Andrew Schmidt, DeRidder, La.; Wilbert Koehn, Harrison, Mich.; Alf. Litwiller, Ithaca, Mich.; Emerson Litwiller, Ezra Inniger, Middleton
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