CGCM Special delegate & council 1953
SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE Convened at the Lone Tree Church, Galva, Kansas September 27, 1953
Moderator: Reuben J. Koehn Asst. Moderator: Ervin F. Harms Secretary: P. G. Hiebert Asst. Secretary: Frank P. Wiebe
1. Review Alternative Service
A. A review of all units where our brethren are serving, including
the number of men at each project, was given by Arverd Wiggers.
There are at present eight units where 57 single brethren and 57 married brethren, together with their wives, serve, making a total of 171 members in service.
A. L. Yost reported on Church projects, such as Inner MCC projects at Tucumcari, New Mexico; Ganado, Arizona; and Campo 45, Cuauhtemoc, Mexico.
B. Concerning Joining Unions: After reconsidering the joining of labor unions, this Conference unanimously believes it is inconsistent with the Christian faith and therefore is opposed to joining them. As employees or agriculturalists we can have no part financially or otherwise in labor unions or any such subsidiary organizations, because they make use of such well-known methods as the monopolistic closed shop, the boycott, the picket line, and the strike. (Refer to Art. 21, 1956 Conference.)
C. Concerning the Loyalty Oath: After quite lengthy deliberation, it was resolved that brethren who are responsible or advisers of Veterans Administration projects negotiate with proper authorities concerning the affirmation or oath that closes with "So help me God," if they will not permit the deletion of the objectionable oath. In case we find no way to solve the problem, we feel such projects to be closed for our brethren.
D. Discipline: The Alternative Service Policy was discussed and
adopted with the privilege to amend it as conditions may demand.
Resolved, That 1-W men become subject to unit discipline regardless
60 1953 SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE
of home congregation conditions. The unit leader should take such problems into hand and, if necessary, resort to the minister in charge and in cooperation with the home ministers and parents; and;
extreme cases, the Church Problems Committee should be consulted.
E. Ministerial Assistance in Units: Ministers of the Pacific Coast churches, including those of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, offered to supply ministerial needs for the present time at Roseburg, Oregon, and at Los Angeles, California. This offer was accepted. This aid is to be given in cooperation with the Public Service Committee.
Resolved, That the Public Service Committee, in cooperation with the Church Problems Committee, provide pastors and ministerial help in alternative service units in fellowship with brethren responsible for their spiritual needs.
F. Reaffirming Our Attitude: Resolved, That we reaffirm Our Statement of Attitude on War and Military Service in this Conference. It was unanimously reaffirmed. (Refer to Art. 9, 1917 Conference; Art. 10, 1983 Conference.)
2. The J. A. Schowalter Estate
Mr. J. A. Schowalter graciously willed a portion of his large estate to the Church and its services. It became necessary to officially accept this and to elect trustees. Therefore, after the will was explained and discussed before the delegates and others present, the following resolution was made:
It was resolved by the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, in a Special Delegate Conference assembled at the Lone Tree Church near Galva, McPherson County, Kansas, this 28th day of September 1953, as follows: That the rights, benefits, and privileges granted under the terms of the last will and testament of J. A. Schowalter, deceased, be accepted by this Conference, and that the trustees appointed pursuant thereto be empowered and authorized to form the necessary foundation, if deemed advisable by them, to carry out the intention and purpose of J. A. Schowalter as expressed in his last will and testament.
The qualifications of the trustees as stipulated in Paragraph 7 were
read by Mr. H. Sizemore before election.
Resolved, That we choose two brethren as trustees for the J. A. Schowalter Foundation. The following were elected: D. C. Buller, Halstead, Kansas; Adin Holdeman, Hesston, Kansas.
1953 SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE 61
An advisory committee was chosen to aid the above trustees: F. H. I
Wenger, Moundridge, Kansas; Reuben J. Koehn, Lahoma, Oklahoma; I
and Walter Dirks, Copeland, Kansas, also proxy for trustee.
3. A General Review of Our Responsibility
A. Relief: A. L. Yost brought an overall review of relief projects. He stressed the need in Europe and other places and exhorted that we continue in our activities, also the sewing circles are to do their part.
B. Mission: Dave Reimer gave a brief report on Rocky Mountain Mission. Walter Dirks gave a brief report on the Ganado, Arizona, Mission. Ervin Harms gave a report on Campo 45, Mexico, and its outposts. He mentions that Campo 45 has set the month of October aside as the Gift Month for Bethel Hospital, also that the brethren there are in need of assistance. Harry Wenger reported on Ohio missions, tent meetings in Kansas City, Missouri; Thomas, Oklahoma, etc. Bro. Levi Plank of Ohio commented on the Ohio Mission. Aaron Koehn spoke on enlarging Mercy Hospital.
C. Mexico migration: Harry Wenger reported the negotiation is
proceeding satisfactorily in most respects, but very slowly.
4. Aged Ministers' and Missionaries' Assistance
Resolved, To assist needy aged ministers and missionaries. That the General Mission Board receive funds and act as receiving agent until the next General Conference; however, this board shall, in cooperation with the respective district boards, extend aid to such as are considered needy.
5. Hospitalization Plan
Resolved, That a Church-sponsored hospitalization plan, including medical care, be given study by the Charitable Institutions Board. The plan shall be ready to be presented at the next General Conference. (Refer to Art. 19, 1956 Conference.)
6. Prairie View Mental Hospital
Bro. Albert Unruh, a representative for the Prairie View Mental Hospital near Newton, Kansas, gave a short overall report on this proposed hospital. He reported that there was a lack of building funds and appealed to the different congregations and representatives to continue the effort to raise the needed funds.
62 1953 SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE
Resolved, That delegates and representatives urge with emphasis the
raising of these funds in their respective congregations.
7. Attendance of Meetings Other than of the Church
After lengthy deliberations concerning attending outside evangelistic and healing meetings, the following resolution was adopted: We reaffirm the faith to which we hold as to the attending of religious meetings conducted by those not of our faith. (Refer to Art. 9, 1896 Conference.)
8. Sunday School Quarterlies
F. H. Wenger explained the reason for objectionable statements and pictures in the Primary 'quarterly which, he has reason to believe, may be somewhat alleviated in the future; however, he does not feel to recommend too strongly the use of this particular quarterly.
Harry Wenger gave a short report of editing the Senior and Junior quarterlies. There is reasonably good cooperation, and with the exception of having our own, we believe these quarterlies to be the best for the present.
9. The Charitable Institutions Board
The above board informed this Conference that they received inquiry to take over the administration of a home for the aged not of our denomination and would like counsel. After deliberations it was resolved that we have enough institutions in our own conference to employ qualified workers at present.
Ministers and Deacons Present MINISTERS
John A. Koehn, Livingston, Calif.; Jake H. Loewen, A. T. Koehn, John Esau, Winton, Calif.; Eben Nightingale, Crowley, Colo.; P. G. Hiebert, Atmore, Ala.; Jona Dyck, Hillsboro, Kans.; Harvey Yost, Greensburg, Kans.; Lincoln Jantz, Haviland, Kans.; Norman Eicher, Dennis Smith, Alvin Koehn, Burns, Kans.; Vernon Giesbrecht, Samuel Jantzen, Cimarron, Kans.; Lee Shultz, Elk City, Kans.; Jesse Jantz, Neodesha, Kans.; Carl Dirks, Halstead, Kans.; Paul Becker, Sedgwick, Kans.; Arnold Wiggers, Kenneth Smith, Halstead, Kans.; Claude Unruh, Durham, Kans.; Frank Unruh, John A. Becker, Jonas B. Koehn, Arverd Wiggers, Galva, Kans.; Abe D. Koehn, Canton, Kans.; F. H. Wenger, Moundridge, Kans.; Harry Wenger, Hesston, Kans.; Milferd Wenger, Newton, Kans.; David J. Koehn, Albert Unruh, Ervin Harms, Montezuma, Kans.; Willard
1953 SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE 63
Johnson, Copeland, Kans.; Daniel Koehn, Montezuma, Kans.; Vernon Nightingale, Orlan Wedel, Copeland, Kans.; Ervin Nightingale, Albert Dirks, Scott City, Kans.; John A. Ensz, Inman, Kans.; Abe Toews, Windom, Kans.
P. W. Decker, Chester Johnson, DeRidder, La.; F. F. Haynes, Middleton, Mich.; Newell Litwiller, Carson City, Mich.; Henry Dirks, Rich Hill, Mo.; George Nichols, Sam W. Koehn, Elmer Boehs, Isabella, Okla.; Dan Smith, Fairview, Okla.; Reuben Koehn, Lahoma, Okla.; LeRoy Wedel, Goltry, Okla.
Frank Wiebe, Abbotsford, B. c.; F. F. Hiebert, Swalwell, Alta.; Isaac Toews, Linden, Alta.; John M. Penner, John P. Dueck, Clifford Penner, Jacob T. Wiebe, Ste. Anne, Man.; John 1. Penner, Kleefeld, Man.; John D. Penner, Morris, Man.; John P. Isaac, Rosenort, Man.; M. P. Barkman, Whitemouth, Man.
DEACONS
David L. Giesbrecht, Glenn, Calif.; D. J. H. Schmidt, Crowley, Colo.; John
M. Jost, H. M. Penner, Hillsboro, Kans.; Jacob Wadel, Archie Schmidt, Greensburg, Kans.; Allen Schmidt, Alvin Wedel, Raymond Becker; Burns, Kans.; Ivan Schmidt, Clarence Wadel, Fredonia, Kans.; Jacob J. Unruh, Abe Schmidt, Halstead, Kans.; Menno Dirks, Sedgwick, Kans.; C. C. Wedel, Tampa, Kans.; Fred Ratzlaff, Jonas W. Koehn, Laurence F. Becker, Sam P. Unruh, George Schafer, Galva, Kans.; Albert E. Koehn, Canton, Kans.; A. L. Yost, Moundridge, Kans.; G. H. Dyck, Hesston, Kans.
Walter Dirks, Copeland, Kans.; Peter H. Koehn, William P. Koehn, Montezuma, Kans.; E. H. Schmidt, S. C. Wedel, Pete D. Schmidt, Copeland, Kans.; Fred Nightengale, Russell Unruh, Simon Unruh, Scott City, Kans.; 1. K. Ensz, 1. K. Friesen, Jake L. Ensz, Inman, Kans.; Albert Smith, DeRidder, La.; Ezra Inniger, Middleton, Mich.; Wilbert Koehn, Harrison, Mich.; Nathan Schmidt, Rich Hill, Mo.; Lloyd C. Gearig, Wauseon, Ohio; Alfred Boehs, Isabella, Okla.; Frank Nightengale, Arthur Koehn, Fairview, Okla.; Alfred Nightingale, Ben Jantz, Verden, Okla.; Albert Schmidt, Goltry, Okla.; A. R. Wiebe, Mt. Lehman, B. c.; Dave Reimer, Swalwell, Alta.; Jacob M. Penner, George R. Wiebe, Ste. Anne, Man.; Henry Goossen, McTavish, Man.
DELEGATES
J. G. Loewen, Creswell, Oreg.; Levi Plank, Millersburg, Ohio; Arlie Iutzi, Harrison, Mich.
64 1953 SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE
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