NCCC General Board Report
Diocesan Press Service. March 8, 1966 [41-12]
The policy making General Board of the National Council of Churches adopted several statements at its winter meeting in St. Louis. They encouraged a speedy peace in Vietnam, regularized international relations with Red China and greater economic pressures against apartheid in southern Africa. The meeting was held Feb. 22-24 with 11 Episcopal members in attendance.
In a policy statement passed by 90 votes against three with one abstention, the board advocated the seating of Red China in the United Nations. Episcopalians voted - 6 approvals; 1 disapproval.
The U. S. government should "develop a new policy of support" to seating the government of mainland China, the policy statement said, "without prejudice to its own policy concerning diplomatic recognition, and under conditions which take into account the welfare, security and political status of Taiwan, including membership in the United Nations."
The statement urged President Johnson to "bring about the establishment" of a "Commission on United States policy in relation to the People's Republic of China".
The policy statement also encouraged free travel, trade and cultural exchanges between the U. S. and China, asking the U. S. to give "careful study" to "regularizing diplomatic communication" with China.
Another policy statement urgently called on all citizens to resist any effort to curtail freedom of speech, assembly and petition -- specially in this time of international crisis and domestic conflict."
This statement recommended that the National Council of Churches and its member communions conduct special studies of "possible new legal bases for conscientious objection" and "the profound disturbance of many young people of draft age over the decisions they must make about military service."
Still another policy statement urged the U. S. government to strengthen its economic sanctions against Southern Rhodesia in protest against racial apartheid, and to undertake similar measures against South Africa's "denial of rights to non-whites." The Episcopal vote was 10 approvals.
In a resolution on Vietnam, the board called for immediate peace "in the light of recent developments."
Just before adjourning, the board commissioned the president of the National Council, Bishop Reuben H. Mueller of Indianapolis, senior bishop of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, to represent U. S. Protestant, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox communions in a spiritual preaching mission in South Vietnam at Easter.
Bishop Mueller will conduct services for U.S. armed services personnel on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week.
The board also authorized him to appoint a special Advisory Committee on Peace with a staff officer who will "stimulate and coordinate" both emergency and long-range NCC programs aimed at promoting a just and lasting peace.
The new committee will absorb the functions of the present Advisory Committee on Vietnam. It will recommend overall policy and strategy to the general board, propose emergency actions to the council, and coordinate its own efforts with those of member denominations.
Dr. Arthur S. Flemming of Eugene, Ore., NCC first vice president, president of the University of Oregon and former U. S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, disclosed while formally proposing the new advisory committee that an "anonymous foundation has pledged an unconditional four-year grant of $150, 000" to its support.
The new executive director of the council's Commission on Religion and Race, the Rev. Benjamin F. Payton, called in his inaugural report to the board for the abolishment of Race Relations Sunday, Brotherhood Week and "all of the other little aspirins by which we salve our consciences." Such observances are "trivial", he said.
In a policy statement on "Christian Concern and Responsibility for Economic Life in a Rapidly Changing Technological Society," the board asserted that science and technology in themselves are "neither good nor evil," but "gifts of God" which man can either use well and be blessed or misuse and suffer. The Episcopal vote was 2 approvals, 1 disapproval, 2 abstentions.
The board authorized a U. S. Conference on Church and Society to be held in 1967 as a national follow-up to the World Conference on Church and Society scheduled next July in Geneva, Switzerland.
In its final session the board passed a policy statement which urged universal unemployment insurance to cover all employees receiving wage income. Such insurance should provide benefits sufficient to "sustain human dignity while preserving incentives to seek further employment," the statement said. The Episcopal vote was 6 approvals and 1 abstention.
The board will next meet June 3-4 in New York City.