The National Council of Churches-- The Governing Board At A Glance

Diocesan Press Service. March 11, 1974 [74073]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Governing Board of the National Council of Churches, in mid-winter policy sessions at the Los Angeles Hilton, Feb. 25 -28:

PROBED

A wide range of issues and concerns in five major areas of church life and work: evangelism, unity, human needs, life fulfillment and social change, and

PROPOSED

A number of new programs and program changes to implement recommendations by the five area groups.

DIRECTED

The NCC Division of Church and Society to establish a "working group " on evangelism with paid staff.

APPROVED

Developing closer ecumenical ties with the Roman Catholic Church and conservative Evangelicals.

FORMED

An Energy Crisis Task Force to work with similar agencies of the churches to help "alleviate the impact of the energy crisis on persons, especially the poor. "

PRESSED FOR

Renewed attacks on racism in American society and the churches' task of helping to over-come war and militarism.

URGED

Congress to act "expeditiously in the matter of impeachment" so that the President may have his day in court and so that the nation will have full opportunity to regain confidence in the presidency. And in other resolutions:

ADVOCATED

Exploration by Congress of public financing of political campaigns. CONDEMNED Further U.S. support in arms and other material in the continuing war in Indochina.

EXPRESSED

Shock at the imprisonment of six South Korean clergymen for publicly favoring restoration of democratic freedoms in that country.

CALLED

Attention to the plight of 400 political and other refugees who escaped to the U.S. from Haiti and now face deportation back.

LEARNED

That the Lilly Foundation had granted $200,000 in funding for a new NCC office for Jewish-Christian Relations and for the NCC's Middle East desk.

ACCEPTED

Word that the Board's Executive Committee had earlier approved a special NCC funding of $10, 000 to activate the new Commission on Justice, Liberation and Human Fulfillment and $13,000 for the Interfaith Committee on Corporate Responsibility.

REJECTED

Demands from representatives of a New York-based activist group for a drastic restyling of the recently reorganized Division of Church and Society, and REAFFIRMED Strong confidence in Dr. Claire Randall, the Council's newly installed General Secretary whose resignation the activist group demanded.

HEARD

A major speaker, Dr. William B. Kennedy of the World Council of Churches call for a profound overhaul of educational systems in the Western world that perpetuate racism, sex-role stereotypes, cultural imperialism and class discrimination.

REAFFIRMED

Support for the United Farm Workers Union in their twin organizing struggle against grape and lettuce growers and the Teamsters Union favored by the growers.

LISTENED

Attentively to Cesar Chavez, UFW leader, who told the Board that the struggle for recognition has become the crop pickers' "way of life," and who thanked the Board for its consistent support of the UFW over the past.

SENT

A deputation of 10 Board members to the Gallo Wine Corp. in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the company to grant free union elections among its workers.

DIRECTED

Them to continue their efforts.

HEARD

Timothy Cardinal Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles, state his belief that stress and tension are appropriate in the life of the Church.

ADVOCATED

Exploration by Congress of public financing of political campaigns.

CONDEMNED

Further U.S. support in arms and other material in the continuing war in Indochina.

EXPRESSED

Shock at the imprisonment of six South Korean clergymen for publicly favoring restoration of democratic freedoms in that country.

CALLED

Attention to the plight of 400 political and other refugees who escaped to the U.S. from Haiti and now face deportation back.

LEARNED

That the Lilly Foundation had granted $200,000 in funding for a new NCC office for Jewish-Christian Relations and for the NCC's Middle East desk.

ACCEPTED

Word that the Board's Executive Committee had earlier approved a special NCC funding of $10, 000 to activate the new Commission on Justice, Liberation and Human Fulfillment and $13,000 for the Interfaith Committee on Corporate Responsibility.

REJECTED

Demands from representatives of a New York-based activist group for a drastic restyling of the recently reorganized Division of Church and Society, and

REAFFIRMED

Strong confidence in Dr. Claire Randall, the Council's newly installed General Secretary whose resignation the activist group demanded.

HEARD

A major speaker, Dr. William B. Kennedy of the World Council of Churches call for a profound overhaul of educational systems in the Western world that perpetuate racism, sex-role stereotypes, cultural imperialism and class discrimination.

REAFFIRMED

Support for the United Farm Workers Union in their twin organizing struggle against grape and lettuce growers and the Teamsters Union favored by the growers.

LISTENED

Attentively to Cesar Chavez, UFW leader, who told the Board that the struggle for recognition has become the crop pickers' "way of life," and who thanked the Board for its consistent support of the UFW over the past.

SENT

A deputation of 10 Board members to the Gallo Wine Corp. in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the company to grant free union elections among its workers.

DIRECTED

Them to continue their efforts.

HEARD

Timothy Cardinal Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles, state his belief that stress and tension are appropriate in the life of the Church.

RECEIVED

Praise from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley for the NCC and the local ecumenical church councils for their "responsible involvement in social and political action."

WILL MEET

Next in New York City on October 10- 14.