The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches is grateful for the effective Christian witness which many churches and individual Christians are bearing in communities disturbed by tension and confusion in connection with problems of desegregation. We join them in urging responsible local community action and obedience to the mandates of the U.S. Supreme Court. We hope that the necessity of further Federal enforcement of rights can be avoided by the responsible action of local authorities. We are thankful that churches and individual Christians impelled by the mandates of the Gospel of Christ, are standing for justice along with reconciliation, for law along with self-discipline. We assure the churches and our fellow Christians in these agonizing situations of our sympathy and prayers, of our resolution to assist them in ways that may be helpful, including continued practical support when they suffer hardship as a result of loyalty to Christian principles.

The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches reaffirms at this time its renunciation of the pattern of racial segregation, both in the churches and in society, as a violation of the gospel of love and human brotherhood. Segregation is also bad economics, wasteful of human resources, detrimental to the development of a healthy political life, a grave obstacle to the development of our relationship and mission with churches in other parts of the world and to the establishment of world peace.

This general assembly commits itself, and urges the member churches and all of their constituencies to commit themselves, to strengthen further the efforts and to increase the work of the churches, national, regional and local, to achieve as soon as possible a nonsegregated society.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA

General Board, New York, N.Y., October 2, 1957

RESOLUTIONS FOR THE GENERAL BOARD

I. The General Board of the National Council of Churches is grateful for the effective Christian witness which many churches and individual Christians are bearing in communities disturbed by tension and confusion in connection with problems of desegregation. We are thankful that they, impelled by the mandates of the Gospel of Christ, are standing for justice along with reconciliation, for law along with self-discipline. Especially during the recent days of crisis in Little Rock, such actions of our fellow churchmen have inspired in us a sense of warm Christian fellowship.

II. The General Board authorizes the Department of Racial and Cultural Relations to convey the concern of the council, as expressed in its numerous statements opposing segregation to officers of church groups, ministers, community leaders and others in these and other situations of tension, as the department may deem appropriate.

III. The board endorses the telegram sent by the president of the council to the President of the United States on the occasion of his conference with Southern Governors. Copy of telegram to President as follows:

"Your actions in upholding the decisions of the Federal Courts and in supporting the community forces desirous of complying with the Court's decisions and the steps you have taken to restore law and order are worthy of commendation. Obedience to law is essential to the safety and security of all our citizens as well as to the good name and influence of our Nation abroad. I trust that these important considerations will be determinative as you confer with the committee of Southern Governors. May God bless and guide you in your deliberations and decisions.

EUGENE CARSON BLAKE, President, National Council of Churches.”

RESOLUTION ON RACIAL TENSIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL BOARD OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE U.S.A., FEBRUARY 27-28, 1957

Voted that the National Council of Churches notes with deep appreciation the leadership being taken by various church councils, councils of church women, ministerial groups, and individual Christians, who are working earnestly for discipline and good will in situations of racial tension in all parts of the country.

We continue to join in prayer with all those whose patience is sorely tried and who suffer because of enmities.

THE METHODIST SOCIAL CREED

(Adopted 1956 general conference)

"We instruct those in charge of publishing the Discipline to include the social creed, with such revisions as may be adopted from time to time, in all future editions unless other directions are received from the general conference."— Discipline, 1940.

E. Freedom from discrimination.-We stand for the rights of racial groups and insist that the social, economic, and spiritual principles set forth in this creed apply to all races alike. We urge individual Christians and churches to make a serious and prayerful examination of their own attitudes and practices in regard to racial equality and fellowship with the determination to bring our practices into conformity with Christian ideals.

THE METHODIST CHURCH AND RACE

(Adopted 1956 general conference)

The teaching of our Lord is that all men are brothers. The Master permits no discrimination because of race, color, or national origin.

The position of the Methodist Church, long held and frequently declared, is an amplification of our Lord's teaching: "To discriminate against a person solely upon the basis of his race it both unfair and un-Christian. Every child of God is entitled to that place in society which he has won by his industry and his character. To deny him that position of honor because of the accident of his birth is neither honest democracy nor good religion" ("The Episcopal Address,” 1952 and 1956).

There must be no place in the Methodist Church for racial discrimination or enforced segregation. Recognizing that we have not attained this goal, yet rejoicing in the progress made, we recommend that discrimination or segregation by any method or practice, whether by conference structure or otherwise, in the Methodist Church be abolished with reasonable speed. The growing spirit of brotherhood throughout the church strengthens our confidence that under the leadership of the Holy Spirit we will continue to go forward.

There is a changing racial climate in our world, largely growing out of the teachings of the Christian church. The conscience of society has become increasingly sensitive regarding racial discrimination and injustice. Methodists unite with people of all lands and all faiths in a determined effort to eliminate these un-Christian practices. We look to the ultimate establishment of a truly Christian society.

The decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States relative to segregation make necessary far-reaching and often difficult community readjustments throughout the Nation. We call upon our people to effect these adjustments in all good faith, with brotherliness and patience. In doing this all racial groups must be willing to admit their imperfections and seek to correct them. Let these things, however, be done in love lest the cause of Christ suffer at our hands.

It is our desire to accomplish the realization of Christian brotherhood and full participation by all in every aspect of the church's life. We join other people of good will around the world in moving toward the day when all races shall share richly without discrimination or segregation in the good things of life. Therefore, we resolutely go forward with the work begun with respect to race relations in the church and in our world.

In this spirit, we recommend the following:

1. That the institutions of the church, local churches, colleges, universities, theological schools, publishing agencies, hospitals, and homes carefully restudy their policies and practices as they relate to race, making certain that these policies and practices are Christian.

2. That Methodists in their homes, in their work, in their churches, and in their communities actively work to eliminate discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. That parents, teachers and others who work with

children and youth help create attitudes which make it easy to live in harmony with those of other races.

3. That Methodist Churches in changing neighborhoods, rather than seeking new locations, early prepare their people to welcome into their fellowship all races as they become a part of their community.

That our pastors, upon whom rests the responsibility of receiving individuals into church membership, discharge that responsibility without regard to race, color, or national origin.

4. That bishops, district superintendents, pastors, and lay leaders seek ways for the implementation of better fraternal relations between the central jurisdiction and other jurisdictions where they are adjacent, by closer cooperation at annual and district conferences, and at local church levels.

5. That Methodists at national and international meetings of the church make provision for equality of accommodations for all races, without discrimination or segregation.

6. That the many racial and national groups which make up our Methodist world fellowship be afforded the opportunity without discrimination to enjoy full participation in all the activities of the church.

A MESSAGE ON RACE RELATIONSHIPS

PROMPTED BY A RECENT DECISION OF THE SUpreme Court of the United STATES ON SEGREGATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Adopted January 14, 1955, by Board of Social and Economic Relations of the Methodist Church, A. Dudley Ward, Executive Secretary, Chicago, Ill.

A recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on the subject of segregation in the public schools serves to direct the attention of Methodist people to the position and convictions of our Church on the Christian attitude in race relationships.

A STEP FORWARD

We realize that legislation and judicial interpretation are not the function of the church. The primary responsibility of the church is in the moral and spiritual areas of life. However, legislation and decisions of the courts are responsive to the changing moral convictions of the people. This is clearly illustrated by the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the school segregation cases. Despite the fact that for many years the courts of our land, including the Supreme Court itself, have held repeatedly that segregation in public schools is lawful (under the "separate but equal facilities" doctrine), the churches have carried on a continuing battle for complete and equal rights for all people without regard to race, creed, or color. The feeling abides that the decision of the Supreme Court is a step forward which reflects the oft-repeated position of the churches upon this subject.

THE ESTABLISHED POSITION

We point to the stated position of the Methodist Church upon this subject. Attention is especially called to the following statements, all of which were made some years before the Supreme Court decision was announced: 1. In 1948 the general conference of the Methodist Church stated: "The principle of racial discrimination is in clear violation of the Christian belief in the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, and the Kingdom of God, the proclamation of which in word and life is our gospel. We therefore have no choice but to denote it as unchristian and to renounce it as evil. This we do without equivocation."

2. The Episcopal address delivered to the 1952 session of the general conference of the Methodist Church declared: "To discriminate against a person solely upon the basis of his race is both unfair and unchristian. Every child of God is entitled to that place in society which he has won by his industry, his integrity, and his character. To deny him that position of honor because of the accident of his birth is neither honest democracy nor good religion."

3. In 1952 the general conference of the Methodist Church stated: "Ours is a world church. As such its responsibility is to unite in one fellowship men and women of all races and nations. As Christians we confess ourselves to be children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ *** it is *

our imperative duty *** resolutely to set about achieving a Christian brotherhood in the Church that will be free from race discrimination and segregation." (The Discipline of the Methodist Church, 1952, page 651.)

THE DIFFICULTIES AHEAD

We realize that the carrying out of the Court's opinion in these cases will be fraught with difficulty and pain unless the steps taken to put it into effect are made with the moral support of Christian people of both the white and the colored races. We are mindful of the fact that the adjustments which now must be made present greater problems in some areas than others, but we are confident that our people in all areas of our country can and will face and solve these problems in a just and Christian manner.

THE PROGRESS MADE

The Methodist Church is keenly aware of these problems. They are not new. They have existed ever since peoples of different races have attempted to live side by side. Progress has already been made in producing understanding and good will between those of different racial origins. We are of many racial origins, yet we have learned to make the proud backgrounds of our various races part of our own heritage. This is the genius of America.

We are proud of the outstanding accomplishments of many of those of the colored races among us. We are prouder of the fact that no other race in history has made such progress in such a short period of time as has the American Negro.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS

We recommend to our Methodist people, clergy, and laity alike:

1. That the decision of the Supreme Court be accepted graciously and gracefully with the realization that this decision is but a confirmation of our own church's position.

2. That our people in their individual lives, in their church activities, and in their communities practice the conviction that no one should be discriminated against on the basis of race or color.

3. That we actively support and continually strive to preserve and improve our public schools to the end that every child shall be afforded the best possible means which public education can provide to prepare him for responsible citizenship in a democratic community. We look to our people to help superintendents and boards of education who face the task of implementing the decision of the court.

4. That we create right attitudes in our homes and in our church schools as we work with children and youth so they may learn to live in harmony with those of other races.

5. That we practice and preach our belief that we are all children of the same Heavenly Father, that we all live under the same law, and worship the same God. Therefore, we encourage our churches everywhere to move resolutely forward toward the goal of full participation of the people of all races in the life of the church and the community.

THE BIBLE SPEAKS ON RACE

Adopted by board of social and economic relations of the Methodist Church,

September 26, 1957

The general board of social and economic relations is happy to release to the church this statement on "The Bible Speaks on Race." The inspiration for this pamphlet came from the statement of a similar nature published by the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, whose willingness to cooperate with us in the use of their idea and material pleased us greatly. We commend this document to our church for careful study and discussion.

They

Throughout the Bible mention is made of national and racial groups. are said to have a common origin and to form basically one family of men. Modern science agrees with the Biblical assertion of the essential oneness of all

mankind. The Bible affirms that it is God's purpose to unite all men in Christ and the Church.

There are passages in the Bible where suspicion and hatred of other peoples are expressed, as, for example, in Obadiah, Ezra, Nahum, and certain Psalms. But in the light of Jesus' life and teaching it is clear that the large-hearted attitudes expressed in Isaiah and Jonah and in the New Testament are more in harmony with the divine will.

The modern race problem is fundamentally moral and spiritual, not simply economic, political, and cultural. The Bible describes in terms that speak plainly to our modern racial tensions how men are to live together on this earth in obedience to the will of God. This will, as set forth in the Bible, is expressed in the following affirmations:

1. All nations of men have a common origin and in the eyes of God constitute a single family

Acts 17: 24, 26: "God

hath made of one blood all nations of men for to *" (AV) "And he made from one every

dwell on all the face of the earth nation of men to live on all the face of the earth. *** (RSV. Passages hereafter are from this version.)

Ephesians 3: 14-15: "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father. from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named * *

2. Man was created in the image of God and therefore every human being is of infinite worth

Genesis 1:27: "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him."

Matthew 18: 14: "It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."

II Peter 3:9: "The Lord *** is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

3. God shows no partiality

Acts 10:34-35: “God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." Romans 2: 11: "God shows no partiality."

*

Ephesians 6:9: "* * there is no partiality with him."

4. Jesus Christ came to redeem every man regardless of race or nationality The New Testament writers stress the universality of the gospel :

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Luke 24: 47: "*** that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations ***"

Hebrews 2:9: “* ** that by the Grace of God he might taste death for every one."

Romans 10: 12-13: "There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, 'every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.'"

Jesus showed a special interest in the Samaritans, who were despised by the Jews;

John 4:1-42: He offered the water of life to the woman of Samaria and her people.

Luke 10: 25-37: A Samaritan was the hero in one of his greatest parables. Luke 17:11-19: He commented on the gratitude of the healed Samaritan leper who alone returned to give him thanks.

Acts 1:8: He included Samaria in his commission to his Disciples.

5. Persons who respond to the call of Christ in love and obedience enter a new kind of fellowship in the Church where racial barriers are transcended Galatians 3: 26-28: "In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:13-18: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in this flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,