Clubhouse Churchmen

In Kansas City last week gathered the Community Church Workers of the U. S. A comparatively new movement, they aim at unity of sects, oppose the misunderstandings, duplicated efforts and money waste of religious competition. There are 2,000 community churches in the U. S. and a journal, The Community Churchman. Best exposition of the ideals of the community church was given by Dr. Burris Atkins Jenkins, who runs one in Kansas City. Said he:

"They are liberal without being icy. They are independent without deserting Christianity. They are socially-minded without becoming faddists. . . . They are experimental and opportunist without scattering and fighting the air. They are progressive without becoming latitudinarian. . . . Instead of so much emphasis on soul saving, the church must direct its attention to life saving . . . must become a clubhouse, a community house, a place of refuge for all lonely and perplexed, instead of a guardhouse and a place of penitence and tears."

Few years ago when a poll was taken among Disciples of Christ (Campbellite) ministers as to the outstanding ones among them, Burris Jenkins was well up in the first ten. A denominational rebel like Alexander Campbell who broke away from the Seceder Presbyterian Church in Western Pennsylvania a century ago, he held an Indianapolis pastorate at 27, became president of that city's University in 1899 and of pious Kentucky University two years later. Not until he took his Kansas City pastorate in 1907 was Dr. Jenkins completely free and happy. A Y. M. C. A. worker and War correspondent for the Kansas City Star, editor and publisher of the Post in 1919-21, he has three sons in journalism: Burris Jr., literate Harvardman, interpreter of the late great Thomas Fferdy and now sports cartoonist for the New York Journal; Paul, adman, and Logan, newsman, on the Denver Post. Dr. Jenkins publishes The Christian (weekly), syndicates "The Drift of the Day'' in 15 Midwestern newspapers. With a journalistic sense such as has earned many a less wise and earnest churchman the reputation of being a fool, he fills his Community Church to overflowing on Sundays with sermons on subjects like cinemas, kidnapping, Will Rogers, Amos 'n' Andy. Last year he had Red Nichols and his Five Hot Pennies play during a Sunday night service. Says Dr. Jenkins: "The odium theologicum has always clung around me." Stocky and kinetic but often in ill health, he has been operated on 22 times, has lost, among other members, his right leg.

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