The Observance of Church Comity Arrangements
By Francis M. Wilcox
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS are sometimes criticized because they are unwilling to submit to the comity arrangements in respect to territory which are agreed to by many of the church missionary societies. They are, however, not alone in refusing to become a party to this plan. According to the Western Recorder for Dec. 31, 1914, trouble has recently arisen between the Baptists and Presbyterians over this matter. For some years the Presbyterians have been10operating a mission in Madison, Ill. Recently the Baptists opened a mission in Granite City, a town adjoining Madison. This brought to the Southern Baptist Convention a strong protest from the minister in charge of the Presbyterian mission. In this he declares that “the field belongs to the Presbyterians by right of priority and occupation,” and also that the presence of a Baptist mission is in violation of the comity arrangements respecting the territory of other denominations agreed upon by the several great Protestant churches during the home missionary council. Among other things it is charged that the congregation of the Baptist mission, with the exception of one family, is made up wholly of the former attendants at the Presbyterian mission. Commenting upon this protest, the editor of the Recorder says:— As will be noted, our friend says that these comity arrangements have been made between Protestants, and as Baptists are not Protestants they are not bound by such arrangements. It is with shame, however, that we must admit that our Northern Baptist leaders have entered this amalgamation for the elimination of the Baptist gospel. . . . The great commission commands us to preach the gospel to every creature regardless of anything or anybody, and this Baptists will continue to do till called upon to give an account of their stewardship.
In this is expressed the true principle of gospel liberty. Had this principle of church comity been observed in the ages of the past, it would have kept Noah from the preaching of the message of the coming flood; it would have held Jonah to persist in his early determination not to proclaim to Nineveh the message of its coming destruction; it would have sealed the lips of our blessed Lord; under the carping criticism of the leaders of a national church, it would have kept Paul out of every synagogue of the Jews; it would have held Luther within the pale of the Church of Rome, and smothered the impulses of Wesley and Whitefield in their desires for a more spiritual gospel. The truth for these last days, constituting the foundation of this movement, cannot be confined to localities or peoples. The message of the Lord’s soon coming must go to all the world. But in the preaching of the truth of God we believe that kindly considerations should be given to the gospel messenger of every church. It is not for us ruthlessly to enter upon the labors of other men and seek to tear down that which they have endeavored to build up. We must recognize the noble work that has been done by scores of missionaries operating under various church missionary boards, men who have pioneered the way into the great regions beyond. It is not for us to count these men enemies, but rather our brothers; and while we must respond to every Macedonian call and to the extent of our ability give to all the world the gospel of the soon-coming kingdom, let us endeavor to do it with the spirit of wisdom and the meekness and humility of the Master, that our work of ministry will be one of love and good will even to those who may differ with us in the message which we proclaim.