E&R Church. Commission on Evangelism.

The Commission on Evangelism evolved from the Committee on Evangelism of the Evangelical Synod of North America chaired by Rev. Fred C. Schweinfurth, and the work of the Executive Committee, Board of Christian Education and Publication, and the Forward Movement of the Reformed Church in the United States. The 1935 draft edition of the Constitution and By-Laws of the newly formed Evangelical and Reformed Church provided for a Commission on Evangelism with nine members, at least six being clergy. Six members were to be elected by General Synod, those six members electing the three remaining members. In the approved 1940 edition of the Constitution and By-Laws, the membership of the Commission was changed to ten members, five clergy, five lay persons, General Synod to elect six, those six electing the remaining four. The 1940 Evangelical and Reformed Church "Yearbook and Almanac" lists Rev. Arnold E. Klick as chairperson with Rev. Fred C. Schweinfurth among the clergy members. The Commission's membership remained fairly stable until 1945 when Rev. Fred C. Schweinfurth was appointed as the first full-time executive secretary, a position he held until 1960 when Rev. Gerald J. Jud was appointed. As the organization of the newly formed United Church of Christ (1957) was being finalized in 1960-61, the work of evangelism was placed in the Division of Evangelism and Research of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, Rev. Gerald J. Jud, General Secretary of the Division. The duties of the Commission remained essentially the same throughout its existence: promoting evangelism and the spiritual life and work of the church. This was to be done for the whole church and for pastors and congregations "...to make every congregation an effective evangelistic force" (45). The main focus of the Commission was to increase membership and active participation in churches. This was accomplished by providing program ideas and printed resources including the Commission's newsletter "The Advance Advocate" (1948-1958), the annually published Lenten devotion booklet, and joint sponsorship of the ecumenical "Fellowship of Prayer" booklets.