The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 31

i The 1 Editorials Stocks Local News Sec? SUNDAY, MAY 24, 11)70 FUNDAMENTALIST ON THE RISE Indian apoli AR Protestants being Financial Problems of the Unified Promotion Department of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), put it recently: "The present negative financial situation is only symptomatic of deeper problems in LIBERAL va. "The heavenly counting house is not run by a certified public accountant" CONSERVATIVE Black Manifesto the life of the church and in the culture of America. "The Church has experienced an erosion of membership for more than a decade. Its budgets have long been squeezed by the tight money situation. Its spirit has been afflicted with the Forman syndrome (James Foreman, author of the By BARLEY R.

BIERCE "What would you do if you were pastor of a flock who for three years had one of the best stewardship goals in the conference, and then seemed not to care Those were the words recently of a suburban Indianapolis pastor to his congregation when weekly giving fell $400 below budget needs for that week. Mention finance money to ministers and executives of today's major Protestant denominations and a far-away, troubled look clouds their eyes and challenges their faith. A swelling tidal wave of financial blight has struck these major denominations at the grass roots, the local church, and the impact has been felt in distant denomination offices, affiliated colleges and organizations for inter-denominational co-operation. ASSAULTED by charges of irrelevance from the young, political meddling from the established and departure from the paths of of righteousness by the confused faithful, mainline religious leaders are writhing in the throes, of an old ending, hopefully expecting it to mark a new beginning. Episcopalians, Lutherans, United Methodists, United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and some Baptist denominations.

Church budgets and memberships are growing among the Church of God, Assembly of God, Wesleyan Methodist, Church of the Nazarene and Baptist groups. Those cutting back and those growing have several things in common which may help explain what is happening. THE MAINLINE denominations are large and well established. They are so large that they simply may have reached the point of diminishing returns; their thrust is ecumenical and social. Their membership reaches into every influential aspect of contemporary society and their theology Is highly intellectual.

The other denominations are small and young, usually having splintered from one of the larger denominations within the last century. Their membership ordinarily does not come from the professional ranks and their theology is fundamental, Biblical, individually oriented, Turn to Page 8, Column 1 At the same time, an examination of the financial strength of Protestantism is not complete without a look at the smaller denominations tucked away in the corners of America who are setting record budgets and achieving unprecedented numbers in memberships. It should be pointed out early that money is a secular yardstick in most cases an inaccurate device for measuring the strength, vitality and significance of the American Protestant Church. In a strictly figurative sense, the heavenly counting house where the treasures of the faithful are stored is not run by a certified public accountant. WHEN CHURCH leaders interviewed in recent weeks talked about a decline in their financial fortunes, they mentioned several causes the pinch of inflation, restructuring and, in some cases, merger of denominations and volatile social issues.

As Spencer Austin, executive secretary Black Manifesto) for al- Augtjn most a year. "The polarization of social points of view and the 'assumption gaps' outside the Church have caused deep division within." Budget Problems Cutback budgets are appearing at the denominational level among Presbyterians, Medicaid Acconntim Improved The Readers' Column Urged To Get Most For Money 1 Maybe Radar Next An ordinance in the city of Speedway which forbids unmarried persons from entering the bedroom of the opposite sex is written in such a manner that people arrested on the charge cannot be slated into court. Instead, the law directs that violators be given citations similar to traffic tickets. Last week this procedure was tested for what is believed to be the first time when Speedway police observed two ladies of the night entering a Speedway motel with male companions. The policemen knocked on the motel room door, wrote out tickets, collected $10 fines from each of the ladies, gave them receipts and left them to their businesss.

Program Costs Soaring Above First Estimates By JOHN S. MASON State Representative Robert H. Bales (R-Danville) said yesterday he will propose legislation to improvt cost accounting procedures and lessen conflicts of Inter est in the state's Medicaid program. Try Kids Next Bales said he began consider- fVl ing legislation to assure maxl- trrrr': mum offirlotipv In th nrnirram after the a 1 Assembly -M ft I Donald Bruce of Connersville sent in this photo of a street sign located on Waterloo Road, lust north of Connersville. Bruce also passed along the opinion that not too many English teachers In his area are moonlighting as sign painters these days.

study group which he heads learned that cost of the pro- gram Is soaring above original P' estimates. I I WUllam K. sterren, siaie i welfare director, last week 1 Bales Sterrett Rites Today Will Salute War Dead Seating for 2.000 spectators will be available at the annual "500" Festival Memorial Service this afternoon on the south steps of the Indiana War Memorial Building. (AP Wirtphoto) predicted the state's share of Medicaid for January 1(79 to June 1971 will be about SSS million, $9 million higher than original estimates. Bales and Sterrett agree that cost increases are due largely to the swelling number of families receiving aid to dependent children (ADC) welfare payments.

Sterrett said that when Medicaid began in Indiana in January, 53,000 persons were receiving ADC. That number, still growing at the rate of at least 400 persons a month, has now reached! 76,000, he said. THE INCREASE is due to United States Supreme Court' rulings easing welfare residency requirements and a Department of Health, Education and Welfare policy directive which The program, paying tribute VAGABOND MARY ANN VECCHIO REUNITED WITH SISTER, SHARON, AGE 3 Tearful Homecoming At Opa Locka, After Flight From Indianapolis 'Kneeling Girl's' Frantic Running Ends In Talbot Village Interview cut red tape In applying for to the dead of all United States wars, will start at 1:30 p.m. with a concert by the 74th Army Band from Fort Benjamin Harrison. A joint service color guard from Fort Harrison will post the colors at the start of the memorial service and taps will be sounded by members of the Army band.

Wreaths honoring the war dead will be placed by representatives of American Gold Star Mothers, United Spanish War Veterans, Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Marines will salute the dead at the close of the service, followed by a flyover by Indiana Army National Guard planes. Col. Jack Lyle Is chairman of the program.

Women of the Indianapolis is Area Red Cross Chapter will serve as ushers. welfare, 1 1 and Bales said. This means Indiana can do little about rising Medicaid! stepped off the plane. "I'm to happy to be home," the girl sobbed as she embraced her father. Tears ran down both their faces.

Dressed in a flowered maxiskirt and sandals taped together, Mary Ann said coming home "was the most wonderful thing." "I didn't really want to run away," she said, adding that she feared being arrested for not attending school. She had missed school, her mother said, to take part in antiwar demonstrations. By PAUL H. SMITH Mary Ann Vecchio, the 15-year-old "kneeling girl" photographed at the shooting of tour Kent State (Ohio) University students May 4, had a tearful reunion with her parents yesterday at Miami, Fla. She flew home from Indianapolis, where she was found Thursday night after running away Feb.

14, on a Delta Air Lines ticket sent by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vecchio of Opa Locka, Fla. They and a sister hugged and kissed Mary Ann and gave her a dozen red roses as she Miller, 20, had been circulated around the world. At about three o'clock Thursday afternoon Steve Baker, one of our police reporters, called and if I knew anything about a rumor that the girl had been seen in the Talbot Village area.

I lived on Talbot Street during my four years as a Her-ron art student, and continued to live there after graduation last June. It's an Interesting part of town. I like it. And I know quite a few people Turn to Page 7, Columns The saga of her three months of wandering from Florida to Ohio and finally to Indianapolis, living along the way with various hippie-type "brothers and sisters," ended here in a near Northside apartment Thursday night. Another reporter for The Indianapolis Star and I found ber in the Talbot Village area and spent two hours inter viewing her.

She had been sought ever since the agonized picture of her kneeling over one of the Kent State victims, Jeffrey G. costs. Tarkington Tennis Open Why aren't the Tarkington Park tennis courts at 45 West West 40th Street open full A. Taylor, Indian-spoils. Unexpected problems developed with the clay used on the courts and consequently opening of the courts was delayed from last Monday until tomorrow, according to a spokesman for the Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation.

Meanwhile, after the courts are opened tennis players will have to pay 25 cents to play between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 50 cents between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. A 50-cent fee will be charged for each person playing on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.

All other city-owned tennis courts are free. Retirement Can Be Scary Retired homicide and robbery Sgt. Eugene Sowers has traded his badge and pistol for a tractor and a hay rake and has taken up farming in Greene County. But last week he discovered he was a lot safer chasing holdup men than operating a tractor. Sowers' friends, Bethel Galther, also a retired detective, and Sgt.

Clifford Adams, who was Sower's partner, paid their old sidekick a visit, and it wasn't long until Sowers began bragging about how easily his tractor started. "Why I'll bet I can start it with just a half-turn on the crank," Sowers said. After a little chiding Gaither and Adams followed Sowers to the barn, where sure enough, Sowers started the tractor with less than a half-turn of the crank. Only one problem the tractor was in gear and It chugged right through the barn wall, narrowly missing Sowers. When Gaither and Adams learned that the only real dam- age was to Sowers' pride, they had a good laugh and then let Sowers win the beer-drinking contest.

Very Young Poets Published The Indiana Department of Public Instruction has published an anthology of poetry from elementary and high-school pupils from throughout the state. From nearly 1,200 entries, 67 were chosen for the booklet. Included are these from two of the youngest poets In the book. If I were a fish, I would sleep In a dish. If I were a snake, I would eat up a cake.

If I were a dragon, I would pull a wagon. It I were a Hon, I would be crying. Lisa Mlchele Renter, age 6, Franklin Elementary othool, Princeton, Ind. The wind and I had fun today. He tangled up my hair, And though I ran Into him, He wasn't even there He wasn't even there.

It set them all aglow. Bales, however, feels this I makes it especially important to see that each dollar Is spent efficiently. Medicaid pays doctor, drug, dental, nursing home and hoi- Turn to Page 9, Column I $1.5 Million To Be Sought For Airport Projects The money for airways would be used to improve radar and navigational equipment, thus relieving air traffic controllers who long have complained of allegedly inadequate equipment they must use to separate planes in the crowded skies. ORCUTT SAID the $250 million for airports Is divided Into thirds which will Deallocated according to the airport's location and community population; the number of passengers generated by an airport as compared to the total number of passengers In the country, and at the discretion of the Federal Aviation PRESIDENT Nixon last Thursday signed Into law a measure to provide $16 billion for airport and airways improvement during the next decade. Effective June 30, the Airport and Airways Development Act provides for new taxes on airlines passengers, general aviation fuel, air freight and airplanes themselves.

The million Is expected to be raised during the first year. Orcutt said the new law author 1 1 1 $500 million to be spent during the first year the tax Is effective, including $250 million for airports and $250 million for airways throughout the nation. Based on the number of air travelers who arrived or departed from Weir Cook during 1969, Indianapolis would be eligible for about $541,666. Orcutt said Indianapolis would be eligible for an additional $500,000 In funds allocated for general aviation. He said Indianapolis will apply (or funds in all of the categories of distribution Including one which provides a total of $15 million for planning.

ALTHOUGH priorities are not determined yet, Orcutt said If the Federal funds are received they also will be used for a $500,000 fire station, runway and a I a Improve- a proposal to introduce legislation in 1971 that would provide for a formula of 25 per cent local money, 25 per cent state funds and 50 per cent In Federal dollars, according to Orcutt. Indianapolis is expected to know by September how much money it will receive. The $3.5 million secondary airport on an 887-acre tract at Mount Comfort was scheduled to be built by late this year. Orcutt said if funds are received the much-needed Mounl Comfort facility could opened by late 1971 or early 1972. ments and new terminal building aprons for aircraft at Weir Cook.

He said funds also would be allocated for land acquisition and a new taxiway at Eagle Creek Airport. Orcutt said he doesn't believe the airport authority will have difficulty in raising matching funds for. the projects, but, he said, other Indiana cities are not so optimistic. He said some communities are unable to raise the 50 per cent matching money due either to an Interest rate limitation or bond debt limitation. AIRPORT managers throughout the state are discussing By MICHAEL P.

TARPEY Indianapolis is expected to ask for about 91.5 million In Federal funds this summer to improve its area airports and develop a long-sought facility at Mount Comfort In Hancock County. The money would have to be matched with local money obtained through a bond Issue, according to Daniel C. Orcutt, director of aviation at Weir Cook Municipal Airport. Orcutt said the Indianapolis Airport Authority board will ask for the funds from $065.8 million which Is expected to be raised through an aviation tax. I felt his touch upon my checks.

And yet I never saw him come I never saw him go. Morgan, age 9, E. O. Muncie School, Madison, Ind. Turn to Page 9, Column 1 1 Terre.