Church Council's Head Re-Elected

Church Council’s Head Re-Elected

The Rev. Emmett Green, pastor of Second Baptist Church, was re-elected president of the Washtenaw County

Council of Churches at the 29th annual meeting of the council last night.

More than 100 persons attended the banquet at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, which featured the installation of the Rev. Howard Gebhart as executive director. Gebhart took over the position four months ago.

Green, who served as president of the Council of Churches last year, has been a pastor at Second Baptist Church for five years. He served in 1970 as the second vice president of the Council.

Other officers re-elected at the meeting were the Rev. Charles Gensheimer, first vice president; Mrs. John J. Wilkinson, second vice president; Mrs. Horace J. Dodge, secretary; and John M. Taytten, assistant treasurer.

Raymond Barstow, treasurer protem, will serve temporarily until a new treasurer takes office.

The following department chairmen were also elected: William Jelnek, Administration and Finance; John Waser, Christian Education and Harriet Geer, Social Services.

No persons were found to serve as chairman of the departments of United Services and Church in Society. The Rev. Carroll Arnold, chairman pro tem of United Services, and the Rev. Fred Holtfreter, chairman pro tem of Church in Society, will serve temporarily.

When asked why persons were not nominated for the positions of treasurer and chairman of departments of Church in Society and United Services, Gebhart said, “It’s a question of taking our time and being sure we have people who are vitally interested in these areas. It’s just a question of finding the right person.”

Reports were presented to the board by the council's departments, Church Women United and Ministerial Associations of the county. The board adopted a budget of $34,765 for the year 1972. The major portion of this budget, $13,230, has been allocated to the Department of Social Services of the council.

Dr. David N. Freedman, director of the University’s Program on Studies in Religion, addressed the banquet meeting about studies in religion at Michigan.