Kansas Is Nicknamed 'Buckle' on Nation's Bible Belt
By MARIAN HORVAT
Kansan Staff Reporter
Statistics from one of the most comprehensive surveys of U.S. church membership in 20 years. The survey is based on interviews with 1,350
"The survey," *Churches and Church Membership in the United States*, 1971," was released in January by the National Council of Churches, the Lutheran Missionary Synod and the Glemany Home Missioners.
In a region made up of Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and North and South Dakota, no state has fewer than 15 per cent church membership, the survey says.
By comparison, the states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington have a maximum of 37 per cent of the population belonging to any of the 53 churches surveyed.
"IWOULD CALL us the very buckle on the Bible Belt," Lynn Taylor, dean of the University of Kansas School of Religion, said last week.
"It is part of the heritage of Kansas, back to the times when the church was all there," Taylor said. "That's where you went to find a girl. The church was your social life."
Taylor said it was hard to lose a heritage as deeprooted as church-going.
"It is part of the social structure a Kansas town runs on," he said. "For example, anyone who runs for public office in Kansas usually announces his church."
Many of the young people in small Kansas town move away, Taylor said, and the people who stay remain.
KANAS CAME IN on a wave of 19th century party, and that has been the “in” since then.
The Rev. Ronald Sundye, former pastor of the First United Methodist Church, 94 Vermont St., said he was not sure that the basic conservation of Kansas church members was a good thing.
The fact that people are going to church isn't
Sundayde said he thought the church could be an institution that hurt society.
significant." Sunbude said. "The important question is 'What for?'
"The people of Kansas have a resentment toward having to face social problems," he said. "The church is a kind of refuge. People come away with the false feeling that all is quite well."
Sundye said he thought this had happened in Kansas.
People are fed up with things like Watergate, they and they want peace and security, which they find difficult.
"The liberal church in Lawrence has a very hard time of it," he said. "The wave of liberalism people saw in the '60s scared them. Now they want to the church and see that it doesn't happen again."
The Rev. Carl Johnson of the Ninth Street Baptist Church, 847 Ohio St., said he thought going
"IN THE WEST, the people are more in tune with a fast-moving life," he said.
in the Midwest was due to local lifestyles and attitudes.
"in the Midwest, there is more farm life—more open space—and people aren't as involved in night life and other activities that vie for a person's attentions," Johnson said.
William H. Arnold, professor of sociology, have believed Kansas settlement matter had a bearing on the state's future.
Although church membership is larger in the Midwest, Johnson said, that did not necessarily mean more people were attending.
"one of the big problem I have," he said, "is getting members of my church to come."
"People came to Kansas to settle as farmers," he said. "As part of their identity as a farmer, they were closer to nature, to God, or the supernatural element they had to depend on for their livelihood."
The survey omitted churches on minor black churches and several other smaller churches that
use membership estimates rather than actual counts.
ARNOLD SAID he thought this might make a significant difference in the West, where many of his patients live.
The Rev, Don Conrad and the Rev, Norman Steffen of the University Lutheran Church, 2104 W. 15 St., said they thought that in the university setting, the Bible Bell concept didn't apply.
"In smaller communities, there's a possibility that the church is a more important thing." Conrad said.
"In a town of 2,000, if you don't go to chureu,
people know about it and wonder why not. In
Arabia, it's a very common way."
Steffen said he thought the University people cosmopolitan.
There are over 50 churches in Lawrence of 27 different denominations.
"The difference is that they are not an use as to traditional, patterns of worship or to what the church calls "hymnody.""
Forecast: Partly cloudy with thunderstorms in afternoon and evening. High in
clouds.
Monday, July 1, 1974
Jayhawk Night Draws KU Fans To Royals Game
Mrs. King Killed in Church
See Story Page 3
ATLANTA (AP)—Mrs. Martin Luther King Sr. was killed yesterday by a black gunman who opened fire as she played "The Lord's Prayer" on an organ at the church where her son once preached nonviolence. A church deacon also was killed, and another member of the congregation was wounded.
Police arrested Marcus Wayne Chenault, 21, a black student who said he arrived in Atlanta by bus on Saturday. In Columbus, Ohio, police searched Chenault's apartment and said they found a worm Bible and a list of civil rights leaders marked for death.
Atlanta police said they had no evidence anyone else worked with the summon. One
Nixon, Brezhnev Talks Stalemated on Missiles
VALTA, U.S.S.R. (AP)—President Nixon held what he called "very intensive and extensive" talks yesterday with Soviet leader Leonid L. Brezhnev on limiting nuclear weapons in the headrows, but the White House said negotiations on the subject remained stalented.
Ronald Ziegler, presidential press secretary, told newsmen nothing has happened at the Nixon-Brezhnev summit to cause him to alter previous assessments that a permanent agreement would be impossible on curbing the production of MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicles).
Ziegler said Kissinger and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromykov would fly to Moscow with Brezhnev today to continue their conversations while the President and Mrs. Nixon made a ceremonial visit to Minsk, in Beirutera southwest of Moscow.
The dim prospect for a new accord on limiting offensive weapons was underscored by Zlegier, who said he had no intention to help Henry Kisinger's earlier assessment.
Nixon and Breznev conferred for more than four hours yesterday, then crushed on the Black Sea for nearly three hours, eating a late lunch aboard a Soviet vacht.
already described the Soviet position as unacceptable to the United States.
The American spokesman said the President and Brezhnev reviewed and discussed in detail the positions of their two countries on all arms curbs. Kissinger has
Ziegler confirmed that the two leaders had completed talks on steps to curb anti-racism and human rights violations.
See NIXON back page
spokesman, when asked about Chenault's motivation, said "He's crazy."
Three black civil rights leaders said they were convinced Mrs. King's death was part of a conspiracy. Columbus police later disclosed that these same three men—the brothers Robert and Jesse Jackson, and Hosea Williams—were dead list found in Clinton's apartment.
Mrs. King, 69, whose son Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, was shot during morning services at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The gunman opened fire as the choir intended the opening words of "The Lord's Prayer."
Atlanta police said last night they had established a 24-hour guard at the King home. A spokesman said there was still no evidence of a conspiracy.
The name **nature** is written on the left but the
name **the nature** is written on the right.
"We have got whole of whales to threatu to the king family and others," the spokesman said.
Chenault's acquaintances at Omo State University described him as a man who became increasingly preoccupied with his anxiety had nothing to offer the black man.
Mrs. King's 74-year-old husband, the church's pastor, rushed to her side from the pew where he was sitting with his daughter. A friend of the King family quoted the man as saying he killed Mrs. King "because he wanted protection and all Christians are my enemies."
"Chenault told police he received orders from his god to kill the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.," said Acts. Police Chief J. L. Mullins.
But police said the gunman told them he really meant to kill her husband.
"Chenault told investigators the reason he shot Mrs. King was because she was the nearest to him," Mullins said.
squoted Cheenaut as saying he shot
See KING back page
Women's Caucus Votes Dues Hike
By DEBBIE GUMP
Kansan Staff Writer
The financially troubled National Women's Political Conference (NWPC) ended its three-day biennial meeting yesterday with a recommendation to its steering committee that annual due bequests from the trustee should be channeled back to state courses if the proposal is approved by the steering committee in September.
More than 600 women from 39 states wore their way through workshops that dealt with issues ranging from abortion as a campaign issue to the use of the press.
Caucus leaders expressed concern over the financial problems of the three-year-old women's political agitation. The caucus, which relies on $1 annual dues from individuals and sporadic contributions from individual and state caucuses, has a $1,341.33 million
Nearly every speaker at the conference's opening session made a reference to the first speaker.
"We must enlarge and increase our concept of money," Gloria Steinem, editor of Ms. magazine and a NWPC founder, said at the opening session Saturday. "We're going to have to pay our way if we're going to win."
The NWPC, which has a national budget of about $120,000, committed itself to a "Win with Women" campaign last year at its biennial convention. The NWPC is supporting the candidates of several women candidates, including Maya Miller, who is running as a Democrat for the Senate from Florida.
One candidate failed to win the conference's support because she was accused of not supporting the premise that a woman has the legal right to an abortion. She was Ella Grasso, Democratic candidate for governor of Connecticut.
Bella Abzug Auctions off a Susan B. Anthony Purse
Kansas Staff Photo by DERRIE GUM
She said the main reason for NWPC's disarray was a lack of funds.
"We're not going to have a meaningful national movement unless we have a well-organized movement," Rep. Bella Abzug, D-N.Y., said.
Kay Carin, head of the Wichita NWPC chapter and representative to the national steering committee, and Diana Wagner, chairman of the state policy council and head of the Lawrence caucus, said the state caucus suffered from a small membership because it couldn't yet offer many benefits to members.
Kansas NWPC leaders viced concern over the structural and financial problems
Jane McMichael, executive director of the national caucus, said the passage of the recommendation on increasing dues represented a change in attitude by women, who are realizing they have to pay for power.
"Twenty dollars a person is a lot of money for dues for many women who will be taking it out of grocery money," she said. "It wouldn't seem like much to a man who may give $100 a year to several campaigns. But to a woman it is very significant."
The increase in dues will aggravate the problems of minority women who can't afford $100 a month, and lower rates, said Rhea Mojoes Hammons, the chairman of the NWCp administrative committee and former representative of the organization to the steering committee from Chicago.
Annabella Hapt, coordinator of the Kansas policy council, estimated that the NWPC might have made a $2,000 profit from the $10-a-ticket affair.
A fund-raising event at the Wichita Art Museum brought some relief to the strained artists.
Celebrities at the fund raise included Gov. Robert Docking, Abzug, Steinem and Garry Trudeau, cartoonist of the comic strip "Doonesbury."
"Your being here together means we will not be held back," Aziz said. "We're just going to make it happen."
Another burst of cheers followed Abzug's reference to President Nixon.
"We're going to impeach Richard Nixon and if we don't impeach him, we're going to impeach Hillary Clinton."
Abzug and Steinem auctioned original, autographed Donesbury cartoons, first-run issues of Ms. magazine autographed Donesbury cartoons. An illustration by the anthology's picture and one of Abzug's bats.
The cartoons drew prices from $55 to $75 and Abazu's hat sold for $65. The best sellers of the evening were the three copies of *Elena*. There was one of several men attending the meeting.
Year as Chancellor Evaluated by Dykes
By RICHARD PAXSON
BY MARK AASON
Kansan Staff Reporter
One year ago today Arch R. Dykes became the 13th chancellor of the University of Kansas. He said last week that he thought he had accomplished the two main tasks he had set for his first year at KU.
Dykes said his primary goal was to increase faculty salaries.
"Our students here, through such activities as Higher Education
"It is hard to know precisely the dynamics of a decision," he said, referring to the Kansas Legislature's decision to increase the funding per cent. "but the contributing to our strong leadership from the Board of Regents and the unified front presented by all the state schools.
Dykes didn't directly mention his own efforts to gain public support for the University's budget request. He did say he had traveled more than 20,000 miles during the past year in an attempt to improve communication between the University and the people of the state, which he said was his second goal.
Week and the Association of University Residence Halls Leigslators' Dinner, have made a difference in legislator's attitudes toward the University."
DYKES SAID the 28 honors banquets he attended this year, sponsored by the Alumni Association to recognize outstanding Kansas high school seniors, had provided a unique opportunity for that kind of communication.
"That much traveling doesn't leave us as much time for family life as we'd like," he said, "but we do try to spend some time each weekend with our children. The initial year is always more time consuming."
Dykes also discussed some of the changes in the University during the year.
"There have been some misunderstandings and mistakes, not necessarily by Mr. Walker, but by all of us," he said.
He said he still thought Clyde Walker was a wise choice for athletic director, despite such controversies as the increase in student ticket prices.
"He has moved the athletic corporation in the direction I hoped it would go. Mr. Walker's commitment to having intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the University is very strong.
"We've had some serious problems in the athletic program, the main one being financial, and that has colored everything Mr. Walker has tried to do."
Dykes said the appointment of Delbert Shankel as executive vice chancellor had worked out better than he had hoped.
FACULTY AND STUDENTS have shown a willingness to work with Shankel, Dykes said, and this has allowed some administrative matters to be moved out of the chancellor's office.
"Of course, there is always a need for greater visibility for someone in this kind of position," he said. "I have tried, where I can, to encourage groups to interact with him as the chief administrative officer of this campus."
Dykes denied that there was a proliferation of new administrative positions. He said the only new administrative position that had been created was the recently appointed associate vice chancellor for Outreach programs.
"There has been a massive rearrangement of administrative duties, however," he said.
Dykes said fears about the Outreach programs, which recruit non-traditional students to the University, weren't well founded.
"The likelihood is that Outreach programs will improve the quality of education here, not dilute it," he said. "Interaction with the University will improve the quality of our programs. New enrollments will also bring in new revenues, not drain revenue away."
THE OUTREACH PROGRAM was begun because of the University's obligation to the educational needs of the state, including people usually outside the University, Dykes said.
He said he didn't think there had been excessive outside interference in the University this year.
"I've heard some of our political leaders express a wish to stay out of the internal affairs of the University," Dykes said. "They do raise questions, as they properly should, about some practices within the University."
The people will ultimately decide what the University will be, he said, "but it behoves an institution to be watchful and protective of its assets."