The Methodist Million Dollar Appeal in World War II

Clipping from the March 1941 edition of Outlook magazine with the headline, "A million dollars in one day"

On December 30-31, 1940, an emergency committee appointed by the Methodist Council of Bishop met in Chicago to address several urgent requests related to the war in Europe. People in Britain and elsewhere were suffering. In England, Methodist leaders estimated that 500 church buildings, chapels, and parsonages had been destroyed or damaged by Nazi bombing. In the United States, Methodist churches near the dozens of newly constructed military bases needed help ministering to the tens of thousands service members who were quickly filling the camps. And as the largest Protestant denomination in the country, Methodists were being asked to supply nearly 400 chaplains for a rapidly growing Army. That quota would grow to nearly one thousand before the end of the war.

As a result of that meeting, the bishops created three "temporary" committees to respond to the crisis. The Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief is still active today as the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The Committee on Community and Camp Activities would support Methodist work near military bases, and Methodist Commission on Chaplains would oversee the endorsement and support of chaplains. The Commission on Chaplains remained in existence until 1972 when its work was moved into the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of the United Methodist Church.

To resource these committees, the Council of Bishops authorized a one-time emergency appeal to the whole church, with the aim of raising $1 million. This was an audacious goal, given that the country had been mired in a severe depression for the last decade. Adjusted for inflation, that would be over $19.5 million in 2022. From that appeal, $250,000 was to be used for “work among Methodist boys in the military and naval service, to supplement the program of our churches near camps, to participate in interdenominational centers that may be established, and to undergird Methodist army and navy chaplains in necessary provisions for their fullest ministry.”

The first Sunday in Lent, March 2, 1941, was chosen for the Day of Compassion offering, with the suggestion that families might fast and donate the cost of a traditional Sunday dinner to the cause. The March 1941 edition of World Outlook was dedicated to publicizing the appeal and shining a light on the causes it supported. The image at the top of this article is from that issue and its text is reproduced below. Amazingly (and with the grace of God), the campaign came close to reaching its monumental goal. According to the Journal of the 1944 General Conference, the Day of Compassion raised $959,320.32.

The Day of Compassion offering was large, but the need was larger still. In the spring of 1942, the Council of Bishops established the Fellowship of Suffering and Service communion offering. It is an old Methodist custom to bring a charitable gift to the communion rail when coming forward for communion. This is in addition to the normal Sunday offering. As reported in the Journal of the 1944 General Conference, the bishops suggested that at least two-thirds of the offering collected at every communion service across the denomination be designated for same causes supported by Day of Compassion. From March 1, 1942, to February 29, 1944, Methodists gave $832,147.83 for the Fellowship of Suffering and Service fund.

In 1956, the Fellowship of Suffering and Service first found its way into the Book of Discipline, now to be received on World Communion Sunday (the first Sunday in October) AND at observances of the Lord's Supper. The distribution remained the same. Fifty percent of the offering was allocated to the Committee on Overseas Relief, and twenty-five percent each to the Commission on Chaplains and the Commission on Camp Activities. The name was changed to the World Communion Sunday offering in 1971, and the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries was moved removed from the offering in 1980.

A Million Dollars in One Day
By Bishop Edwin H. Hughes
World Outlook, March 1941, p. 6

AMERICAN Methodism is asked to give a million dollars in one day. The three causes for which appeal is made are:

  1. Overseas Relief.
  2. Help for Our British Methodist People and Churches.
  3. Religious Work in or near Our Army Camps.

Competent committees will administer this triple service. As certain phases of the work, especially that in the camps, cannot yet be closely defined, our people should not be impatient for quick information.

A special Sunday has been fixed as the culmination of our solicitation. That Sunday is March 2, 1941. It has been named the Day of Compassion. Its general observance is the secret of success. Thus far every pastor consulted has covenanted to observe this sacred day.

Under Christ we are brothers and sisters of the overseas people in distress. Under history we are sons and daughters of British Methodism, our mother church. To our hearts God gives the parental feeling, and we must go with our boys to the camps and hold them for Christ. What a wonderful, threefold appeal we have to present and to answer! Who would willingly fail in such a holy partnership? It is no wonder that the Crusade is being reverently welcomed.

If you pray daily, put this endeavor into your devotions. Do you know of any movement which more suggests the compassionate heart of our Lord? Already people and churches, without solicitation, are sending gifts in advance of our direct appeal.

A Million Dollars from Eight Million Methodists - does this suggest hardship for us? Since Christ's call comes to us in this poignant campaign, we will march with him and be good soldiers on the spiritual field of kindness. So let us move on, reverently and prayerfully, to

THE DAY OF COMPASSION
MARCH 2, 1941

Let every preacher, member, church participate.

Extracts from the Journal of the 1944 General Conference

The Day of Compassion

On the joint authority of the Council of Bishops and the Commission on World Service and Finance a special appeal was made to the Church on March 2, 1941. This appeal was known as the Day of Compassion and resulted in a total collection of $959,320.32. By order of the joint meeting of the Council of Bishops and the Commission on World Service and Finance the receipts from this collection were divided as follows:

  • The General Conference Committee on Overseas Relief 50%
  • The Commission on Camp Activities and Chaplains 25%
  • Aid for British Methodism 25%

p. 802

The Fellowship of Suffering and Service

The Council of Bishops at its meeting in the spring of 1942 authorized an additional appeal for the support of war emergency causes. The Bishops suggested that the churches take an offering at each Communion Service and forward at least two thirds of each offering for a fund to be known as the Fellowship of Suffering and Service. The accounting for this fund was begun with March 1, 1942. From that date until and including February 29, 1944, the total amount received was $832,147.83.

p. 803

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