The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1914. A NEW PROFESSION—THE CONSULTING SOCIOLOGIST

New Zealand Tablet, 22 January 1914, Page 33

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1914. A NEW PROFESSION—THE CONSULTING SOCIOLOGIST

HE latest ' development of the American idea of the application of scientific and business methods to the domain of religion is certainly not wanting in bigness and boldness. It is nothing more nor less than the evolution of what is styled the Consulting Sociologist, who corresponds in the religious world to the oft-heard-of Advertising Consultant in the medical world, and whose special work it is to cure sick churches. He will not only tell the afflicted church exactly what is wrong with it and what it ought to do to get right, but will, if desired, carry out the work himself. Here is his advertisement— mere ‘ fake ’ affair, but reproduced exactly as it appears in an American magazine : CHURCH EFFICIENCY. Scientific Correlation of the Church to its Field through Efficiency Methods, Surveys, Publicity. If churches desire to more effectively meet their local problems, and more completely fulfil their missions in their particular fields, we can help them to do so. Our experts will make a thorough diagnosis ofthe whole situation, and render a working-programme report. There are experts on our staff for every phase of the work. They are experienced specialists, and their findings will be constructive, comprehensive, and workable. Churches wishing exact analyses of conditions in their fields, that have special and difficult problems to solve, that feel the need of a greater measure of cooperation with laymen, that are willing, to employ highclass publicity methods to promote, their work—may consult us. We are able to help them. We will consult, make , preliminary surveys, work out detailed plans. ‘ We will, if desired, take charge

of the work we plan and be responsible for its thorough execution. ' > Write for information and literature, stating the : * nature of the special problem to be solved. CHARLES STELZLE and STAFF, - . Consulting Sociologists, Fifth Avenue Bldg., Madison Square, New York. ’ A- **• The head of the firm, Dr. Charles Stelzle, is not unknown in Great Britain, and was till lately a minister of the Presbyterian Church of America, but has resigned his pastorate to do the work outlined in his advertisement. He is being taken quite seriously, as is evidenced by the fact that no less a paper than the New York Outlook has given him space to develop and expound his idea. ‘ One of the greatest professions to-day,’ he says, ‘is that of “diagnostician.” We shall some day raise up men who will become “ diagnosticians,” who will study “sick churches,” and who will tell us, through a scientifically worked out formula, precisely what ails the church. These experts will give considerable attention to the history of the neighborhood and its people, but they will also inquire diligently into the history of the church itselfits officers, its minister, its organisations, its methods, its atmosphere. And they will so clarify the situation that the matter of method will become secondary in its importance. There will emerge a real “ science of church work ” which will result in almost certain successassuming that the human element can be just as courageously handled as the purely physical aspects of the question. There must of necessity be a selection of workers for particular tasks. This is one of the secrets of success in industrial efficiency. If the church is to be run merely for the purpose of keeping jobs for all sorts of incompetents in the ministry, or offices for men and women who simply wish to monopolise them, even though they plainly lack proper equipment, then the task will remain needlessly difficult. The selection of workers, however, is not so hopeless as it may appear. Success in this direction .will depend largely upon the efficiency of those who are directly responsible for the selection and the training of men and women for Christian work. The principles of “not how many, but how good,” must prevail in the matter of competent leadership.’ * The promoter is quite confident as to the success that awaits the new enterprise. ‘No doubt,’ he writes, ‘ there is a great difference between running an industrial plant and a church organisation. The efficiency engineer says to a worker, “ Go,” and he goes, whether he likes it or not. The church administrator must say, “Come,” and the chances are that tne “ worker will remain awayalthough, on the whole, the same kind of human nature is being dealt with, and the church has the greater appeal in its call, Come'and suffer.” If the church can demonstrate that in its work there is comparatively little lost motion, but that its plans are sane and scientific, there is no doubt that it will make a great appeal to strong men who are not attracted by an organisation which often has no programme at all or else goes at the job in a haphazard fashion.’ * v All this reads queerly to those who look upon the Church as a divine institution, with duly appointed authorities, and with a sure promise of divine guidance and assistance. But ‘ there are others.’ And if the Consulting Sociologist can ‘ make good,’ and can win back to Protestant pews the vast army of stay-aways, he will surely reap from the dwindling and decaying churches the golden* harvest which' his enterprise deserves. ...