y denomination occupies a district by groupings of
mission stations under one missionary the same principles shall
apply and the same method of adjusting differences shall be
followed.

THIRD. "Overchurched Communities." Not infrequently the promise
of new towns fails of fulfillment, with the result that there
are more church organizations than in any economic view should
be maintained--at least out of missionary funds. In many
sections of the country also, because of the marked shift of
population from agricultural communities to urban centers,
overchurching has weakened all denominations to the point where
missionary effort is necessary to restore again a wholesome
religious life. Regardless of the cause of overchurching,
whether from the undue optimism of the newer sections of the
country or changed conditions in the older, or other
conditions, the problem of overchurching must be dealt with in
the true spirit of comity and cooperation for the sake of the
common good.

a. The principle should be established that one Protestant
church is adequate for each community of less than 1,500
inhabitants; and that efforts should be made to bring about
interdenominational readjustment to this end in all sections of
the country where economic and social conditions have become
sufficiently established to make improbable any marked or rapid
increase in population within a short time.

b. In communities of over 1,500 inhabitants there should not be
more than one Protestant church to every 1,000 population.

c. In communities of over 1,500 inhabitants and of less than
5,000, plans should be worked out whereby the different
denominations concerned shall cooperate in providing adequate
building and equipment for community service. Such building
should be strategically located and should be controlled by a
governing board made up of representatives, the number of whom
from each denomination shall be determined by the
_constituency_ of that denomination in its proportion to the
total Protestant or cooperating population. The rules for the
control of the activities of such cooperative community service
should respect the standards of the respective denominations.