European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 30, 1950, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Iii Iii by Dwight scheme staff writer oldest continuing amen can institution in Berlin is a protes Tant interdenominational Church hich first opened its doors in the Days Hen Bismarck was creating a United it was established in before the Franco russian by a up of americans belonging to a variety today the Church carries on its 82 rold functions of ministering to the Merican Community to in and Tion to applying practical christianity Iong needy germans in this ruined its Long period of the Erica Church of Berlin was closed y the two world the Church after the tier War proved much More difficult ban tie reopening of the Beautiful ice built on Platz in 1901 completely wrecked in bombings of Foy Ember 1943 and february the american protestant inter Denom it ional Board sent Arthur Bens to Berlin in the summer of 1946 Snake a 30day Survey regarding the aspects of reestablishing the historic Titus Iona the of Clay and other occupation ii Bens stayed be has been berlins scan civilian pastor Ever since Siebens visited the ruins of the old edifice and stood at the of Tipit where he had preached in 1926 As Tuit Erim pastor while studying in Ber r the pulpit site was a pile of rubble German Ernst Morite Arndt Church sly provided the View congregation lift a place of the German time of its Ting service from to to permitting americans to use the building at a Weirman Siebens continues to hold All the Estt would otherwise this and congregation of a we live with the problem Siebens said weve Learned to resist it or complain about it than parishioners have come gone during the past three the size of the congregation remained amazingly Siebens kure Section the ruins of the american Church of Berlin As they look the built in was destroyed in bombings in november 1s43 and february Florence daughter of the Church seated at the Organ in the temporary place of worship which is shared by a German said at it comprises More than although the Church administration is entirely worshippers of All nationalities Are we do not stress the Church International Siebens if we the Church could be filled several times the Church sponsors a Lively women a sunday school and a Young Peoples and like any Well conducted Siebens pointed we play a role in the life of the entire Community of which we Are this includes activities of an ecumenical a German youth program and Relief v we were drawn into Relief work almost against As that was not our specific but we find that we cannot be Good christians and on the other Side of the we Are con stantly administering Relief to the local German generous people in the have become interested in our we receive shipments of clothing and food from schools and individuals in the we act As middlemen in a growing Relief the Best part of relations with needy germans concerns from soviet according to Sibylle von the Church German assistant dealing with Relief special Aid has been extended to refugees released from East zone concentration miss von father died in a russian operated Camp after enjoying Only a few weeks of Freedom following liberation from a Gestapo All persons Given refugee Aid Fay the american Church Are first certified As genuine persecutes by West Berlin City is listed inthe american who who As a presbyterian1 clergy Man and social welfare he received his doctors degree at the sorbonne in in the author of several scholarly biblical works he has held Myca Secre tar ships or social welfare posts in such scattered spots As Bowling Green and and Bucharest during 1916 and Siebens served As a Relief worker in Allied prisoner of War Camps in Ger his wife and concert organist at with him in the Church considers itself perhaps the most american institution1 operating being the Iron High commissioner John j Mccloy recently declared this Church not Only meets in spiritual needs of its serves As a Symbol of american Freedom to the citizens of and to those of an ideological different from the Interior of the German Ernst Moritz Arndt Church which is now shared by the american which contributed a Bell to us Tower in appreciation of the German congregations the Arthur greets a Mem Ber of his congregation after