Rev. Snyder Relents, Withdraws Resignation-November 9, 1976

First Baptist Church Pastor Suspends Departure to Evaluate Congregation’s Commitment to Social Action and Community Engagement

NORWOOD — The Rev. Harry C. Snyder has agreed to temporarily suspend his recently announced resignation as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Norwood. Originally set to step down on December 31, Rev. Snyder will now remain through at least May 30 to determine whether the congregation is willing to embrace a more active, outward-looking role within the community.

Rev. Snyder, a strong advocate for the METCO program and other local social initiatives, had expressed discouragement over what he perceived as the parish’s reluctance to engage in an active, temporal mission. However, following a recent Sunday worship service, parishioners urged him to reconsider his departure. Church Moderator Raymond Fleck reported that a clear majority of the congregation asked the pastor to remain and reviewed a four-point statement distributed to gauge their support.

Four Conditions and Congregational Reaffirmation

To establish a basis for his stay, Rev. Snyder asked parishioners to endorse four fundamental principles:

1. Evaluation of Church Expectations: Re-examining the goals and collective purpose of the church.
2. Lifetime Christian Commitment: A renewed personal dedication by parishioners to live out their faith.
3. Freedom of Christian Expression: Encouraging open dialogue and active outreach within the ministry.
4. Right to a Free and Open Pulpit: Ensuring the pastor’s liberty to address social, temporal, and community issues directly.

Speaking on behalf of her husband, Fay A. Snyder noted that four-fifths of the approximately 75 evaluation forms handed out on Sunday were returned signed in the affirmative, with the remaining papers left blank by those abstaining.

“We will be staying to May 30 and, hopefully in that interim, we can become an active, growing Christian community within Norwood,” Mrs. Snyder remarked, adding that her husband hopes the church can act as a dynamic “force within the community” rather than simply “a vessel for the salvation of its members.” She noted that while many churches go through periods of soul-searching, the First Baptist congregation remains filled with “wonderful people.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger