Text transcribed from caption: P-30794 NCC PRESIDENT VISITS, DENOUNCES BERLIN WALL BERLIN -- The infamous wall built by Communists to divide East and West Berlin stands as a “silent and tragic witness” to man’s failure to understand and accept the Christian gospel, it was stated by Bishop Reuben H. Mueller of Indianapolis, Ind., president of the National Council of Churches, as he viewed the barricade (top photo) during a Holy Week visit to U.S. military personnel in Spain and Germany. In addition to bringing greetings from hometown churches to servicemen and women, the Evangelical United Brethren Church leader met with government and religious leaders in Germany and preached at an ecumenical service at West Berlin’s Kaiser Friedrich Memorial church (bottom photo). In his sermon he said it was his desire, and that of the U.S. government, that he spend Good Friday through Easter in Berlin because the city “with its wall and problems is for all of Christianity the City of Good Friday.” He declared: “Whoever shares concern about mankind’s future must share Berlin’s concerns.” The American churchman was welcomed to Germany by Bishop Otto Dibelius of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg (seated right, bottom photo). Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (KV-B-3E-64-NBM)
