i PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORTherbert-w-armstrong.com/other_materials/pgr/1985 0517 PGR_w.pdf ·...

' PASTOR GENERAL'S i

TO THE MINISTRY OF THE REPORT WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD

VOL.7, N0.20 PASADENA, CALIFORNIA MAY 1 7 , 1985

FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Monday, May 13 , M r . Herbert Armst rong and h i s p a r t y l e f t J o r d a n f o r I s r a e l , where t h e y w i l l be s t a y i n g f o r s e v e r a l days . So f a r , communica t ions w i t h t h e g r o u p show t h a t a l l is g o i n g e x t r e m e l y w e l l , e s p e c i a l l y w i t h Mr. A r m - s t r o n g ' s m e e t i n g s . W e ' l l be h e a r i n g more d e t a i l s from Mr. Aaron Dean i n THE WORLDWIDE NEWS, and from Mr. Armst rong h i m s e l f upon h i s r e t u r n . Please c o n t i n u e to p r a y for t h e h e a l t h and i n s p i r a t i o n of God's apostle, and fo r t h e c o n t i n u e d s u c c e s s o f t h e e n t i r e t r i p .

Over t h e p a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s a number of YOU or YES r e g i o n a l mini-camps have been o r g a n i z e d i n some o f t h e local areas by t h e local m i n i s t r y and member- s h i p . Mr. Armstrong r e c e n t l y d i s c u s s e d t h i s s u b j e c t w i t h M r . Kevin Dean, Director o f YOU, and m y s e l f , as w e l l as h i s p e r s o n a l aide, Mr. Aaron Dean. Mr. Armstrong was conce rned about t h e magn i tude of some of t h e s e camps, and t h e burden t h e y are p l a c i n g upon t h e local membership i n terms of f u n d r a i s - i n g a c t i v i t i e s , w o r k projects , camp s t a f f i n g , m i n i s t e r i a l workload and t h e time i t takes to s u p p o r t such a n a c t i v i t y . H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e p u r p o s e of YOU and YES is to - draw f a m i l i e s t o g e t h e r , n o t to p u l l them a p a r t . While a mini-camp may on t h e s u r f a c e a p p e a r to be a b e n e f i c i a l a c t i v i t y , and i n many ways c e r t a i n l y i s , t h e e x p e n s e , time, and e f f o r t t o m a k e i t w o r k c a n actual- l y cause famil ies t o be a p a r t more t h a n t o g e t h e r . Mr. Armstrong f e l t t h a t t h e local YOU and p r e t e e n programs s h o u l d p r o v i d e enough o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r young people w i t h o u t t h e added burden of r e g i o n a l mini-camps.

I f we are n o t c a r e f u l , w e c a n allow more and more a c t i v i t i e s to become t h e p r imary focus of t h e local c o n g r e g a t i o n . Mr. Armst rong h a s o f t e n expressed t h a t w e must a v o i d l e t t i n g t h e local c o n g r e g a t i o n d e g e n e r a t e i n t o a soc ia l c l u b . Local a c t i v i t i e s are i m p o r t a n t and i n m o d e r a t i o n a re good. B u t un- less w e are c a r e f u l , t h e y c a n e a s i l y mushroom and b e g i n to d i v e r t our minds from t h e t rue p u r p o s e of o u r c a l l i n g as p a r t of G o d ' s Church. Notice what Mr. Armstrong wrote y e a r s ago i n t h e November, 1 9 6 4 i s s u e of The GOOD NEWS i n a n a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "Local Assemblies Are N o t Social C lubs" :

B r e t h r e n , i f w e are to c o n t i n u e to grow--and to grow SPIRITUALLY as w e l l as i n number--we must remember t h a t t h e PURPOSE o f t h e C h u r c h is, f i r s t , to GO INTO ALL THE WORLD and p r e a c h C h r i s t ' s GOSPEL. T h e FIRST commission to t h e Church is j u s t t h a t . . . .

Anyone who does n o t have h i s whole h e a r t i n t h a t Work i s N O T A MEMBER OF G O D ' S TRUE CHURCH, and h a s no r i g h t wha t soeve r t o at- t end or f e l l o w s h i p i n any of i ts local c o n g r e g a t i o n s . The v e r y FIRST p u r p o s e , t h e n , o f each loca l c o n g r e g a t i o n is t h e FIRST pur- pose of God's C h u r c h as a whole--to e n c o u r a g e , p r a y f o r , h e a r re- p o r t s a b o u t , and he lp - - in wha teve r manner may be p o s s i b l e - - t h e g r e a t Work of G o d i n p r e a c h i n g and p u b l i s h i n g t h e t r u e GOSPEL t o a l l t h e world.

PAGE 2 PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 17 , 1985

Af te r t h a t comes t h e SECOND commission C h r i s t gave H i s Church-- "FEED THE FLOCK." For t h i s p u r p o s e , God h a s se t some i n H i s C h u r c h , f i r s t , apostles, t h e n p r e a c h e r s , and t h e n t e a c h e r s , t o be H I S i n s t r u m e n t s i n f e e d i n g t h e local flocks e a c h S a b b a t h .

A c t i v i t i e s are good i n b a l a n c e . B u t t h e moment t h e y b e g i n t o t u r n o u r a t - t e n t i o n away from t h e p u r p o s e Mr. Armst rong described above , t h e y have ex- ceeded t h e i r u s e f u l n e s s . Let ' s r e a l i z e t h a t too many social a c t i v i t i e s and f u n d r a i s e r s c a n p u l l f a m i l i e s apar t by l i m i t i n g t h e amount o f t i m e f a m i l y members s h o u l d be s p e n d i n g t o g e t h e r . They o f t e n place too g r e a t a bu rden , b o t h i n time and e x p e n s e , o n t h o s e i n v o l v e d i n them. Avoid t h e s e p i t f a l l s i n p l a n n i n g t h e y e a r ' s a c t i v i t i e s .

Some pastors may need t o examine t h e number and k i n d s of a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e i r local c o n g r e g a t i o n s , and b e g i n to w o r k toward a more b a l a n c e d and whole c h u r c h o r i e n t e d program. T r y t o p l a n a c t i v i t i e s or socials t h a t in= a l l t h e C h u r c h as much as p o s s i b l e . Such socials c a n i n c l u d e v a r i o u s a c t i v - i t i es f o r e v e r y o n e , b r i n g i n g t h e whole Church t o g e t h e r , w i t h o p p o r t u n i t i e s for s e r v i c e and fe l lowship f o r a l l and w i t h a l l . - - Regard ing t h e mini-camps, as most commitments are a l r e a d y made for those be ing p l anned for t h i s summer, you may go ahead w i t h them. However, if any camp c a n s t i l l be c a n c e l l e d w i t h o u t c r e a t i n g p rob lems , i t would be best to do so. W e s h o u l d n o t p l a n to have these camps n e x t y e a r .

N r . Armstrong made i t clear t h a t loca l campou t s are f i n e , as l o n g as t h e y do n o t i n v o l v e o t h e r c h u r c h a reas , and as l o n g as t h e y are under one week i n d u r a t i o n . Such a c t i v i t i e s s h o u l d be o r g a n i z e d and s u p e r v i s e d l o c a l l y , p r e f e r a b l y i n v o l v i n g t h e p a r e n t s and famil ies of t h e p r e t e e n s or t e e n s in- vo lved .

On a n o t h e r s u b j e c t , M r . Dean May of t h e F lee t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Depar tment h a s informed m e t h a t of t h e used f l e e t v e h i c l e s sold i n 1 9 8 4 , 60% were s o l d i n t h e f i e l d by t h e m i n i s t e r s who d r o v e them, r a t h e r t h a n h a v i n g t h e m b r o u g h t t o Pasadena or B i g Sandy f o r sa le . W e appreciate t h e f i n e job t h e U.S. min- i s t e r s are d o i n g i n t h i s r e g a r d . T h e money r e c e i v e d from these sales is p a r t of t h e budge t for purchase of new m i n i s t e r i a l f l ee t cars. A s M r . May e x p l a i n e d , t h e s o o n e r t h e used car is sold, t h e less t h e ca r depreciates w h i l e t h e C h u r c h owns it. T h e f l e e t of f ice w i l l g i v e you t h e c u r r e n t v a l u e of your used car as soon as your new one a r r i v e s , and M r . May w i l l be happy to g i v e you any a s s i s t a n c e you may need i n a r r a n g i n g t h e sa le . W e c e r t a i n l y appreciate your h e l p i n g u s o u t i n t h i s way.

I know many of you have been p r a y i n g for t h e s a f e t y of God's people around A* t h e world, as a report o n t h e e a r t h q u a k e i n C h i l e i n e a r l y March bears o u t . Once a g a i n , G o d h a s protected H i s people from what c o u l d have been a devas-

a t i n g t r a g e d y . M r . Leon Walker, r e g i o n a l director for t h e Span i sh -

a l t h o u g h two members' homes were t o t a l l y d e s t r o y e d , no o n e was i n j u r e d because e v e r y o n e i n t h e local c o n g r e g a t i o n was a t t e n d i n g a Church p i c n i c when t h e quake o c c u r r e d !

areas of t h e Church, reported a f t e r v i s i t i n g C h i l e i n Apri l t h a t

- PASTOR GENERAL'S -PORT, MAY 1 7 , 1985 PAGE 3

The employers of the men whose homes were destroyed, as well as Church mem- bers, are helping them rebuild. Mr. Walker s ta ted i n h i s report that "there is no question that severe in jur ies would have occurred had they been a t home. They were a t a Church picnic when the quake occurred. I joked w i t h them that I was sure we w i l l have 100 percent attendance a t a l l Church ac- t i v i t i e s i n the future. The members affected are i n excellent s p i r i t and t t i tude. The s p i r i t of service of t h e other members i n helping these two P families is wonderful. No one is depressed or discouraged. Instead, u n i t y

and joy seem to prevail ." (Details of Mr. Walker's t r i p appear i n the May 13 issue of THE WORLDWIDE NEWS.)

Thank you a l l for your continued prayers, and for the many comments of sup- port and encouragement for Mr. Armstrong and those of u s here i n Pasadena. We cer ta inly need and appreciate them. You are constantly i n our prayers.

**** TO BE ANNOUNCED MAY 25 I N ALL U.S. CHURCHES **** -- Discounted Air Fares for Feast Travel Available

The Fest ival Office has completed negotiations w i t h American Airlines and several regional ca r r i e r s t o sup- ply discounted a i r f a r e s for t ravel to and from the Feast of Tabernacles. T h i s agreement covers a l l U.S. s i t e s , including Alaska, Hawaii and Niagara Fa l l s .

The special fares available through American's t o l l - f r ee l i n e are a substant ia l discount from f u l l coach fares . Some of American's publicly-available fares of- f e r even greater savings than t h e special f a r e s , b u t sea ts a t those fares are l imited. You w i l l be t icketed a t the lowest fa re available a t the time you c a l l .

For d e t a i l s and r e s t r i c t ions on these fares , and for exact fa re quotes, you or your t ravel agent should c a l l the tol l - f ree number: 1-800-433-1790, and give the special code number: S7802. Information on discount auto ren ta l s w i l l a l so be avai lable through t h i s num- ber.

More detailed information w i l l be made available l a t e r , b u t t h e special fares are available now. Even if you have already made a reservation, you should check the fares available through American Airlines.

A l l arrangements are solely between you and the a i r - l ines . Therefore the Church cannot accept responsibil- i t y for any loss or inconvenience resul t ing from a f a i lu re i n s u c h arrangements.

PAGE 4 PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 17, 1985

* * * * TO BE ANNOUNCED I N ALL CHURCHES * * * * Jerusalem Feast S i t e F i l l e d

>

The F e s t i v a l s i t e i n J e r u s a l e m , I s r a e l h a s been f i l l e d to capaci- t y and c a n n o t accept any more a p p l i c a n t s . Any who may have a p - p l i ed a f t e r t h e l i m i t was r e a c h e d w i l l be put on a w a i t i n g l i s t , and w i l l be n o t i f i e d to t h a t e f f e c t by JMT T r a v e l i n t h e n e x t f e w days . Thank you for making your a p p l i c a t i o n s for t h i s s i t e i n such a q u i c k and o r d e r l y f a s h i o n .

Recent O r d i n a t i o n s r

On t h e S a b b a t h , May 11, M r . R i c h a r d Weber was o r d a i n e d a local elder by Messrs. Herbert W. Armstrong and Aaron Dean. M r . Weber S e r v e s as O U T Pro- ject leader f o r t h e J o r d a n Program.

A w e e k e a r l i e r , on May 4, M r . Raymond Walker of t h e Bradford, England con- g r e g a t i o n , was o r d a i n e d a local c h u r c h elder. Hands were l a i d on h i m by e v a n g e l i s t and r e g i o n a l d i rector M r . F r a n k Brown, together w i t h Messrs. P a u l S u c k l i n g , Dave Magowan and Robin J o n e s .

On t h e f i r s t day of Unleavened Bread, Apr i l 6, Mr. James T a y l o r was o r d a i n e d a local c h u r c h elder by church p a s t o r M r . L. David S t o n e . Mr. T a y l o r s e r v e s i n t h e H a t t i e s b u r g , M i s s i s s i p p i c o n g r e g a t i o n .

I n t e r n a t i o n a l N e w s

From M r . C o l i n Adair March b r o u g h t a welcome t u r n a r o u n d i n t h e income i n Canada. T h e n e g a t i v e t r e n d of t h e p r e v i o u s t w o months was r e v e r s e d w i t h a p o s i t i v e 9.4% i n c r e a s e . T h i s l i f t e d t h e y e a r - t o - d a t e income t o a minus 1.7%. A l t h o u g h s t i l l on t h e red i n k s i d e of t h e l e d g e r , t h i s is a marked improvement o v e r t h e minus 9.3% y e a r - t o - d a t e f i g u r e we faced a t t h e end of Februa ry . A p r i l , w e are hoping , w i l l p u l l u s i n t o t h e black.

We r e c e i v e d a t o t a l of 46,735 p i e c e s of incoming mail i n March. T h i s was 4.4% less t h a n t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g month a y e a r ago. Of t h i s f i g u r e , 24,806 were p e o p l e w r i t i n g i n for t h e f i r s t t i m e , up 29.7% o v e r l a s t y e a r . W e mailed o u t 119,954 pieces of mail , a 68.5% i n c r e a s e .

PLAIN TRUTH c i r c u l a t i o n is r u n n i n g a t a n all-time h i g h . Combining t h e F rench and E n g l i s h s u b s c r i p t i o n PLAIN TRUTHS, w e now mail 414,594 copies. We are a lso d i s t r i b u t i n g 613,250 newss tand copies.

The d i rec t mail campaign is winding down. Al though r e s p o n s e s w i l l t r i ck l e i n for a few more w e e k s , t h e b u l k o f repl ies a re i n t h e o f f i c e . A s of t h i s w r i t i n g we have r e c e i v e d 31,834 requests f o r t h e E n g l i s h PLAIN TRUTH and 13,295 requests f o r t h e F rench . R e s p e c t i v e l y , t h i s is a 4.7% and 6.7% re- sponse . T h e s e are v e r y close to t h e f i g u r e s projected b e f o r e t h e campaign began.

Feast p r e p a r a t i o n s a re w e l l under way. T h e F e s t i v a l C o o r d i n a t o r s mee t ing was h e l d on March 12. With t h e Canad ian do l l a r s u f f e r i n g so much a g a i n s t

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 17, 1985 PAGE 5

t h e U.S. do l l a r , it c o u l d mean t r a n s f e r s o u t of Canada w i l l be c o n s i d e r a b l y fewer t h a n p r e v i o u s y e a r s . I f so, t h e n we c o u l d f i n d t h e more p o p u l a r s i tes, P e n t i c t o n and Vic tor ia , hav ing v e r y l i t t l e room f o r v i s i t o r s .

* * * * TO WHOM I T MAY CONCERN * * * * The Correct P h i l i p p i n e O f f i c e Address

Some d e p a r t m e n t s and i n t e r n a t i o n a l o f f i c e s are s t i l l u s i n g a n ou tda ted m a i l i n g address for b u s i n e s s mail directed to t h e Man i l a , P h i l i p p i n e s o f f i c e . The o ld address: P.O. Box 7519, M I A , Metro Man i l a 3120, is no l o n g e r v a l i d , and i n t h e f u t u r e t h e post o f f i c e may s t o p f o r w a r d i n g mail from t h a t address. Please check a l l m a i l i n g l i s ts and f i l e s and d i r e c t ALL mail to:

P.O. Box 1111, Makati, Metro Mani l a 3117, PHIL I PP I NES

A p p r e c i a t i o n for M i n i s t e r i a l R e f r e s h i n g Proqram I11

Dear M r . Armstrong and M r . Tkach:

E l s i e and I are a g a i n v e r y g r a t e f u l for t h e v e r y s t i m u l a t i n g and e n j o y a b l e e x p e r i e n c e o f a t t e n d i n g a R e f r e s h i n g Program! H o w V a l - uable t o r e g u l a r l y and t h o r o u g h l y g e t grounded, updated and in- s p i r e d a t God ' s worldwide H e a d q u a r t e r s ! N o w t h a t our c u p s a r e runn ing o v e r , w e f e e l c h a r g e d up to p a s s t h i s knowledge on. E s p e c i a l l y w e want to thank e v e r y o n e who par t ic ipa ted i n g i v i n g t h e , l e c t u r e s . They a l l were o u t s t a n d i n g . W e r e a l l y a p p r e c i a t e t h e i r thorough p r e p a r a t i o n and t h e t i m e s p e n t i n g i v i n g these lectures to so many g roups . Again it was v e r y i n s p i r i n g t o be- come more aware of so many dedicated s e r v a n t s i n God ' s C h u r c h a t H e a d q u a r t e r s and around t h e wor Id!

Don and E l s i e Hooser

Dear Mr. Armst rong , M r . Tkach and Headquarters m i n i s t r y :

Again we want to express our a p p r e c i a t i o n for t h e R e f r e s h i n g Pro- gram. W e j u s t r e t u r n e d from t h e 1 4 t h s e s s i o n and f e e l renewed i n a v e r y s p e c i a l way to do o u r jobs w i t h more e n t h u s i a s m , under- s t a n d i n g and c o n f i d e n c e . I t is v e r y e n c o u r a g i n g to see t h e Head- q u a r t e r s team u n i f i e d and back ing M r . Armstrong i n a v e r y p o s i - t i v e way.

I t is a lways a j o y t o be w i t h t h e others i n t h e m i n i s t r y , l e a r n i n g wi th them, making new f r i e n d s h i p s and s t r e n g t h e n i n g o l d ones . W e were i n s p i r e d to see and h e a r a b o u t t h e g r e a t p r o g r e s s i n a l l t h e many p h a s e s o f t h e w o r k and a l l t h a t God is d o i n g a t t h i s t i m e . We hope t h a t we i n t u r n c a n t a k e a good measure of t h a t i n s p i r a - t i o n and g i v e i t out here i n t h e local c h u r c h area. Thank you v e r y much f o r t h e program.

F r a n and E l f i e R i c c h i

PAGE 6

s

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 1 7 , 1985 .

Dear Mr. Tkach:

P s a l m 133:l was s u r e l y i n e v i d e n c e d u r i n g t h e 1 4 t h s e s s i o n of t h e r e f r e s h e r . My w i f e and I e n j o y e d t h i s r e f r e s h e r more t h a n t h e o t h e r s w e have a t t e n d e d , even though t h e y have a l l been g r e a t . The s e s s i o n s were f i l l e d w i t h v i t a l i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e s e t t i n g was f a b u l o u s , t h e f e l l o w s h i p was u p l i f t i n g , and t o h e a r f rom Mr, Armst rong was e s p e c i a l l y i n s p i r i n g .

You and your s t a f f r e a l l y s h o u l d be commended f o r t h e e f f o r t and o r g a n i z a t i o n p u t i n t o these r e f r e s h e r s . Thank you so v e r y much f o r l e t t i n g u s a t t e n d , and w e a re so v e r y t h a n k f u l for t h e oppor- t u n i t y of b e i n g a part of t h i s g r e a t w o r k o f God's Church .

F r a n k and J a n e P a r s o n s

Comments From Monthly Church Reports

From t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

AUBURN, WA--J. RICHARD PARKER: I b a p t i z e d f i v e new people t h e other day. O f t h e f i v e , f o u r had t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n t h e C h u r c h prompted by member r e l a t i v e s or f r i e n d s . T h e C h r i s t i a n example is a p o w e r f u l force.

KALAMAZOO, MI--LAMBERT GREER: Dur ing t h e l a s t month I have been c o n t a c t e d by i n d i v i d u a l s I v i s i t e d one to two y e a r s ago, b u t a t t h a t t i m e t h e y were e i the r v e r y new or were n o t p r o g r e s s i n g . I was able t o i n v i t e .three o f them to Church. Those v i s i t s to t h e v e r y new or s e e m i n g l y o n l y c a s u a l l y i n t e r e s t e d - do bear f r u i t !

DURANGO, CO--GARY PENDERGRAFT: T h e tapes of sermons g i v e n i n Pas- adena a r e appreciated v e r y much1 They p r o v i d e t h e members w i t h a v a r i e t y o f speakers g i v i n g i n s i g h t i n t o t h e work b e i n g done a t H e a d q u a r t e r s and a round t h e world. H e a r i n g how G o d w o r k s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s m i n i s t e r s a l so he lps u s i n t h e f i e l d m i n i s t r y by p r o v i d - i n g examples t o i n s p i r e our sermon topic s e l e c t i o n , p r e p a r a t i o n and d e l i v e r y .

LENOIR, NC--JOHN MOSKEL: I c o n d u c t e d a f u n e r a l for a member's f a the r i n S t a t e s v i l l e . A f t e r t h e committal p r a y e r a t t h e g rave - s i d e , t h e crowd d i s p e r s e d - - e x c e p t for a fellow who came u p to m e and asked i f I was i n any way associated w i t h t h e Worldwide Church of G o d . H e s a i d , "I knew you were d i f f e r e n t from t h e mo- ment you opened your mouth. T h a t was t h e best sermon I have e v e r heard." H e was a police o f f i c e r who had t a k e n The PLAIN TRUTH magazine for s e v e r a l y e a r s . H e wanted me to come speak o n Sunday morning t o h i s Breakfast C l u b i n a local P r o t e s t a n t church !

FAYETTEVILLE, AR--JOHN ELLIOTT: H o w many people i n t h e world h e a r t h e Gospel t h r o u g h t h e medium o f a f u n e r a l c o n d u c t e d by o n e of God's t rue m i n i s t e r s ? T h a t q u e s t i o n came t o mind w h i l e conduc t - i n g f o u r f u n e r a l s here l a s t month. A t e a c h , a b o u t 50 new people hea rd a c o m f o r t i n g , y e t s t r o n g and f r a n k e x p l a n a t i o n of God 's p l a n and o u r i n c r e d i b l e human p o t e n t i a l . When y o u ' s t o p t o add up t h e many f u n e r a l s worldwide, w e r e a c h many!

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 17, 1985 PAGE 7

LENOIR, NC--JOHN MOSKEL: Forest f i r e s roared across much of west- e r n N o r t h C a r o l i n a for s e v e r a l d a y s , b e g i n n i n g A p r i l 8. Some o f t h e b r e t h r e n had to e v a c u a t e t h e i r homes j u s t a few h o u r s b e f o r e t h e P a s s o v e r s e r v i c e . One l a d y l i v i n g o n M i n e r a l S p r i n g s Moun- t a i n q u i c k l y packed what v a l u a b l e s s h e had and l e f t h e r home as t h e f l a m e s raced up t h e mounta in . S h e a r r i v e d a t t h e P a s s o v e r s e r v i c e j u s t i n t i m e ! Many roads, i n c l u d i n g I n t e r s t a t e 40, were closed due to f i r e s and heavy smoke . The f i r e , which d e s t r o y e d o v e r 12,000 acres of f o r e s t , came w i t h i n t e n feet of h e r home and went a round it. I t was l e f t i n t a c t . S e v e r a l o f h e r n e i g h b o r s ' homes were c o m p l e t e l y g u t t e d by t h e f i r e . On t h e o t h e r s i d e of t h e mounta in , t w o homes n e x t to e a c h other were s u r r o u n d e d by f l ames . One home was t o t a l l y d e s t r o y e d . The other home e s c a p e d unsca thed-- the p e r s o n l i v i n g i n i t j u s t r e c e n t l y s t a r t ed sub- s c r i b i n g t o T h e P L A I N TRUTH and pay ing t i t h e s .

--Joseph T k a c h , M i n i s t e r i a l S e r v i c e s

I * * * * SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL U . S . CHURCHES * * * * The f o l l o w i n g announcement is f o r any t e e n a g e r s i n your congrega- t i o n s who p l a y t h e g u i t a r and have been accepted for SEP i n B i g Sandy .

G u i t a r L e s s o n s a t B i g Sandy SEP

Any g u i t a r p l a y e r s i n t e r e s t e d i n i n t e r m e d i a t e or advanced l e s s o n s may b r i n g t h e i r acoustic or e lectr ic g u i t a r to camp. ( N o ampli- f i e r s , please.)

- - K e r m i t N e l s o n , Director of B i g Sandy SEP

UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING

A L o o k a t Our D a i l y Mailbag

On any g i v e n day , t h e Mail P r o c e s s i n g C e n t e r a t H e a d q u a r t e r s r e c e i v e s 100 or more s e p a r a t e categories of mai l , numbering i n t o m u l t i p l e t h o u s a n d s of pieces. Many of t h e s e are cards , l e t t e r s and e n v e l o p e s w e have mailed o u t to m a k e it more c o n v e n i e n t for readers t o r e q u e s t o u r l i t e r a t u r e .

W e t hough t you would f i n d i t i n t e r e s t i n g t o have a b r i e f ove rv iew of t h e mail s e n t to u s each day. The f o l l o w i n g f i g u r e s from a r e c e n t workday a re t y p i c a l of what w e n o r m a l l y r e c e i v e :

Response t o Co-worker Let ters . . . . . . 3,316 88

B o o k l e t Enve lopes 729

GOOD NEWS Enve lopes

B i b l e L e c t u r e Letters . . . . . . . . . . Cor respondence Course E n v e l o p e s 100

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Apr i l i s s u e

1 0 4 May i s s u e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PAGE 8 PASTOR GENERAL'S FU3PORT, MAY 17, 1985

PLAIN TRUTH E n v e l o p e s Apr i l i s s u e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 M a y i s s u e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 J u n e i s s u e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,762

O t h e r PLAIN TRUTH a n d GOOD NEWS E n v e l o p e s 135 PLAIN TRUTH Newss tand E d i t i o n Cards

Apr i l i s s u e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,371 M a y i s s u e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471

PLAIN TRUTH W a i t i n g Room Cards . . . . . 424 PLAIN TRUTH G i f t S u b s c r i p t i o n C a r d s . . . 120 PLAIN TRUTH "Cardholder" Cards . . . . . 94 PLAIN TRUTH S u p e r m a r k e t B r o c h u r e Cards . . 103 PLAIN TRUTH C a r d s - - M i s c e l l a n e o u s . . . . 464 PLAIN TRUTH Renewals

F i r s t n o t i c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,755 S e c o n d n o t i c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . 486 T h i r d n o t i c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . 795 F o u r t h n o t i c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . 697

YOUTH Magazine R e n e w a l s . . . . . . . . . 283 GOOD NEWS Renewals . . . . . . . . . . . 371 Offe r of GOOD NEWS to CC S t u d e n t s . . . . 1,108 O f f e r o f GOOD NEWS to PT Readers . . . . 7 , 0 1 1 C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e Tests . . . . . . . 318 People U s i n g Own S t a t i o n e r y , Addressed t o

Herbert W. A r m s t r o n g . . . . . . . . . 441 PLAIN TRUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 Worldwide Church of God . . . . . . . . 324 C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e . . . . . . . . . 80 Ambassador F o u n d a t i o n . . . . . . . . . 25

Mail Forwarded t o S p a n i s h Dept. . . . . . 477 B u s i n e s s Mail 6 P e r s o n a l . . . . . . . . 550 M i s c e l l a n e o u s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,260 TOTAL MAIL RECEIVED . . . . . . . . . . . 27,453

"You Are t h e L i g h t o f t h e World"

W e r e c e i v e a number of l e t t e r s from members each w e e k t e l l i n g u s a b o u t t h e b l e s s i n g s t h e y r e c e i v e for t i t h i n g . A l t h o u g h t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r r e l a t e s

'a t h i r d t i t h e b l e s s i n g , i t is u n i q u e , as we're s u r e y o u ' l l a g r e e . I t is from a c o u p l e i n God's Church whose e x a m p l e had a p r o f o u n d impact o n t h e i r real es ta te a g e n t .

My husband and I dec ided t o p u t o u r home o n t h e market l a s t month. We also decided to t e l l t h e r ea l es ta te a g e n t u p f r o n t t h a t we would n o t c o n d u c t a n y b u s i n e s s o n F r i d a y e v e n i n g s or S a t u r d a y s .

The a g e n t asked my husband w h a t h i s income was so he c o u l d cal- c u l a t e what w e c o u l d a f ford i n h o u s e payments . T h e amount t h e a g e n t came up w i t h was much more t h a n w e knew w e c o u l d a f f o r d . We e x p l a i n e d to him t h a t we had committed a p o r t i o n o f o u r income e v e r y month f o r t h e n e x t y e a r t o h e l p t h e widows and f a t h e r l e s s c h i l d r e n i n o u r c h u r c h . H e s a i d h e was'impressed t h a t w e would do t h i s . H e decided t h a t he wanted t o g i v e o n e p e r c e n t o f h i s commiss ion t o t h e same f u n d when o u r home sold.

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 17, 1985 PAGE 9

Our home sold i n a record t w o weeks--normal market t i m e i n o u r area is 99 days . On t h e day o f c l o s i n g , h e asked u s who h e s h o u l d make t h e check o u t to and i f w e would g e t i t to t h e r i g h t p l a c e . When he handed my husband t h e c h e c k w e were s u r p r i s e d because t h e amount was for a l o t more t h a n what he had o r i g i n a l l y p l anned .

We are t h a n k f u l t h a t God h a s opened o u r e y e s and h e a r t s to t h e t r u t h o f H i s ways, and t h a t w e were a b l e to be a s h i n i n g l i g h t t o someone else. W e do b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s was a t h i r d t i t h e b l e s s i n g f o r us . Because w e were w i l l i n g t o s t a n d up for o u r b e l i e f s , God opened t h e h e a r t of a n o t h e r p e r s o n t o h e l p t h i s w o r k .

W e p r a y t h a t G o d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o u s e u s a c c o r d i n g t o H i s w i l l and bless t h e Church and H i s people everywhere .

Mr. c Mrs. B.H. ( P l a n o , TX) - -Richard R i c e , Mail P r o c e s s i n g C e n t e r

ON THE WOFtLD SCENE

FROM BITBURG TO STRASBOURG: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT Once a g a i n I had t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of c o v e r i n s t h e a n n u a l Wes te rn world economic s u m m i t . t h i s time h e l d i n Bonn, t h e c a p i t a l o f t h e Federal R e p u b l i c of Germany. T h i s y e a r I had t h e p l e a s u r e of b e i n g accompanied by a n o t h e r PLAIN TRUTH s t a f f member, s e n i o r writer and e v a n g e l i s t Ron K e l l y . T o g e t h e r , Mr. K e l l y and I ( fe l low 1960 AC g r a d u a t e s ) followed and pho tographed t h e summit p r o c e e d i n g s , p l u s a number of t h e s u c c e e d i n g e v e n t s i n P r e s i d e n t Ronald R e a g a n ' s fo l low-on of- f i c i a l s t a t e v i s i t t o West Germany and h i s address t o t h e European P a r l i a - ment i n S t r a s b o u r g , F r a n c e .

T h i s was c e r t a i n l y t h e r o u g h e s t tes t of Mr. R e a g a n ' s c o n s i d e r a b l e and v e r y p e r s u a s i v e o r a t o r y s k i l l s . T h e P r e s i d e n t ' s t r i p - - and t h e summit i t s e l f (wh ich t u r n e d o u t to be q u i t e i nconc lus ive ) - -was overshadowed by t h e con- s iderable o p p o s i t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S ta tes , e s p e c i a l l y from J e w i s h g r o u p s , to h i s p l anned v i s i t t o a German m i l i t a r y c e m e t e r y o n t h e o u t s k i r t s of t h e town of B i t b u r g . Making matters worse for t h e P r e s i d e n t , t h e t r a v e l l i n g U.S. press corps seemed e a g e r to t a k e f u l l a d v a n t a g e o f Mr. R e a g a n ' s d i - lemma.

T h e press d e f i n i t e l y does n o t subscr ibe to t h e o l d f a i r - p l a y adage of " d o n ' t h i t a man when h e ' s down." T h e P r e s i d e n t ' s number one nemesis i s A B C ' s W h i t e H o u s e c o r r e s p o n d e n t Sam Donaldson , who s t a n d s f a r and above h i s c o l l e a g u e s for b e i n g f roward and a b r a s i v e . He's t h e one who booms o u t ques- t i o n s a t t h e P r e s i d e n t o n a l l p u b l i c o c c a s i o n s . Mr. Donaldson does h i s l e v e l bes t to t r i p up t h e P r e s i d e n t , b u t Mr. Reagan u s u a l l y knows how to de- f end h i m s e l f , and c a n , i n a d i g n i f i e d manner, " d i s h i t o u t " too. On one oc- c a s i o n , as t h e summit opened , Donaldson asked Mr. Reagan if he was, desp i t e o p p o s i t i o n , s t i l l g o i n g ahead w i t h t h e B i t b u r g c e m e t e r y v i s i t . "I neve r had any i n t e n t i o n of n o t go ing , " replied t h e P r e s i d e n t . T o Dona ldson ' s fol low-up q u e r y of whe the r M r . Reagan was c o n c e r n e d whe the r t h e v i s i t c o u l d cost h im p o l i t i c a l f a v o r a t home, t h e P r e s i d e n t r ep l i ed , " N o t if i t ' s re- p o r t e d p r o p e r l y . " End o f c o n v e r s a t i o n . I n c i d e n t a l l y , i t was w i d e l y per - c e i v e d i n West Germany t h a t t h e U.S. press was l a r g e l y r e s p o n s i b l e fo r blowing t h e B i t b u r g a f f a i r o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n .

Mr. K e l l y and I , b e f o r e go ing to t h e c e m e t e r y i t s e l f (wh ich is r e a l l y v e r y small; h a r d l y , i t seems, wor th a l l t h e f u s s ) , w i t n e s s e d t h e a n t i - v i s i t

PAGE 1 0 PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 1 7 , 1985 -

d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n t h e h e a r t of town. A c t u a l l y , t h e r e were two s e p a r a t e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . The f i r s t compr i sed J e w i s h , m o s t l y c o l l e g e - a g e d s t u d e n t s , coming from F r a n c e , B r i t a i n and t h e U n i t e d S ta tes . T h e i r o v e r a l l theme could best be e x p r e s s e d i n t h e l a s t p h r a s e o f a c h a n t we h e a r d : "We w i l l n o t f o r g i v e . " T h e other g r o u p was composed of t h e s t a n d a r d an t i -West anti-U.S. radical "herd ." Whi le e x p r e s s i n g a v e r s i o n to " f a s c i s m , " t h e i r p o s t e r s re- f l e c t e d more con tempora ry concerns--America hands o f f N i c a r a g u a , l i b e r a t e S o u t h A f r i c a , "NO" to cruise and P e r s h i n g missiles, s t o p t h e arms race i n space-- the s t a n d a r d t h i n g s one hears e v e r y day o n Radio Moscow. T h e t w o p ro tes t g r o u p s d i d n ' t mix a t a l l - - p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e " t h e he rd" is a l so pro- Pales ti n i a n , a n t i-I s r ae l i . I n town, I o v e r h e a r d s e v e r a l local people a r g u i n g w i t h J e w i s h p ro tes te rs (some of whom were wear ing s y m b o l i c y e l l o w s t a r - o f - D a v i d markers). The in- v a r i a b l e B i t b u r g e r p o s i t i o n was t h a t t h e 4 9 Waffen-SS p e r s o n n e l b u r i e d a t t h e ceme te ry were n e a r l y a l l end-of-the-war draf tees . ( M r . K e l l y d i d n o t i c e one SS g r a v e marker which gave t h e age of t h e p e r s o n i n t e r r e d a t less t h a n 18 y e a r s of a g e . ) E x c e p t for t h e protesters , who were c o n f i n e d by po- l ice t o one barricaded i n t e r s e c t i o n , Mr. R e a g a n ' s motorcade route t h r o u g h t h e town was l i n e d w i t h Germans and Amer icans waving small American f l a g s . T h e U.S. news media seemed t o pay more a t t e n t i o n t o t h e o n e t roubled i n t e r - s e c t i o n .

T h e g e n e r a l f e e l i n g is t h a t , desp i te t h e B i t b u r g a f f a i r , P r e s i d e n t Reagan came th rough what was cal led "sober Sunday" p r e t t y well i n t a c t . H e d i d t h i s i n t y p i c a l Reagan f a s h i o n , d e l i v e r i n g what e v e n t h e media d e s c r i b e d as two moving s p e e c h e s , one a t t h e B i t b u r g f l u g p l a t z ( a i r base) and , e a r l i e r i n t h e day , a t t h e r ema ins of t h e n o t o r i o u s Bergen-Belsen c o n c e n t r a t i o n camp. H i s o v e r a l l theme on b o t h o c c a s i o n s was t o s t ress t h e p o s i t i v e and t h e pre- s e n t , a l l t h e w h i l e l e a r n i n g from t h e b r u t a l l e s s o n s of t h e pas t . T h i s was perhaps best e x p r e s s e d i n h i s Bergen-Belsen address when h e proclaimed:

W e are here to commemorate t h a t l i f e t r iumphed o v e r t h e t r a g e d y and t h e dea th of t h e Holocaust.... Out of t h e ashes--hope, and from a l l t h e pain--promise .... C h a n c e l l o r Koh l , you and your countrymen have made r e a l t h e r e n e w a l t h a t had to happen. Your n a t i o n and t h e German p e o p l e have been s t r o n g and resolute i n your w i l l i n g n e s s to c o n f r o n t and condemn t h e acts of a h a t e d reg ime of t h e p a s t . T h i s r e f l ec t s t h e c o u r a g e of your people and t h e i r d e v o t i o n t o freedom and j u s t i c e s i n c e t h e war.

Even TIME magazine reported t h a t Mr. R e a g a n ' s "remarkable speech a t Bergen- B e l s e n would go down i n t h e h i s t o r y books."

Apprec ia t ion- -and Bewi lderment

Among West Germans, P r e s i d e n t R e a g a n ' s p e r s o n a l s t a n d i n g rose c o n s i d e r a b l y for "hang ing tough" on B i t b u r g . Y e t , a t t h e same time, t h e r e was c o n s i d e r - able d i s a p p o i n t m e n t and d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t t h a t there s h o u l d have been s u c h a n o u t c r y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a g a i n s t t h e t r i p i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . M r . Rea- gan , f o r o n e , drew a t t e n t i o n to t h i s storm o f p r o t e s t and i ts u n f o r t u n a t e r e s u l t when he s a i d , a t t h e B i t b u r g A i r Base, t h a t "some old wounds have been reopened and t h i s I r e g r e t v e r y much, b e c a u s e t h i s s h o u l d be a time of h e a l i n g . " A m o o d of d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t i n West Germany, i f i t grows, c o u l d lead t o a d a n g e r o u s t e u t o n i c a n g s t t h a t no matter what con tempora ry Germany does, t h e pas t c a n neve r be p u t to res t .

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 1 7 , 1985 PAGE 11

West Germany's t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o a l i b e r a l i z e d democratic s ta te , o n e anchored i n t h e West, h a s n o t been f u l l y appreciated by t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c i n t h e U n i t e d S ta tes . Those i n t h e p o s i t i o n t o know, however, view it as a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y ach ievemen t . A r t h u r B u r n s , r e t i r i n g U.S. ambassador t o t h e Federal R e p u b l i c , r e c e n t l y s a i d t h a t " t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of Germany is o n e of t h e miracles of t h e modern age."

Looking back t o t h e e a r l y post-war period, i t was by no means c e r t a i n t h a t Germany's t h i r d attempt a t democracy ( t h e f i r s t i n t h e 18409, t h e second a f t e r World War I ) would indeed "take." B u t Germany--and J a p a n as well-- have changed t h e i r p r e v i o u s c o u r s e s to an a s t o n i s h i n g d e g r e e , so much so t h a t t h e i r fo rmer enemies and now a l l i e s t e n d t o take t h e i r a l t e r ed s t a t e s f o r g r a n t e d . I n f ac t , one of t h e most remarkable, y e t unsung p r o d u c t s of t h e e l e v e n a n n u a l economic s u m m i t s is t h a t t h e s e v e n n a t i o n s invo lved- - the U.S . , U.K. , Canada, F r a n c e , J a p a n , I t a l y and West Germany--comprise four a l l i e d and three a x i s powers of World War 11.

"Have t h e s e p a s t f o r t y d i f f e r e n t y e a r s a l l been i n va in?" is a g e n e r a l i z e d p e r c e p t i o n among Germans. A l f r e d Dregger, o n e of t h e most s e n i o r members of t h e C h r i s t i a n Democratic P a r t y , sa id t h a t " B i t b u r g raises t h e q u e s t i o n of w h e t h e r t h e American people r e a l l y c o n s i d e r u s to be a l l i e s , desp i t e f o r t y y e a r s . " Professor Michael S t u e r m e r , a l e a d i n g West German h i s t o r i a n and a close Kohl a d v i s o r , adds: "Americans a re a lways keen o n g a i n i n g t h e moral h igh ground. T h a t l e a v e s u s on lesser ground. T h a t c a n n o t c o n t i n u e f o r e v e r . [ I t is r i s k y ] to b rand West Germany w i t h t h e m a r k of C a i n . I n t h e l ong run you c a n n o t have b o t h good Germans i n t h e a l l i a n c e and bad Germans as a s t a n d a r d o f d e p r a v i t y . "

Of c o u r s e t h e p r e v i o u s g e n e r a t i o n o f Germans bequea thed a heavy moral load to t h e i r c h i l d r e n . While t h e r e is , as P r e s i d e n t Reagan and S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e S h u l t z e x p r e s s e d i n Bonn, no s u c h t h i n g as " c o l l e c t i v e g u i l t , " i t is n o t q u i t e correct to s a y e i t h e r , as o n e U . S . newsman s a i d , t h a t "you c a n ' t v i s i t t h e s i n s o f t h e f a t h e r s on t h e sons . " The B i b l e (Ex. 20:5) c l e a r l y shows t h a t t h e p e n a l t i e s of s i n s c a n be e x p e r i e n c e d by up t o t h e " t h i r d and f o u r t h g e n e r a t i o n s . " N e v e r t h e l e s s , i n a n a t i o n s u c h as Germany--which as t h e l a t e a u t h o r L u i g i B a r z i n i descr ibed as b e i n g h i g h l y mutable or change- able--a mood o f u n r e l i e v e d g u i l t and l ack o f f o r g i v e n e s s c a n be v e r y dangerous . I n t h e LOS ANGELES TIMES of May 1 0 , 1985, c o r r e s p o n d e n t T y l e r Mar s h a l l wrote:

Pol icy-makers and soc ia l s c i e n t i s t s a re i n c r e a s i n g l y conce rned t h a t t h e c o m b i n a t i o n of f o r e i g n b i t t e r n e s s and German s e n s i t i v i t y t o it is u n h e a l t h y and p o t e n t i a l l y dange rous . A l o i s Mertes, s t a t e s e c r e t a r y i n t h e West German F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y , r eca l l s a 13-year-old boy, who, a f t e r w a t c h i n g a documentary f i l m o n E i c h - mann, t u r n e d to h i s mother and asked, "Why d i d I have to be b o r n German?" Mertes warns: " I f t h i s g u i l t is pressed on 5 new gene r - a t i o n , i t w i l l b a c k f i r e . G u i l t f e e l i n 5 w i l l l e ad t o an t i -Wes t s e n t i m e n t s and a n t i - S e m i t i s m . " , , ,

- -- --- The wave of protest a b o u t R e a g a n ' s v i s i t t o a German war c e m e t e r y was g r e e t e d w i t h as much u p s e t as d i s b e l i e f by t h e West German man on t h e s t ree t . " F o r t y y e a r s have gone by, and s u d d e n l y i t is as i f n o t h i n g t h a t has happened s i n c e t h e n c o u n t s . f o r a n y t h i n g , " sa id Al f r ed Dresen , a r e s i d e n t of Bonn. "Is f o r g i v e n e s s beyond you a l l?"

PAGE 12 PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 17, 1985 .

One is reminded of t h e a c c o u n t i n t h e book of J o n a h . The p r o p h e t J o n a h , a p p a r e n t l y b e c a u s e o f n a t i o n a l s e n s i t i v i t i e s a g a i n s t t h e N i n e v i t e A s s y r i a n s ( i n t e r e s t i n g p a r a l l e l ) , was u n w i l l i n g t o a c c e p t t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y c o u l d change as a people and t h a t G o d would t h e r e f o r e " t u r n and r e l e n t " from pun- i s h i n g them. J o n a h d i d h i s job w i t h e x t r e m e r e l u c t a n c e . Nineveh changed: G o d r e l e n t e d from H i s punishment . B u t J o n a h d i d n ' t want t o change , t o for- g i v e . I n s t e a d he wanted t o d i e .

T h e r e is a dange r i n u n f o r g i v e n e s s . The A p o s t l e P a u l i n s t r u c t e d t h e C o r i n t h i a n Church to accept back i n t o t h e f o l d t h e r e p e n t a n t ( changed) s i n n e r l es t h e be overcome w i t h "too much sorrow" (I1 Cor. 2 : 7 ) , Then h e warned t h a t u n l e s s f o r g i v e n e s s takes place, S a t a n might take a d v a n t a g e of t h e s i t u a t i o n ( v e r s e 11). The same l e s s o n , b r o a d l y s p e a k i n g , app l i e s t o remarkably changed n a t i o n s s u c h as Germany and J a p a n . T h e i r p o l i t i c a l and social f a b r i c is s t i l l f r a g i l e ; S a t a n migh t be able t o s t i r up moods of r e s e n t m e n t once a g a i n .

Al though Germany h a s been called a "miracle o f t h e modern age," it h a s weak- n e s s e s . I t h a s had to shed p a t r i o t i c f e e l i n g s t h a t would be normal i n other c o u n t r i e s s i m p l y b e c a u s e p a t r i o t i s m and n a t i o n a l i s m had been so abused un- der n a t i o n a l socialism. A s a r e s u l t , n a t i o n a l p r ide and a s e n s e of belong- i n g t o a " r e a l n a t i o n " are a b s e n t . Here a re e x c e r p t s f rom a n o t h e r a r t i c l e from t h e L.A. TIMES' T y l e r M a r s h a l l , t h i s time i n t h e May 7 issue:

More t h a n g u i l t , there is a n i n n e r c o n f u s i o n and d i s o r i e n t a t i o n bo rn of Germany's p a s t t h a t . . . i n t h e l o n g e r term, poses serious q u e s t i o n s a b o u t i ts f u t u r e . . . . What happened t o Germany 40 y e a r s ago c o n t i n u e s t o be a matter of e m o t i o n a l p u b l i c c o n t r o v e r s y . Were t h e Germans f r e e d from t y r a n n y by t h e A l l i e s or were t h e y conquered?. . .

B r i t i s h p o l i t i c a l commentator Timothy G a r t o n A s h r e c e n t l y l i k e n e d West Germany to one of i ts model bus inessmen: "A h e a r t y , sun- t anned 40-year -o ld , h a i r n e a t l y par ted, s m a r t l y dressed, w i t h n i c e manners and a stock of s e n s i b l e c o n v e r s a t i o n - - b u t f o r e v e r d a s h i n g . . . t o check h i s blood p r e s s u r e , or g l a n c i n g a t h i s reflec- t i o n i n t h e s h o p windows t o see i f h e h a s n ' t g o t a n e r v o u s tic.". . . Stated a 1983 commentary i n t h e Hamburg week ly D i e Zeit: "The Federal R e p u b l i c is, a l l t h i n g s c o n s i d e r e d , n o t a bad c o u n t r y , p e r h a p s even t h e best e v e r t o r i s e from German s o i l . B u t who l i k e s to f e e l t h e m s e l v e s as Federal Repub l i can?" N o v e l i s t Dieter W e l l e r s h o f f remarked t h a t d e s c r i b i n g h i m s e l f as a c i t i z e n of t h e Federal R e p u b l i c of Germany made him fee l odd. "It c o n t a i n s about t h e same e m o t i o n a l r e s o n a n c e as a U n i v e r s i t y German Automo- b i l e C l u b , " he said. "It i n d i c a t e s t h e s y n t h e t i c c h a r a c t e r of t h e p o l i t i c a l c o n c e p t . I t h a s l i t t l e meaning and s e n s e of its own."...

S ince ' coming t o power i n 1982, C h a n c e l l o r Helmut Kohl h a s cau- t i o u s l y t r i e d to s t i m u l a t e f e e l i n g s of n a t i o n a l p r i d e and patr i - otism. H e is t h e f i r s t West German c h a n c e l l o r t o have t h e na- t i o n a l f l a g i n h i s o f f i c e , [ a n d 1 has r e s u s c i t a t e d p r e v i o u s l y t a i n t e d words such as v a t e r l a n d . . . . Response t o t h e c h a n c e l l o r ' s p r i d e - b u i l d i n g e f f o r t s h a s been l u k e w a r m even w i t h i n West Ger-

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many. One of t h e two n a t i o n a l t e l e v i s i o n c h a n n e l s began p l a y i n g t h e n a t i o n a l anthem f o r t h e f i r s t time a t t h e close of program- ming A p r i l 1 5 , b u t t h e o t h e r r e m a i n s u n c e r t a i n a b o u t t h e idea. . . .

A t p r e s e n t , Germans' f e e l i n g s f o r t h e i r democracy r ema in much l i k e t h e i r view of Bonn, t he i r q u a i n t , b u t small, c a p i t a l , wh ich t h e y r e g a r d as b o r i n g , colorless, u n i n s p i r i n g .... J o h a n n e s S c h u l e , who d r i v e s o c c a s i o n a l l y from h i s home i n t h e Ruhr t o c h e c k on p r o p e r t y h e owns here, summed u p t h e f e e l i n g s of many of h i s countrymen: "When I d r i v e i n t o Bonn, I ask myse l f how other n a t i o n s c a n take u s s e r i o u s l y . ' '

I n t h e May 10 WALL STREET JOURNAL, H. J o a c h i m Maitre, f o r m e r l y w i t h West Germany's S p r i n g e r Press empire, wrote:

Scratch most Germans--and you w i l l f i n d r e s e n t m e n t . A r e s e n t m e n t n o t o v e r Germany's defea t i n war or o v e r loss of German t e r r i - t o r y , b u t o v e r . . . t h e subdued ro le of t o d a y ' s West Germany i n t h e world, i n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n t h e European Community and i n t h e A t l a n t i c A l l i a n c e . West Germany, Europe 's r e m a i n i n g economic g i a n t , is seen--deep down--by i ts c i t i z e n s as a p o l i t i c a l and m i l i t a r y dwarf . . . . Our Bundeswehr h a s been burdened p s y c h o l o g i - c a l l y : O u r so ld ie rs know w e l l that--when measured a g a i n s t t h e g r e a t m i l i t a r y t r a d i t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y - - t h e y p e r f o r m a n undig- n i f i e d a u x i l i a r y f u n c t i o n . . . . [The Federal R e p u b l i c is t h e o n l y NATO member to have i ts e n t i r e m i l i t a r y s u b j e c t t o NATO, t h u s u l t i m a t e l y American, command. I

A t a c o n f e r e n c e h o s t e d by t h e Konrad Adenauer' F o u n d a t i o n i n 1981, Mr. Kristol [ I r v i n g Kristol , t h e d e a n o f U . S . n e o c o n s e r v a t i v e s ] proposed t h a t "NATO must be made to be compatible w i t h Germany's n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t and n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s . For too l o n g t h e German people have been asked to repress t h e i r n a t i o n a l f e e l i n g s i n t h e c a u s e of t h e NATO a l l i a n c e . T h i s is a n u n h e a l t h y s i t u a - t i o n which c a n n o t e n d u r e . I do b e l i e v e t h a t Germany shares a m u t u a l i t y o f i n t e r e s t s w i t h i t s NATO p a r t n e r s , b u t t h i s m u t u a l i t y m u s t be based on a h e a l t h y German patriotism. People do n o t f i q h t and d i e for acronyms, whe the r i t be NATO or t h e UN.-They Q---- f i h t and d i e for t h e i r c o u n t r y . " --- ------

I n t h e May 1 0 INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, j o u r n a l i s t W i l l i a m P f a f f ca l led f o r , as t h e t i t l e read, "A More Rea l i s t i c and More European Germany." H e s a id , i n par t : ,

T h e geopol i t ica l catastrophe t h a t e n s u e d , l i k e t h e crime of t h e dea th camps, c e r t a i n l y is n o t t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f Germans of t h e p r e s e n t g e n e r a t i o n . Germans, however , l i k e t h e r e s t of u s , have to l i v e w i t h t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s , making t h e best of what was done by a n o t h e r g e n e r a t i o n . . . .

So must we a l l . A ceremony i n a c e m e t e r y is i r r e l e v a n t t o t h i s . Very bad t h i n g s w i l l come of t h i s a f f a i r i f t h e West German s e n s e o f e s t r a n g e m e n t from t h e a l l i e s is f u e l e d . The so l id , e s s e n t i a l accompl ishment of t h e postwar y e a r s h a s been West Germany's moral as well as economic and p o l i t i c a l i n t e g r a t i o n i n t o Wes te rn Europe. The e n l a r g e d European Community, however, no l o n g e r

?

PAGE 14 PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 1 7 , 1985

p r o v i d e s its members a r e s p o n s i v e or v e r y r e w a r d i n g p o l i t i c a l i n - s t r u m e n t . B e c a u s e America is t h e s u p e r p o w e r , and t h e g u a r a n t o r of West Germany, Germans have g i v e n r e l a t i o n s w i t h Washington p r i o r i t y o v e r t h o s e w i t h Par i s , The Hague, B r u s s e l s , Rome and London. When Amer icans d i s a p p o i n t them, as i n t h e B i t b u r g case, t h e shock is t h e greater f o r t h e i n v e s t m e n t t h a t has been made i n t h e American t i e .

Someth ing c o n s t r u c t i v e could r e s u l t i f Germans were i n f l u e n c e d t o take a more d e t a c h e d view o f t h e i r s t r a t e g i c dependence o n Wash- i n g t o n , and were more s e r i o u s l y to c o n s i d e r t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r improving s e c u r i t y c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e p r i n c i p a l West European a l l i e s . . . . I n d e e d , Amer icans as w e l l as Germans need better t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t i t is a basic i n t e r e s t o f t h e U n i t e d S ta tes as well as o f Wes te rn E u r o p e , t h a t E u r o p e s t e a d i l y improve i t s a b i l i t y to assure i ts own s e c u r i t y - - t h a t t h e "European p i l l a r " o f t h e Wes te rn a l l i a n c e be as so l id as possible, capable of s t a n d i n -- a l o n e i f n e c e s s a r y . T h a t way l i e s a t r a n s - A t l a n t i c r a a t i o n s h i : of c o n f i d e n c e and m u t u a l respect, which wou ld have no need for g r a t u i t o u s d i s p l a y s of t h e k i n d s e e n , and s u f f e r e d , a t B i t b u r g .

I t ' s amazing t h a t n e a r l y a l l a n a l y s t s h a v e t r a d i t i o n a l l y b e l i e v e d t h a t a "more i n d e p e n d e n t Europe" would c o n t i n u e t o be a lock-step a l l y of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Why s h o u l d t h i s be? A l r e a d y , t h e changed r e l a t i o n s h i p be- tween West Germany and its American " ro le model" is e v i d e n t , t h o u g h n o t a lways on t h e surface. Younger Germans, e s p e c i a l l y those p o l i t i c a l l y l e f t of c e n t e r , r e f l e c t t h i s change most. T o c o n t i n u e w i t h t h e TIMES' T y l e r Mar- s h a l l (May 9 ) :

I n c r e a s i n q l y i t is i n t e g r a t e d Europe r a t h e r -- t h a n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t h a t f u y n i s h e s t h e model for West Germans. And most i m - p o r t a n t , Germans want t o be s e e n and respected as equals i n a re- l a t i o n s h i p t h a t h a s been domina ted by t h e U n i t e d S ta tes .

K a r s t e n V o i g t , 4 4 , a Social Democratic member o f P a r l i a m e n t and h i s p a r t y ' s spokesman on s e c u r i t y mat ters , s a i d n o t l o n g ago: "We used t o do what t h e U . S . wanted. T h e r e is now a whole l i s t of d i f f e r e n c e s , and t h e l i s t is g o i n g to grow l o n g e r , n o t shorter . . . . T h e basic democratic v a l u e s w e borrowed from you a re now part of o u r own i d e n t i t y . W e now s h a r e common v a l u e s b u t have d i f f e r i n g i n t e r e s t s . " . . .

- -

Another Social Democratic. member of P a r l i a m e n t , G u e n t e r V e r h e u - g e n , commented: " W e d o n ' t want to break our economic and c u l t u r a l l i n k s , b u t w e b e l i e v e we need po l i t i ca l e m a n c i p a t i o n from t h e U.S . 7 -

The roTe of t h e U.S . as o u r mentor is no l o n g e r accepted. - I n l i g h t o f t h e a t t r a c t i o n of t h e U n i t e d E u r o p e idea, i t is i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e t h a t P r e s i d e n t Reagan made s t i r r i n g appeals f o r a U n i t e d Europe--and a r e u n i t e d Germany w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a U n i t e d Europe--on t w o o c c a s i o n s d u r i n g h i s t r i p . T h e f i r s t was when he addressed s e v e r a l t housand e n t h u s i - a s t i c young Germans a t Hambach Cas t l e , c o n s i d e r e d t o be o n e of t h e foun- t a i n h e a d s of German democracy i n t h e 1830s. The P r e s i d e n t ' s address was i n t e r r u p t e d 40 times & a p p l a u s e . H e t o l d t h e c h e e r i n g s t u d e n t s :

. PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 1 7 , 1985 PAGE 1 5

I n many ways, t h e c h a l l e n g e s of 1832, when t h o u s a n d s of young Germans came here to pro tes t r e p r e s s i o n , were s imi la r t o t h o s e you f a c e today . By t h a t y e a r of 1 8 3 2 , Germany was c h a n g i n g r a p i d l y , t h e I n d u s t r i a l R e v o l u t i o n was sweep ing across E u r o p e , B u t i n d e a l i n g w i t h these new problems, s t r o n g forces i n s i d e and o u t s i d e Germany resisted democracy and n a t i o n a l u n i t y . T h e g r e a t hopes t h a t arose i n 1832 and a g a i n i n 1848 were se t back. B u t despi te t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s of democratic movements, w e know for sure t h a t t o t a l i t a r i a n i s m , by wha teve r name, w i l l n e v e r f u l f i l l German a s p i r a t i o n s w i t h i n a u n i t e d Europe . The c a u s e o f German u n i t y is bound up w i t h t h e c a u s e of democracy.

P r e s i d e n t Reagan s t r u c k a r e s p o n s i v e c h o r d w i t h Germany's younger gene ra - t i o n s i n c e many of them e x h i b i t a n e m o t i o n a l s e n s e of common d e s t i n y w i t h t h e i r " E a s t German c o u s i n s . " T h e o t h e r o c c a s i o n on which P r e s i d e n t Reagan appealed to t h e g o a l of a u n i t e d Europe was d u r i n g h i s 44-minute speech t o t h e European P a r l i a m e n t i n S t r a s b o u r g o n May 8. T h e r e h e sa id :

I t is my hope , o u r hope, t h a t i n t h e 2 1 s t cen tury- -which is o n l y 1 5 y e a r s away--al l E u r o p e a n s , f rom Moscow to L i s b o n , w i l l be ab le to t r a v e l w i t h o u t a passport and t h e f ree f l o w of people and ideas w i l l i n c l u d e t h e o ther h a l f of Europe . I t is my f e r v e n t w i s h t h a t i n t h e n e x t c e n t u r y there w i l l be o n e , free Europe.

I n a s e n s e , t h e P r e s i d e n t echoed remarks made ea r l i e r t h a t morning by Pierre P f l i m l i n , p r e s i d e n t of t h e E u r o p e a n P a r l i a m e n t , who t o l d a special V-E Day s i t t i n g of t h e P a r l i a m e n t :

L e t u s n o t i n d u l g e i n s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n , We m u s t r e c o g n i z e our l i m i t a t i o n s . W e r e p r e s e n t o n l y one par t o f Europe. T h e r e a r e peoples e v e r y b i t as European as o u r own t h a t a r e u n a b l e t o take t h e i r place i n our Community. Dresden and Warsaw, P r a g u e and B u d a p e s t are c i t ies as European as o u r own t e n cap i t a l s . I t might now seem a v a i n hope to dream of b r i n g i n g together a l l t h e peoples o f Europe , b u t no o n e c a n s top u s d reaming o f a complete E u r o p e u n i t e d i n peace. A f t e r a l l , mank ind ' s g r e a t e s t s teps for- ward have o f t e n o n l y been dreams come true.

S i g n i f i c a n t l y , one of t h e most e n e r g e t i c members of t h e European P a r l i a m e n t is O t t o von Habsburg , who h a s been a n o u t s p o k e n p r o p o n e n t of a n expanded Eu- rope or Community to i n c l u d e c o u n t r i e s i n b o t h E a s t e r n and W e s t e r n Europe. After Mr. R e a g a n ' s address, Mr. K e l l y and I chanced m e e t i n g D r . Habsburg coming o u t of t h e a s sembly h a l l ( w e l l , I d i d do my best t o make s u c h a c h a n c e m a t e r i a l i z e ) . Dr. Habsburg praised t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s remarks--the ones a t Hambach Cas t le even more so t h a n those a t t h e EP t h a t a f t e r n o o n .

Thus, i n a roundabou t manner, German d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t w i t h i ts American " b i g brother," p l u s i ts i n a b i l i t y to r e c o v e r a s e n s e o f p u r e l y n a t i o n a l p r i d e and patr iot ism, could rebound i n t o a g r e a t e r German z e a l f o r a u n i t e d Eu- rope, which would a l so lead to t h e b i g g e s t dream of a l l : a r e u n i t e d German n a t i o n , o n e Germans c o u l d f e e l proud of a g a i n .

--Gene H. Hogberg, N e w s Bureau