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PASTOR'S REPOR PUBLISHED BY THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
V O L . 3 , N 0 . 3 0 PASADENA, CALI FORNlA JULY 30, 1 9 7 9
M r . Armstrong Speaks a t SEP Again
G r e e t i n g s , M i n i s t e r s and wives:
I f l e w up t o O r r , Minnesota a g a i n t o speak t o t h e second c o n t i n g e n t a t SEP--Summer E d u c a t i o n a l Program.
T h i s winds up t h e s e c o n d camp s e s s i o n a t O r r f o r t h e summer o f 1979. I found t h i s s econd g r o u p o f t e e n - a g e r s s l i g h t l y l a r g e r t h a n t h e f i r s t con- t i n g e n t , t o which I spoke t h r e e weeks before. T h i s SEP program i s a wonder fu l t h i n g . I t b r i n g s t h e t e e n - a g e r s ( 1 2 t o 18 ) i n t o an a c t i v i t y t h a t d e f i n i t e l y increases their i n t e r e s t i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s of G o d ' s Church.
I s p J k e on a s u b j e c t t h a t w i l l a p p e a r as an a r t i c l e i n t h e September GOOD NEWS.
I t i n v o l v e s a whole new program i n t h e c h u r c h , b r i n g i n g o u r young p e o p l e and s t i l l younger c h i l d r e n i n t o a f a r g r e a t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a n be- fore w i t h t h e i r p a r e n t s .
I a m e x u b e r e n t , e n t h u s i a s t i c and v i t a l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e new YES (Youth E d u c a t i o n a l Service) program now b e i n g l aunched i n the c h u r c h . I t works i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e YOU program. Bu t I feel i t i s even f a r more i m p o r t a n t . So much so t h a t I a m b r i n g i n g b o t h YOU and YES programs direc- t l y unde r my own p e r s o n a l d i r e c t i o n and s u p e r v i s i o n , and t h e l e a d e r s of b o t h w i l l work d i r e c t l y unde r m e , and i n close p e r s o n a l t ouch w i t h m e .
By way o f b r i e f summary o f my message t h i s l a s t Sabba th a t O r r : There w e r e m o r e t h a n 600 t h e r e a l t o g e t h e r , i n c l u d i n g t een -age campers , c r e w , and a b o u t 1 0 0 v i s i t i n g p a r e n t s , s i n c e t h e s e y o u t h s w i l l be r e t u r n i n g home a b o u t Wednesday t h i s week.
I p u t emphas is o n t h e f a c t t h a t God Himself h a s a v e r y s p e c i a l i n - terest i n c h i l d r e n o f a l l ages--from i n f a n t s on th rough t e e n - a g e r s .
What t h e world does NOT know i s t h a t God, a t t h e c r e a t i o n of MAN, se t a d e f i n i t e Master P l a n f o r r e p r o d u c i n g H i m s e l f - - a P l a n t h a t d e f i n i t e l y i n v o l v e s t h e e n t i r e FAMILY as t h e bas ic u n i t o f s o c i e t y . God ' s Great Master P l a n i n c l u d e s c h i l d r e n from i n f a n c y t o a d u l t s .
As God ' s renewing of t h e f a c e o f t h e e a r t h - - r e c o r d e d i n G e n e s i s , v e r s e s 2 t h r o u g h 3 1 , a n d even i n t o f o l l o w i n g c h a p t e r s - - t o o k p l a c e i n seven l i t e r a l days ( i n c l u d i n g c r e a t i o n of t h e S a b b a t h d a y ) , and s ince a day i s - as a t h o u s a n d y e a r s t o God, and a thousand y e a r s as a day , so t h o s e f i r s t seven days r e p r e s e n t e d t h e 7 , 0 0 0 years o f God ' s Master P l a n .
When God d r o v e Adam and Eve o u t from t h e Garden of Eden (Gen. 3 : 2 2 - 2 4 ) , H e s a i d , t o p u t i t i n modern l m g u a g e , " Y O U I_ have made y o u r own d e c i s i o n ,
Page 2 PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9
f o r y o u r s e l v e s and a l l humani ty t h a t s h a l l he born from you. YOU have re- jected my government . You have r e j e c t e d m e as your God and S a v i o r . YOU
have r e j e c t e d m e a s R e v e a l e r o f bas ic knowledge. T h e r e f o r e I SENTENCE YOU AND ALL H U M A N I T Y t o be CUT OFF FROM ME FOR SIX THOUSAND YEARS--EXCEPT FOR THE VERY -- FEW I s h a l l s p e c i a l l y c a l l , f o r s p e c i a l service p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e KINGDOM OF GOD, which s h a l l b e g i n a f t e r t h e 6 , 0 0 0 y e a r s . GO f o r m y o u r own knowledge, form y o u r own gods and r e l i g i o n s , form y o u r o w n governments o v e r n a t i o n s . You w i l l NOT b e c u t o f f f rom S a t a n , and t h e r e f o r e he w i l l sway you i n a l l you do i n t o HIS WAY o f v a n i t y , l u s t and c o v e t i n g , j e a l o u s y and envy, c o m p e t i t i o n a n d s t r i f e , r e b e l l i o n and d e s t r u c t i o n . "
_I-
T h i s p r e s e n t e v i l w o r l d r e s u l t e d .
G o d d i d c a l l a few. H e c a l l e d Abraham, Isaac and J a c o b , Moses and , though H e d e n i e d them H i s Holy S p i r i t e x c e p t f o r t h e p r o p h e t s , t h e n a t i o n I s r ae l . H e s e n t C h r i s t . H e h a s c a l l e d a c o m p a r a t i v e l y VERY -- FEW i n t o SPECIAL SERVICE p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e K I N G D O M O F GOD--and t h e s e have formed GOD ' S CHURCH !
J e s u s s a i d p l a i n l y and e m p h a t i c a l l y , " N O MAN CAN come t o m e , e x c e p t t h e F a t h e r . . .draw him" ( J o h n 6 : 4 4 ) . N o man CAN. Excep t f o r those specially cal led f o r s p e c i a l d u t y , a l l humani ty h a s been -- CUT OFF from God! God h a s NOT, as y e t , been t r y i n g t o GET THE WORLD " s a v e d . "
Bu t t h e c h i l d r e n o f t h o s e c a l l e d a r e SET APART i n a SEPARATE CATEGORY. T h i s i s B I G -- NEWS, n o t h e r e t o f o r e been t a u g h t i n God ' s CHURCH!
I n I C o r i n t h i a n s 7 :8 -9 , P a u l a d d r e s s e s THE UNMARRIED and widows. I n v e r s e s 10-11 h e a d d r e s s e s THE MARRIED! I n verses 12-16 h e a d d r e s s e s " t h e res t ." Who can t h a t be? The c o n t e x t e x p l a i n s .
" I f any b r o t h e r h a t h a w i f e t h a t b e l i e v e t h n o t ( V e r s e 121, and s h e be p l e a s e d t o d w e l l w i t h him, l e t him n o t p u t h e r away." A c h u r c h m e m b e r CANNOT d i v o r c e a non-church m e m b e r , so l o n g a s t h a t non-church m e m b e r i s w i l l i n g t o k e e p t h e m a r r i a g e i n t a c t . Too many o f o u r p e o p l e a re g e t t i n g " l i b e r a l " a t t h i s p o i n t ! The same i s t r u e o f a b e l i e v i n g w i f e who h a s a n o n - b e l i e v i n g husband. A s l o n g as t h e y can l i v e i n r e a s o n a b l e p e a c e , THERE CAN BE N O DIVORCE!
Now v e r s e 1 4 : "For t h e u n b e l i e v i n g husband i s s a n c t i f i e d by t h e w i f e . " What does t h a t mean? N o t made " s a n c t i m o n i o u s , " b u t p u t i n a SEPARATE CATEGORY--although n o n - b e l i e v e r , s u c h non-member husband i s NOT CUT OFF from God. V e r s e 1 6 : "For what knowest t h o u , 0 w i f e , w h e t h e r t hou s h a l t s a v e t h y husband?" H e i s n o t c o n v e r t e d , b u t he i s NOT CUT OFF--meaning he CAN come t o C h r i s t I F WILLING:
Now n o t i c e v e r s e 1 4 a g a i n : "For t h e u n b e l i e v i n a husband i s s a n c t i f i e d " ( p u t i n a s p e c i a l c a t e g o r y - - n o t n e c e s s a r i l y c a l l e d , b u t NOT CUT OFF--free t o come t o C h r i s t I F HE WISHES!) Con t inue : "e lse w e r e y o u r c h i l d r e n un- c l e a n " - - t h a t i s , CUT OFF from God l i k e o t h e r c h i l d r e n are! "But now are t h e y h o l y . " O r , i n o t h e r words , t h e c h i l d r e n o f a b e l i e v i n g p a r e n t are SET APART, i n t h e s e n s e t h a t THEY ARE NOT CUT OFF FROM GOD a s a re o t h e r c h i l d r e n !
I t d o e s n o t mean t h e y a r e c o n v e r t e d . J u s t t h a t t h e y a re NOT " c u t o f f " f r o m God--the b e l i e v i n g p a r e n t can TEACH THEM, and when t h e y are m a t u r e , h o p e f u l l y t h e y may b e c o n v e r t e d .
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 3
THIS I S THE GREAT NEWS!
C h i l d r e n o f even o n e c o n v e r t e d p a r e n t may b e TAUGHT by t h a t p a r e n t , t o o f f s e t S a t a n ' s r e a c h i n g them t h r o u g h t h e human s p i r i t w i t h i n them.
THIS ALSO PLACES A RESPONSIBILITY ON G O D ' S CHURCH, and on ALL PARENTS I N THE CHURCH t o work w i t h o u r c h i l d r e n from babyhood u n t i l a d u l t !
THIS I S A WONDERFUL TRUTH. The YES Program i s g o i n g t o d e f i n i t e l y h e l p i n t h i s r e g a r d .
Those a t O r r l a s t S a b b a t h r e c e i v e d t h i s Message w i t h e l a t i o n - - p a r e n t s a s w e l l a s t e e n - a g e r s ! 1 a m p e r s o n a l l y e n t h u s i a s t i c 35ou t it!
FROM PASTORAL ADMINISTRATION
Dear F e l l o w M i n i s t e r s :
G r e e t i n g s from Pasadena! M r . H e r b e r t Armstrong i s back from a s u c c e s s f u l t r i p t o t h e SEP camp a t O r r , Minnesota . H e wanted t o go back t o speak t o t h e k i d s f o r t h e f i n a l s e s s i o n t h i s y e a r , and I ' m s u r e i t was v e r y e n c o u r a g i n g and i n s p i r i n g t o eve ryone conce rned .
Dennis Luker j u s t g o t back from a c o n f e r e n c e o f t h e m i n i s t e r s i n t h e Northwest-- in P o r t l a n d , Oregon. H e r e p o r t s t h a t o v e r f i f t y m i n i s t e r s and w i v e s w e r e t h e r e i n a v e r y w a r m and u p b e a t c o n f e r e n c e . H e s a i d a l l of t h e men and wives w e r e v e r y p o s i t i v e and r e a f f i r m e d t h e i r l o y a l t y t o M r . Armstrong and t h i s Work.
Many d o c t r i n a l and C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g q u e s t i o n s c a m e i n , however , and w e have a l r e a d y p l a n n e d t o see M r . H e r b e r t Armstrong soon-- in a -- series o f meet ings--on d o c t r i n a l q u e s t i o n s such as t h e d e t a i l s o f d i v o r c e and re- m a r r i a g e , b e g i n n i n g t h i s week.
Everyone i s f i n e h e r e i n Pasadena . The s t u d e n t s had a g r e a t beach p a r t y y e s t e r d a y , and a f e w o f n e x t y e a r ' s c l a s s are a l r e a d y s t a r t i n g t o a r r i v e . They l o o k l i k e _- v e r y ___ f i n e young p e o p l e ,
On t h e s a d s i d e , i t i s my d u t y t o i n f o r m you t h a t M r . J a c k P y l e and M r . Bronson James have b o t h been d i s f e l l o w s h i p p e d from God's Church. They are t o be -- marked i n a l l a r e a s of t h e i r a c t i v i t y , as b o t h are c o n s o r t i n g w i t h and h e l p i n g t h e enemies o f t h e Work o f God.
Now f o r s o m e INSTRUCTION: P lease , -- all m i n i s t e r s g e t i n y o u r owri - f e s t i v a l a p p l i c a t i o n s soon s o w e can have up - to -da te i n f o r m a t i o n f o r y o u r h o u s i n g , e t c . M r . McMichael r e p o r t s t h a t s o m e areas a r e a l r e a d y h e a v i l y ___-- booked and w e d o n ' t know how many u n i t s t o r e s e r v e f o r t h e m i n i s t e r s and f a m i l i e s u n t i l w e h e a r f rom you. I f some of you are g o i n g t o b r i n g a r e l a t i v e o r f r i e n d t o s h a r e y o u r accomoda t ions , e t c . , a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r t h i s
-----
FASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 4
must be made NOW. So p l e a s e , eve ryone g e t i n y o u r forms t o t h e Feas t O f f i c e immediately--even t h o s e of you h e r e i n t h e Pasadena area who may b e t r a v e l i n g from s i t e t o site--so t h e F e s t i v a l O f f i c e may know how many members of t h e f a m i l y t o p l a n f o r , e t c .
Looking forward t o t h e f e s t i v a l s e a s o n , I want t o a s k a l l o f you t o p r e p a r e a sermon soon p o i n t i n g toward and p r e p a r i n g t h e b r e t h r e n t o go t o t h e Feast , keep -- - a l l e i g h t d a y s of t h e F e a s t , and t r u l y w o r s h i p G o d - d u r i n g t h i s coming, g l o r i o u s f e s t i v a l s e a s o n . B e s u r e t o remind eve ryone t h a t t h e y s h o u l d be s a v i n g t h e i r s econd t i t h e and p r e p a r i n g themselves i n e v e r y w a y f o r " t h e b e s t Feast e v e r . "
A l s o , I want t o a s k a l l o f you m i n i s t e r s t o t a k e more care t o o v e r s e e and " s c r e e n " t h e t y p e o f music and danc ing y o u r i n d i v i d u a l c h u r c h e s a r e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n . We want t o upgrade t h e t y p e o f music p r e s e n t e d d u r i n g Church s e r v i c e s . Ahd w e d e f i n i t e l y want t o upgrade t h e t y p e o f music p l a y e d a t Church and C h u r c h - r e l a t e d and YOU dances and p a r t i e s . W e are g o i n g t o s e n d you m o r e d e f i n i t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n on t h i s w i t h i n a c o u p l e o f months, b u t a l l o f us who h a v e been a round M r . Armstrong and have had any t y p e o f c u l t u r a l t r a i n i n g wha teve r c e r t a i n l y can h e l p o u r a r e a s t o a v o i d t h e e x t r e m e s s o o f t e n found i n t h e w o r l d which a r e b e g i n n i n g t o c r e e p i n t o God ' s Church! T r u l y w e want t o honor G o d i n e v e r y p h a s e and face t o f l i f e - - a n d t h a t i n c l u d e s mus ic , d a n c i n g , d a t i n g , c o u r t s h i p , h o w t o h a n d l e l i q u o r , t h e t y p e and a tmosphe re of soc i a l s w e p a r t i c i p a t e i n , e t c . C h r i s t i s moving t o c l e a n up H i s Church and p r e p a r e i t as an un- b l e m i s h e d b r i d e . Again , I hope a l l of us w i l l c a t c h t h i s v i s i o n and do a l l t h a t w e can t o f o l l o w Mr. A r m s t r o n g ' s l e a d i n t h i s m a t t e r w i t h a l l of o u r h e a r t s . T h i s i s where C h r i s t i s l e a d i n g H i s Church - now.
T h a t ' s a l l f o r t h i s t i m e .
With C h r i s t i a n love, Roder ick C . M e r e d i t h
FURTHER I N S I G H T S I N T O THE STATE'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CHURCH
( E d i t o r ' s N o t e : The f o l l o w i n g a n a l y s i s o f , and i n s i g h t s i n t o o u r church/ s ta te c o n f r o n t a t i o n , w e r e r e c e n t l y g i v e n i n ove rv iew commentary by M r . S t a n l e y R. Rader . H i s comments w e r e v i d e o t a p e d f o r a TV documentary c u r r e n t l y b e i n g p roduced by o u r TV Department . Those comments of s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t t o t h e m i n i s t r y have been e x t r a c t e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e P a s t o r ' s Repor t . )
Wishes - H i s and M r . Helge 's Hands W e r e n ' t T i e d
From t h e o u t s e t i n t h i s c o n f l i c t between t h e s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a ( t h e l a r g e s t , m o s t p o w e r f u l s t a t e i n t h e Union) and t h e Worldwide Church of God, M r . Helge and I have been as f r u s t r a t e d a s t w o p e o p l e c o u l d p o s s i b l y be. Because from t h e o u t s e t , though w e are l a w y e r s w e have had t o u s e o t h e r l awyer s as o u r mou thp ieces i n e v e r y forum, e x c e p t t h e t i m e s t h a t w e w e r e p e r s o n a l l y a p p e a r i n g b e f o r e t h e media.
W e have t h e v e r y b e s t lawyers, and w e l i k e them a l l v e r y much. T h e y ' r e so much b e t t e r t h a n what t h e s t a t e can m u s t e r t h a t i t i s n ' t even a b a l l
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 5
game. I mean i t ' s l i k e c h i l d ' s p l a y . Bu t M r . Helge and I have such a f i r m h a n d l e on t h e l a w c o n c e r n i n g o u r case and a f i r m h a n d l e on t h e f a c t s , t h a t i n d e a l i n g w i t h o u r own l awyer s i t ' s l i k e w e ' r e l i g h t y e a r s ahead o f them. W e know what w e know a b o u t t h e l a w , and w e know what w e know a b o u t t h e f a c t s b e c a u s e w e have been d e a l i n g w i t h Church mat ters h e r e f o r a c o l l e c t i v e p e r i o d of f o r t y y e a r s between t h e t w o of u s , i n a h i g h l y s p e c i a l i z e d se t of c i r c u m s t a n c e s . On t o p of t h a t , w e are members o f t h e Church.
We've been able t o h e l p o u r l awyer s d r a f t t h e p l e a d i n g s / o u r answers t o t h e c o u r t i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e a l l e g a t i o n s 7 . We've been aEle t o h e l p them p r e p a r e t h e o r a l a rgumen t s . We've been-able t o p l a n t h e s t r a t e g y , d e v e l o p t h e t a c t i c s . But t h e t w o p e o p l e i n t h e Church who know t h e m o s t a b o u t t h e Church--in t e r m s o f t h e l a w , i n t e r m s o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of t h e Church t o t h e s o v e r e i g n s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a , and t o t h e f e d e r a l government f o r t h a t m a t t e r - - h a v e l i t e r a l l y been hamst rung and h o g - t i e d by t h e sham l a w s u i t t h a t w a s f i l e d by t h e s t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a and t h e s o - c a l l e d s i x re la tors , seven months ago.
But f o r M r . He lge and m e b e i n g named as d e f e n d a n t s , w e would have been a b l e t o d e f e n d t h e Church as w e a lways have . W e have had o t h e r l a w s u i t s a t o t h e r t i m e s j u s t as i r r e s p o n s i b l e a s t h i s one . I c o u l d go t o my f i l e s and show you case a f t e r case over t h e y e a r s where w i l d a l l e g a t i o n s had been made. And i n e a c h and e v e r y case M r . Helge and I have managed t o l i t e r a l l y d e s t r o y t h e o p p o s i t i o n by p o i n t i n g o u t t o t h e c o u r t s (whe the r i t b e a f e d e r a l c o u r t o r a s ta te c o u r t , and s o m e t i m e s as f a r away as Alaska ) t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t w a s a sham.
But i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r case, w i t h M r . He lge and I b e i n g named as d e f e n d a n t s , w e have had t o t r y t o coach o u r lawyers, t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e t e a m , and t o s p e e d up t h e v e r t i c a l l e a r n i n g c u r v e o f a l l o f o u r lawyers. And as I t o l d M r . Armstrong, I r e a l i z e i t ' s i m p o s s i b l e t o g e t them t o f e e l a b o u t t h e case--to react a s w e would- -shor t of c o n v e r t i n g them.
Whv H e F i u h t s So Hard F o r t h e Church
I w a s a lways a v e r y good a d v o c a t e f o r t h e Church, even b e f o r e 1 9 7 5 when I became a m e m b e r . I w a s a lways ab le , as a good a d v o c a t e , t o g e t a l o t o f t h e n e c e s s a r y emot ion i n t o my p l e a d i n g s , wha teve r t h e y might be--whatever I w a s a r g u i n g f o r o r p l e a d i n g a b o u t o r advoca t ing - -because of t h e t remendous love and a d m i r a t i o n and r e s p e c t t h a t I had n o t o n l y f o r M r . Armst rong , b u t for t h e church b r e t h r e n t h a t I had met over t h e years, and for colleagues t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t t h a t I h a d worked w i t h c l o s e l y h e r e .
But t h e n i n 1 9 7 5 when I became a member--which I d i d n ' t have t o do: t h e r e w a s no r e a s o n on e a r t h why I s h o u l d become a m e m b e r , b u t I had t h a t p a r t i - c u l a r c a l l i n g t h a t w e who are m e m b e r s know someth ing a b o u t . I mean, I w a s e a r n i n g more money b e f o r e , and I d i d n ' t have p o l i t i c a l p roblems b e f o r e . Maybe s o m e p e o p l e w e r e s a y i n g , "We wonder why M r . Armstrong s p e n d s so much t i m e w i t h an unconver t ed man,'' b u t t h a t w a s h i s problem, w a s n ' t it? I t w a s n ' t mine. And t h e n I became a m e m b e r and a l l o f a sudden p e o p l e began t o b e even m o r e conce rned a b o u t m e and my p r e s e n c e . ---
But once I became a m e m b e r , t h e n I w a s n o t o n l y f i g h t i n q f o r t h e c a u s e of a c l i e n t , b u t I w a s now f i g h t i n g f o r someth ing t h a t I b e l i e v e d i n v e r y - s t r o n g l y m y s e l f ! So, M r . He lge and I are c o n s t a n t l y i n c i t i n g and u r g i n g o u r l awyer s up t o t h a t s a m e l e v e l o f knowledge as t o t h e l a w and t h e f a c t s p e r t a i n i n g t o o u r case.
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PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 6
Why t h e Church Is O u t r a a e d
I t ' s n o t t h a t o u r l a w y e r s are n o t working h a r d a t i t , i t ' s n o t t h a t t h e y are n o t l e a r n i n g ; b u t t h e r e ' s someth ing a b o u t t h i s l a w s u i t t h a t makes M r . Helge and m e , a s w e l l a s M r . Armstrong and o t h e r members o f t h e Church , rise up i n i n d i g n a t i o n . N o t b e c a u s e w e were s u e d , b e c a u s e u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i n t h i s w o r l d anyone can s u e anybody. W e know t h a t . P e o p l e can be g r i e v e d o v e r n o n - e x i s t i n g i n j u r i e s and t h e y s u e p a r t i e s A , B , o r C and s o m e t i m e s t h e y are thrown o u t o f c o u r t immedia t e ly , and sometimes i t t a k e s a l i t t l e b i t l o n g e r . But i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r case, t o see M r . Armstrong, t h e leader of t h e Church f o r f o r t y - s e v e n y e a r s , a c c u s e d o f s i p h o n i n g and p i l f e r i n g m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s e a c h y e a r f o r h i s own b e n e f i t ; t o h e a r t h e s t a t e a c c u s e him o f u s i n g t h e Church and i t s assets f o r h i s own p e r s o n a l b e n e f i t ; t o h e a r them d e s c r i b e h i s s p r e a d i n g of t h e g o s p e l , h i s f u l f i l l i n g o f t h e commission as l a i d o u t by Matthew 28 :19 -20 as s o - c a l l e d " t r a v e l e x p e n s e , " makes M r . He lge and I want t o r ise up o u t o f o u r c h a i r s and l i t e r a l l y t h r o t t l e t h e p e r s o n respon- s i b l e f o r making s u c h w i l d and u t t e r l y f a l s e a l l e g a t i o n s !
Noth ing a b o u t t h e S t a t e ' s p o s i t i o n i s t r u e . They know t h a t i t i s false--a sham. They know t h a t i t ' s been a naked , r a w , a b u s e of power. And y e t , b u t f o r Lhe L i v i n g God; b u t f o r t h e immedia te and m a s s i v e s u p p o r t of t h e members of t h e Church; b u t f o r M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s i n s p i r e d l e a d e r s h i p ; and b u t f o r the f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s t h a t are a v a i l a b l e t o few o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e S t a t e would h a v e accompl i shed i t s w i l l !
Why a SHAM L a w s u i t -
The s t a t e h a s come up w i t h no e v i d e n c e of any wrongdoing t o i n any way o f f s e t o r c o u n t e r o u r mounta in of e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g c l e a r l y , f o r any i m p a r t i a l p e r s o n , t h a t a l l the a l l e g a t i o n s i n t h e l a w s u i t are f a l s e and w i t h o u t f o u n d a t i o n . The bu rden of p r o o f , by t h e way, i s n o t even on u s b u t r a t h e r i s on t h e s ta te . N o n e t h e l e s s , w e have come f o r w a r d w i t h an overwhelming amount of e v i d e n c e /on t h e C h u r c h ' s b e h a l f / .
The s t a t e g i v e s eve ryone r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y a re n e v e r go ing t o b e able t o p r o v e t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f t h e i r c o m p l a i n t . Tha t i s b e c a u s e t h e y have hundreds and t h o u s a n d s o f p a g e s of church documents--maybe 6 0 , 0 0 0 p i e c e s o f paper--and t h e y s t i l l c a n ' t f i n d any e v i d e n c e o f any wrongdoing. Judge J u l i u s T i t l e h i m s e l f s a i d /as e a r l y as J a n u a r y 1 2 7 t h e r e w a s no e v i d e n c e o f any wrong-doing, and-as l a t e as March, i n d i c a t e d t h a t a l l t h e s t a t e had been d o i n g i s making a c c u s a t i o n s . N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t , t h e l a w s u i t h a s n o t been dismissed!
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The r e a s o n i s q u i t e p l a i n . The c o u r t i t s e l f i s a l i t t l e i n t i m i d a t e d by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a i s i n v o l v e d and t h e y , as t h e j u d i c i a r y , are p a r t of " t h e sys tem." ment i s t h e enemy o f the Church. Government, t o a g rea t e x t e n t , i s t h e enemy o f t h e p e o p l e . T h e r e i s no j u s t i c e i n t h i s w o r l d . We've a l l l e a r n e d t h o s e t h i n g s and i t ' s coming home now. Everyday w e are b e i n g reminded of t h a t ,
M r . Armstrong h a s a lways s a i d /human7 govern-
Now, when I t a l k a b o u t a sham l a w s u i t , w h a t do I mean? I mean a l a w s u i t t h a t i s based upon h e a r s a y and g o s s i p , and a l a w s u i t t h a t i s c o n t r i v e d under s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s as t o 6e a p p a r e n t t o any p e r s o n t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f , i n t h i s case t h e s t a t e , had no r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t it would e v e r be ab le t o p r o v e t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f -- t h e c o m p l a i n t .
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PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 - / 9 Page 7
Whv t h e S t a t e Jumped I n t o a Bad F i s h t
When you a n a l y z e t h e p r e c e d i n g you might s a y , " W e l l , t h a t b e i n g t h e case, how d i d t h e y L e v e r 7 e x p e c t t o p r o v e up t h e l a w s u i t ? " o b s e r v e r would real ize immedia t e ly t h a t t h e s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a n e v e r a s k e d i t s e l f whe the r what t h e y w e r e d o i n g w a s r i g h t o r wrong, l e g a l o r i l l e g a l , e t h i c a l o r u n e t h i c a l . They o n l y a s k e d t h e m s e l v e s , "Can w e g e t away w i t h i t?" I t w a s t h e r a w u s e o f power.
W e l l , any shrewd
Now, when t h e y a s k e d t h e m s e l v e s t h a t q u e s t i o n , what f a c t o r s d i d t h e y con- s i d e r ? They c o n s i d e r e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t had been b r o u g h t t o them. They w e r e t o l d t h a t t h i s c h u r c h w a s r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l , which w a s good. They w e r e t o l d t h a t it w a s d i v i d e d , t h a t t h e r e w a s a l o t o f d i s s e n s i o n i n t h e r a n k s ; t h e y w e r e t o l d t h a t i t s s p i r i t u a l leader and modern-day f o u n d e r , you might say, w a s a much d i s l i k e d person--an a u t o c r a t , l i v i n g i n A r i z o n a , c u t o f f from t h e b r e t h r e n , c u t o f f f r o m t h e employees , c u t off f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y - - and t h a t i f someone made a move on him l i k e t h e s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a , why he would j u s t f o l d up and go away.
H e was d e s c r i b e d as s e n i l e by a p e r s o n whom h e t r e a t e d , f o r a l l p r a c t i c a l pur- p o s e s , as a son . H e w a s c a l l e d d r u g - r i d d e n , c o n f i n e d t o b e d , u n a b l e t o h e a r , u n a b l e t o see--you name i t , t h e y ment ioned it. They w e r e t o l d t h a t t h e r e w e r e o t h e r p e o p l e who w e r e e q u a l l y d i s l i k e d and I became a t a r g e t . They w e r e t o l d t h a t what a l l t h e p e o p l e are w a i t i n g f o r w a s t h e power of t h e s t a t e t o move on t h e Church , th row o u t M r . Armstrong, th row o u t o t h e r p e o p l e - - the " p a l a c e guard"--and t h e s t a t e b e l i e v e d what t h e y w e r e t o l d . They wanted t o b e l i e v e i t .
Consequen t ly , a l i t t l e b i t o f t h e "Bay of P i g s p h i l o s o p h y " i s p e r h a p s what w e are t a l k i n g a b o u t . A l l o f you remember how t h e C . I . A . w a s conv inced t h a t w i t h a h a n d f u l of p e o p l e t h e y would be a b l e t o i n v a d e Cuba--d idn ' t work o u t v e r y w e l l . Same t h i n g o c c u r r e d h e r e . These p e o p l e l a n d e d on o u r s h o r e s and w i t h i n a few w e e k s t h e y w e r e r o u t e d !
T h e S t a t e ' s R e a l I n t e r e s t
The re h a s b e e n , i n t h i s s ta te o f C a l i f o r n i a , a c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t f o r some t i m e now which M r . Helge a n d I h a v e been v e r y m i n d f u l o f . W e h a d been a t t e n d i n g s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e ' s committee m e e t i n g s where t h e y have been d r a f t i n g n o n - p r o f i t c o r p o r a t i o n l e g i s l a t i o n o v e r a p e r i o d of y e a r s . All o f us who are engaged i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w f i e l d have been conce rned a b o u t t h e c r e e p i n g e f f o r t of t h e s t a t e t o t a k e c o n t r o l o f c h u r c h p r o p e r t y a t l e a s t from a s u p e r v i s o r y s t a n d p o i n t . And w e have been r e s i s t i n g t h e i r e f f o r t s . The Mormons have been r e s i s t i n g i t , and o t h e r r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s have been r e s i s t i n g it.
I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e s t a t e l i k e d t h e " f a c t s , " which w e r e n o n - f a c t s , t h a t w e r e b r o u g h t t o it by t h e l a w y e r s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e s i x d i s s e n t e r s . W e w e r e j u s t i n t h e a f t e r m a t h o r t h e f a l l o u t o f t h e Guyana t r a g e d y . So w e had t h a t m i l i t a t i n g a g a i n s t u s . And t h e r e w a s a t endency in the Los Angeles office of t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l i n t h e C h a r i t a b l e T r u s t s D i v i s i o n , t o b e q u i t e o f f i c i o u s i n t h e i r approach above and beyond what normal b u r e a u c r a t i c p r o c e d u r e would be.
S o o u r case looked p e r f e c t . W e l o o k e d l i k e w e w e r e s m a l l enough t o b e e a s i l y h a n d l e d by t h i s k i n d of a c t i o n , and w e l ooked l i k e w e w e r e d i v i d e d (which w e w e r e n o t ) . The Church looked t o them as though i t would g i v e no
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 8
r e s i s t a n c e b e c a u s e t h e m e m b e r s w e r e l i t e r a l l y g o i n g t o g r e e t t h e s e p e o p l e from t h e r e c e i v e r ' s o f f i c e and t h e s t a t e as " l i b e r a t o r s . " And y e t t h e Church w a s b i g enough t o b e able t o pay o u t a t o n of money i n f e e s which w a s i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e receiver. And a l s o " b i g enough" i n t h e s e n s e t h a t i f t h e s t a t e w e r e t o a c t u a l l y s u c c e e d i n accompl i sh ing i t s w i l l , t h i s would s e t a p r e c e d e n t .
F i r s t Amendment Beg ins With Freedom o f R e l i g i o n
I n t a l k i n g t o t h e p r e s s , what I s a y i s var ied . I f t h e p r e s s h a s been a c c u s a t o r y i n t o n e and h a s mis sed by a m i l e what I t h o u g h t t h e f a c t s w e r e , I t h o u g h t i t w a s i m p o r t a n t t o p u t t h e p r e s s i n i t s p l a c e b e c a u s e I t h o u g h t t h e y w e r e v e r y s h o r t s i g h t e d i n n o t r e a l i z i n g t h a t t h e F i r s t Amendment b e g i n s w i t h f reedom of r e l i g i o n , n o t f reedom of p r e s s . And as I t o l d them i n t h e /cour??s7 - corr idors t h e v e r y f i r s t week i n J a n u a r y when t h i s whole t h i n g E r o k e , t h e y c r y l i k e s t u c k p i g s where their own F i r s t Amendment r i g h t s are conce rned . And s u r e enough s i n c e t h e n , i n t h e l a s t f o u r o r f i v e months, t h e U . S . Supreme C o u r t h a s been k i c k i n g them a round and t h e y have l i t e r a l l y been c r y i n g on t h e f r o n t p a g e s of t h e newspapers , on t h e t e l e v i s i o n n e t - works, and on t h e e d i t o r i a l pages as w e l l .
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But t h a t i s t h e aspect of i t t h a t i s h a r d t o g e t p e o p l e today e x c i t e d abou t - - the F i r s t Amendment. t h a t when t h i s c o u n t r y w a s founded t w o hundred y e a r s ago , p e o p l e were v e r y conce rned about t he F i r s t Amendment. Because so much b l o o d s h e d h a s o c c u r r e d o v e r mat te rs of r e l i g i o n . So much p e r s e c u t i o n h a s t a k e n p l a c e o v e r ?..=ltt.ers of r e l i g i o n . Wars almost i n v a r i a b l y have been f o u g h t o v e r matters o f r e l i g i o n . And t h e p e o p l e who e s t a b l i s h e d t h i s c o u n t r y t w o hundred y e a r s ago w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o have no s t a t e i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h a n y o n e ' s r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s . They w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o have no s t a t e e s t a b l i s h m e n t as w a s t h e case i n England . And G o d and r e l i g i o n w e r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o t h e s e p e o p l e --maybe n o t each p e r s o n t o t h e same degree, b u t c e r t a i n l y no one would have t h o u g h t o f p u b l i s h i n g a TIME magazine i n 1 7 9 0 s t a t i n g , "1s God Dead?" T h a t would n e v e r have o c c u r r e d t o anybody. They w e r e q u i t e s u r e G o d w a s a l i v e and t h a t t h e y w e r e q u i t e a c c o u n t a b l e t o H i m .
I ' v e t o l d t h e newspaper p e o p l e and t h e media
Today w e l i v e i n a d i f f e r e n t s o c i e t y , and a l t h o u g h w e a r e v e r y much con- c e r n e d a b o u t t h e ab r idgmen t of o u r r e l i g i o u s f r eedoms , n o t - everybody i s -- t h a t e x c i t e d a b o u t - it . a l l w i t h c o n s t a n t l y .
So t h a t i s a problem w e are f o r c e d t o con tend
Y e t i n all of t h i s w e have a n anomaly! Our m o s t s u c c e s s f u l ad- - the a d t h a t w e d e s i g n e d t o b r i n g t o t h e p u b l i c c e r t a i n f a c t s a b o u t t h e lawsui t - -was t h e o n e t h a t s ta ted , " W e have n o t h i n g t o h i d e b u t much t o p r o t e c t ! " By tILat M r . Armstrong meant w e l i t e r a l l y had n o t h i n g t o h i d e b e c a u s e t h a t h a s n e v e r been o u r approach t o b e g i n w i t h b e f o r e t h e l a w s u i t . W e have been a v e r y open i n s t i t u t i o n , much more open t h a n t h e l a w r e q u i r e s u s --- t o b e , much more open t h a n m o s t c h u r c h e s are. M r . Armst rong , i n a way, i s l i k e t h e lover who wears h i s h e a r t on h i s s l e e v e . H e i s a lways t e l l i n g p e o p l e j u s t a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g t h a t comes t o h i s mind and h e h i m s e l f h a s s a i d h e would ra ther err on t h e s i d e of b e i n g , shall w e s a y , too w i l l i n g t o r e v e a l t h i n g s a b o u t h i m s e l f a n d a b o u t t h e i n s t i t u t i o n t h a n t o be s e c r e t i v e . And as a consequence f o r u s now, t o b e i n a p o s i t i o n o f p r o t e c t i n g o u r F i r s t Amendment r i g h t s and e v e r y b o d y ' s F i r s t Amendment r i s h t s /6y r e s i s t i n q t h e s e t t i n g o f a wrong p r e c e d e n t 7 , r;rhile t h e s t a t e a c c u s e s u s o f h i d i n g some- t h i n g , creates somewhat o f a n anomaly.
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PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 9
Now, i f t h e s t a t e h a d n ' t a t t a c k e d t h e Church, t h e n t h e i s s u e s would have been d i f f e r e n t . M r . Armstrong and I have s a i d from t h e v e r y o u t s e t , " Y O U have no b u s i n e s s ( t h i s i s a d d r e s s i n g o u r s e l v e s t o t h e s ta te ) a t t a c k i n g t h e Church, you have n o r i g h t t o b e h e r e . G e t y o u r f e e t o f f o u r p r o p e r t y , g e t y o u r d i r t y hands o f f of o u r p r o p e r t y . I f you have someth ing t o compla in a b o u t c o n c e r n i n g M r . Armst rong , o r M r . Rade r , o r M r . He lge , o r anybody f o r t h a t m a t t e r , t h e r e ' s a p r o p e r forum f o r t h a t t y p e o f mat ter . And a l t h o u g h no one l i k e s t o b e a c c u s e d o f a c t i v i t y t h a t even sounds l i k e c r i m i n a l a c t i v i t y , we 'd s t i l l b e v e r y happy t o d e f e n d o u r s e l v e s i n t h a t forum a t t h e r i g h t t i m e and i n t h e r i g h t p l a c e . "
And w e would n o t have been a b l e t o ra i se t h e F i r s t Amendment and w e n e v e r would have t h o u g h t o f r a i s i n g t h e F i r s t Amendment. Maybe Plr. Armstrong would be r e q u i r e d f r o m t i m e t o t i m e t o r a i s e a c l e r g y m a n - p e n i t e n t p r i v i l e g e . Maybe on o c c a s i o n M r . Helge would have t o ra ise t h e q u e s t i o n o f a t t o r n e y - c l i e n t p r i v i l e g e , and maybe on o c c a s i o n I would have had t o do t h e same, b u t w e c e r t a i n l y c o u l d n o t h a v e r a i s e d t h e F i r s t Amendment. Bu t t h e moment t h a t t h e s t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a i n t r u d e d upon Church a f f a i r s , w e had a d u t y , - an a b s o l u t e duQ, t o r a i s e t h e F i r s t Amendment--not o n l y a d u t y t o o u r - selves, b u t 'f;? a l l o t h e r p e o p l e f o r whom t h e freedom of r e l i g i o n i s impor- t a n t .
So , w e have had t o asser t o u r F i r s t Amendment r i g h t s f o r o u r s e l v e s as w e l l as f o r o t h e r s . And as some of you may have s e e n r e c e n t l y , t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l o f Churches h a s come o u t v e r y v i g o r o u s l y i n o u r d e f e n s e . I t r e a l l y h a s a t t a c k e d t h e government f o r i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h o u r r i g h t s . And t h e Seven th Day A d v e n t i s t s , t h r o u g h t h e i r LIBERTY magazine , have done t h e same.
G r a d u a l l y , more a n d more p e o p l e are coming t o t h e f o r e and a re l e t t i n g us know i n one way o r a n o t h e r t h a t t h e y are wa tch ing what i s g o i n g o n ; t h e y are v e r y c o n c e r n e d a b o u t i t - - a b o u t w h a t ' s happen ing , and what h a s happened --and t h a t when t h e y can b e o f t h e m o s t -- h e l p , t h e y w i l l b e t h e r e . (We're S t i l l a t a v e r y l o w p r o c e d u r a l l e v e l of a c t i v i t y b e c a u s e w e a r e r e s i s t i n g on c o n s t i t u t i o n a l g rounds s t e p by s t e p . )
N o t l i t e r a l l y do w e r e f u s e t o answer o u r name when w e are a s k e d , b u t for a l l p rac t i ca l p u r p o s e s w e a r e n o t go ing t o answer any q u e s t i o n u n t i l t h e Supreme C o u r t of t h e U n i t e d S ta tes t e l l s us i n v e r y p l a i n l anguage t h a t w e must. And once t h e Supreme C o u r t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t e l l s us t h a t w e mus t , t h e n i n o u r o p i n i o n and t h e o p i n i o n o f many o t h e r s now, t h e r e w i l l b e no - -- m o r e r e l i g i o u s f reedom i n I- t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ! t h e p a s t . But once we 've c r o s s e d t h a t b r i d g e and t h e Supreme C o u r t of t h e U n i t e d S ta tes h a s s a i d , you must do t h i s , you must do t h a t , you must r e f r a i n f r o m t h i s , you must r e f r a i n from t h a t , t h e n w e w i l l answer t h e q u e s t i o n s .
I t w i l l b e a t h i n g o f
Knew W e Would Lead t h e F i g h t f o r R e l i g i o u s Freedom
I t o l d M r . Armstrong ( a n d h e remembers t h i s v e r y , v e r y c l e a r l y ) t h e v e r y f i r s t day I m e t him back i n 1 9 5 6 , when h e t o l d m e haw b i g t h e Church would u l t i m a t e l y g r o w and how grea t t h e Work would b e and what i t s impac t would be--he t o l d m e t h a t w e would s u f f e r p e r s e c u t i o n , meaning h e would s u f f e r p e r s e c u t i o n , b u t h e used t h e word " w e . " I s a i d , " M r . Armst rong , i f w h a t you s a y i s t r u e , and i f i t comes t o p a s s , and I have no r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t i t w i l l n o t , I want t o remind you t h a t you w i l l t h e n b e i n t h e y"- g u a r d o f a l l t h o s e a t t h a t t i m e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e freedom o f r e l i g i o n b e c a u s e you have had a f r e e r i d e s o f a r . "
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 1 0
H e s a i d , "What do you mean?" And I s a i d , " W e l l , c e r t a i n l y , you know Of t h e J e h o v a h ' s W i t n e s s e s . " And he s a i d , " Y e s . " I c o n t i n u e d , " W e l l , i n t h e t h i r t i e s t h e y f o u g h t a l l t h e b a t t l e s - - f r e e d o m o f t h e p r e s s , f reedom of s p e e c h , f reedom o f a s sembly , and m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , f reedom of r e l i g i o n . The l o c a l s t a t e governments and c i t y governments wanted t o impose a t a x on t h e J e h o v a h ' s W i t n e s s e s w h o c o u l d have v e r y e a s i l y p a i d w h a t w a s r e a l l y t an tamoun t t o a token l i c e n s i n g f e e . A f e e w a s g o i n g t o b e e x t r a c t e d f r o m them f o r t h e p r i v i l e g e o f d i s s e m i n a t i n g t h e i r l i t e r a t u r e , as t h e y s t i l l do today on s t ree t c o r n e r s . And t h e y a r g u e d t h a t i t would be p a y i n g ransom f o r t h e i r F i r s t Amendment r i g h t s .
Human government , as I have l e a r n e d , i s c l e a r l y a n enemy of t h e Church. The b r e t h r e n have found o u t t h a t w e now need p r o t e c t i o n from / o p p r e s s i o n by7 t h e government a t t h e v e r y t i m e t h a t t h e government i s s a y i n g t h e y a re o n l y h e r e t o " p r o t e c t " u s . T h a t h a s a lways been a f i c t i o n ; t h a t ' s a lways been a f r a u d upon t h e p e o p l e . God f o r b i d t h a t any o f u s need p r o t e c t i o n , r ea l p r o t e c t i o n , from t h e government! I t ' s one t h i n g t o t a l k a b o u t pro- t e c t i o n when d e a l i n g w i t h mat te rs o f p u b l i c s a f e t y , and a n o t h e r when w e ' r e d e a l i n g w i t h t h e s o - c a l l e d p o l i c e powers o f t h e s t a t e . But r e a l l y , o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n w a s d e s i g n e d s o t h a t t h e power o f t h e s t a t e w a s c u t down. F e d e r a l government , f o r example, i s o n l y supposed t o d e f e n d o u r s h o r e s from i n v a s i o n f r o m w i t h o u t , and s t a t e governments w e r e n o t supposed t o r u l e t h e l i v e s of t h e p e o p l e a t t h e l o c a l l e v e l .
But you know what h a s happened o v e r t h e y e a r s . The re h a s been c r e e p i n g social ism and c r e e p i n g b u r e a u c r a c y t o t h e p o i n t now t h a t some f e l l o w who g e t s h i m s e l f a career job w i t h t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l can e n t e r t a i n t h e n o t i o n t h a t h e would l i k e t o b e a b l e t o s u p e r v i s e t h e Work o f t h e Worldwide Church o f G o d . H e would l i k e t o set the s t a n d a r d s , he would l i k e t o d e t e r m i n e what -- w e s h o u l d do, when w e s h o u l d do i t , how much it s h o u l d cost u s and who s h o u l d do i t . T h i s M r . Armstrong would n e v e r t o l e ra t e . None of u s would, knowing t h a t w e s e r v e God and l i v e i n a l a n d where t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n con- f i r m s b a s i c r e l i g i o u s r i g h t s and freedoms!
-- -
Learns H e Was Wrong About Government and t h e J u d i c i a l System --
I w a s a s k e d a v e r y good q u e s t i o n a few months ago by Michae l J a c k s o n , who i s a l o c a l r a d i o and t e l e v i s o n i n t e r v i e w e r . I t w a s a p e r f e c t q u e s t i o n - - t o t a l l y impromptu. H e a s k e d , " H a s t h i s whole a f f a i r a f f e c t e d you i-n any way? H a s i t changed you?" H e h a s known m e f o r s o m e t i m e and h e d i d n ' t see any v i s i b l e changes . I e x p l a i n e d t o him, " W e l l , I w a s e q u i p p e d t o h a n d l e t h i s t y p e o f t h i n g b e c a u s e I had t h e t r a i n i n g f o r i t , a n d stress d o e s n ' t b o t h e r m e , and h a v i n g God on o u r s i d e makes i t a l l t h a t much easier ."
But I s a i d t h a t I have changed i n one v e r y i m p o r t a n t r e s p e c t . I s a i d , " F o r y e a r s I a r g u e d w i t h M r . A r m s t r o n g - - l i t e r a l l y a r g u e d w i t h him t o o t h and n a i l - -because I t h o u g h t many o f h i s v iews a b o u t l a w y e r s , j u d g e s and government were immoderate. I a lways t h o u g h t h e w a s g o i n g a l i t t l e b i t beyond t h e p a l e - /beyond t h e l i m i t s o r b o u n d a r i e s o f r e a s o n 7 . -
" N o w , " c o n t i n u i n g my answer t o Michae l J a c k s o n , "maybe 1 w a s a l i t t l e d e f e n s i v e b e c a u s e I was a lawyer by t r a i n i n g and a l a w p r o f e s s o r , and I c o n s i d e r e d myself as p a r t o f t h e sys t em t o t h a t e x t e n t , and I w a s n ' t a church m e m b e r u n t i l j u s t r e c e n t l y . And it w a s somewhat of a 'putdown. ' And i n a n i c e way, a s n i c e a s I c o u l d be i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , I would t e l l M r . Armst rong , ' W e l l , a l l t h e j u d g e s a r e n ' t bad , M r . A r m s t r o n g , a l l govern-
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 11
rnent i s n ' t bad.' ' N O , S t a n , y o u ' r e w r o n g , ' h e answered . ' T h e B i b l e says - u n j u s t j u d g e s i n t h e o n l y r e f e r e n c e d i r e c t l y r e l a t i n g t o j u d g e s . Everybody knows a b o u t s h y s t e r lawyers. b i g government i s bad , b i g g e r government i s worse, and t h a t /Eumac7 govern- ment b a s i c a l l y i s t h e enemy o f t h e p e o p l e , and is a l s o t h e enemy of c h u r c h e s and r e l i g i o n . '
"So I a r g u e d w i t h M r . Armstrong. Bu t o n c e a g a i n I found o u t , as I have found o u t i n almost e v e r y i m p o r t a n t i s s u e about which I ' v e e v e r d i s a g r e e d w i t h M r . Armstrong, t h a t - - I w a s wrong and -- he w a s r i g h t . And I a s k e d him s i n c e t h e n , 'What made you so s u r e you were r i g h t , and what made you so s u r e t h a t I w a s wrong i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i n s t a n c e ? ' And h e s m i l e d and s a i d , 'Because t h e B i b l e , which i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n of a l l knowledge, t o l d m e so . ' I '
Everybody who s h o u l d know, would know t h a t
* x * * x
PUBLISHING UPDATE
P u b l i s h i n g Services has now c o n s o l i d a t e d i t s v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s i n t o one area. Thanks t o men l i k e E l l i s LaRavia , w i t h Bob Ashland and h i s t e a m , w e are now a l l t o g e t h e r i n what u sed t o be t h e Press B u i l d i n g . We can now o f f e r Church, F o u n d a t i o n , and C o l l e g e d e p a r t m e n t s a comple t e p u b l i s h i n g service under o n e roof.
The services i n c l u d e g r a p h i c s d e s i g n w i t h a d v e r t i s i n g c o p y w r i t i n g , d i r e c t m a i l p l a n n i n g and p r o d u c t i o n , P l a i n T r u t h and Good N e w s c i r c u l a t i o n manage- ment i n c l u d i n g newss tand c o o r d i n a t i o n , and a s m a l l in -house m u l t i p r i n t f a c i l i t y w i t h i n c r e a s e d c a p a c i t y . W e s t i l l o f f e r , of c o u r s e , t h e f u l l P l a i n T r u t h , Good N e w s , Q u e s t and b o o k l e t p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s . T h i s i n c l u d e s t y p e s e t t i n g , p a s t e u p , camera w o r k , color s e p a r a t i o n and f i l m assembly . T h i s t o t a l s e r v i c e i s o f f e r e d i n f i v e l anguages : E n g l i s h , Dutch, F r e n c h , German and S p a n i s h , w i t h c a p a c i t y t o h a n d l e a d d i t i o n a l l anguages as r e q u i r e d . W e a l s o o f f e r o u t s i d e p r i n t buy ing and c o o r d i n a t i o n f o r t h e v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t s h e r e i n Pasadena .
One l a s t p i e c e of news. Pan American Airways w i l l now c a r r y Q u e s t magazine on m o s t , i f n o t a l 1 , o f i t s commercial f l i g h t s worldwide. T h i s i s a real compliment f o r u s as Pan American i s v e r y s e l e c t i v e . Many p u b l i s h e r s t r y h a r d t o g e t i n t o t h i s p r e s t i g i o u s marke t .
--Roger G . Lippross, Publishing Services
- IMPORTANT FESTIVAL UPDATE
The p e r i o d of a s s i g n i n g h o u s i n g f o r t h e F e a s t of T a b e r n a c l e s i s now i n f u l l swing , w i t h F e a s t O f f i c e p e r s o n n e l s p e n d i n g l o n g h o u r s r e a d y i n g f o r t h e 1979 feast . The f i r s t r u n of h o u s i n g c o n f i r m a t i o n s s h o u l d be i n the m a i l i n Augus t .
H e r e i s a b r i e f u p d a t e on some sites across t h e U.S.:
B i l o x i : A l l t r a n s f e r r e q u e s t s t o B i l e x i had t o be t u r n e d down f o r t h i s y e a r , w i t h t he e x c e p t i o n of h a r d s h i p cases, b e c a u s e f ewer p e o p l e t h a n a n t i c i p a t e d a s k e d for camping f a c i l i t i e s . Motel rooms, t h e r e f o r e , are i n s h o r t s u p p l y and w i l l have t o go f i r s t t o t h o s e a s s i g n e d t o t h e s i te .
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 30, 1 9 7 9 Page 1 2
The re i s , however, a s u r p l u s of camping s p a c e s and t h e F e s t i v a l O f f i c e s a y s i t can a c c e p t m o r e campers a t B i l o x i !
- S t . P e t e r s b u r g : A l l p e o p l e who t r a n s f e r r e d to F l o r i d a l a s t y e a r have been t u r n e d down t h i s y e a r , e x c e p t o b v i o u s h a r d s h i p s i t u a t i o n s . Anyone d e n i e d a t r a n s f e r w i t h an i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n f o r a t t e n d i n g i n F l o r i d a which has been o v e r l o o k e d s h o u l d n o t i f y t h e F e a s t O f f i c e as c p i c k l y as p o s s i b l e through t h e i r F e s t i v a l a d v i s o r .
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Lake - o f t h e Oza rks : More campers can be a c c e p t e d a t t h e Ozarks .
- Saratoga S p r i n g s : Because o f t h e c r u s h of t r a n s f e r r e q u e s t s f o r S t . P e t e and B i l o x i , which w e r e g r a n t e d on a f i r s t - c o m e , f i r s t - s e r v e b a s i s , many r e q u e s t s f rom t h i s area w i l l b e p r o c e s s e d i n t h e a s s i g n e d S a r a t o g a S p r i n g s area. With t h e Feas t f a l l i n g e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r , and t e m p e r a t u r e s w a r m e r , S a r a t o g a p romises t o be a b e a u t i f u l s i t e .
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Si tes : I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s i t e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h r e e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t es a re now c l o s e d t o t r a n s f e r s : P e n t i c t o n ( C a n a d a ) , Lewiston (Canada) and Mexico. However, t h e J e r u s a l e m Feast s i t e and t o u r i s s t i l l open f o r r e s e r v a t i o n s .
- - F e s t i v a l O f f i c e
PLEASE READ TO YOUR CONGREGATIONS
Announcements r e c e n t l y p l a c e d i n t h e July 9 e d i t i o n of t h e Worldwide N e w s c o n c e r n i n g c h o r a l e p a r t i c i p a n t s and s e r v i c e s f o r t h e deaf a t t h e Feast o f T a b e r n a c l e s have r e c e i v e d l i t t l e r e s p o n s e , so t h e F e s t i v a l O f f i c e i s a s k i n g m i n i s t e r s t o read them i n s e r v i c e s . F o r your conven ience w e have r ep roduced b o t h announcements a s t h e y a p p e a r e d i n t h e above ment ioned Worldwide N e w s .
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- - F e s t i v a l O f f i c e
SIGN LANGUAGE AT THE FEAST Sign language interpreting at the Feast of Tabernacles will be
available in both Norfolk, Va., and Fresno, Calif. Interpreting in one or two other areas may be provided i f enough interpreters are available.
It is important that we hear from those wanting this service a?d also from interpreters and helpers.
Gerrie Leimbach has taken Lana Kreivis' position as coordtna- tor in the Pasadena churches and will help coordinate the inter- preting for U.S. Feast sites. If you have contacted her, she will forward the information to the Feast Office. If not, please write Hugh Mauck at the Feast Office in Pasadena, 300 W. Green St., Pasadena, Calif., 91 123.
If it is important to be housed near another person or family let us know. Don't hold up your Festival application pending deci- sions regarding the interpreting. We can always reassign you once we have all the information needed.
In order to provide the finest music from among the Church membership for this Feast of Tabernacles, we request those who wish lo be chorale directors, singers and helpers to please let us know your desires, experience and suggestions.
Even if you have been assigned to a specific chorale, we need to know what your assignment is, who assigned you, what assignment you desire, which area you will attend and your past experience.
If your chorale is already organized and rehearsing, please let us know who the members of your chorale are, what music you plan to sing and any other information you feel might be helpful.
Write to Hugh Mauck, Festival chorale coordinator, at the Feast Oftice in Pasadena, 300 W. Green St., Pasadena, Calif., 91 123.
PASTOR'S REPORT J u l y 30, 197Y Page 1 3
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A f r i c a
S e v e r a l weeks ago w e p r i n t e d e x c e r p t s f r o m a l e t t e r from Melvin Rhodes, o u r m i n i s t e r i n Ghana, on t h e s i t u a t i o n h e and t h e members were expe r i enc ing a f t e r a coup i n t h a t coun t ry . A s a follow-up, here a r e e x c e r p t s from a subsequent l e t te r of h i s t o t h e R a d l e t t o f f i c e i n t h e U . K . ( d a t e d 2 6 t h June) :
W e h a v e n ' t g o t much food l e f t , b u t are l e a v i n g f o r Cameroon on Thursday morning anyway, so d o n ' t have t o worry abou t o u r s e l v e s . But Fe l ic ia h a s come back from m a r k e t w i t h no th ing t h e l a s t f i v e days. They a r e s t i l l O.K., l i v i n g o f f r ice and o t h e r t h i n g s they have.
I d o n ' t t h i n k t h i s w i l l go on f o r long. The government w i l l have t o do something. T h e r e ' s p l e n t y of food i n t h e coun t ry , so r e a l l y t h e problem is p o l i t i c a l . A f t e r the decree on p r i c e s i s s u e d t h e day a f t e r t h e r e v o l u t i o n , a l l " e s s e n t i a l " manufactured i t e m s d i sappea red . So w e c a n ' t ge t milk o r f l o u r , or any th ing else f o r t h a t matter.
Thia morning, s i x more people w e r e executed , i n c l u d i n g t w o former Heads of State . I t seems l i k e t h e l a s t l o t of e x p a t r i a t e s i s l e a v i n g t o n i g h t . W e l l , n o t e x a c t l y . B u t somebody f r o m t h e High Commission w e spoke t o t h i s a f t e r n o o n , s a i d i t seemed t h a t way. Many of t h e Lebanese have s imply d i sappea red , and many Americans are n o t r e t u r n i n g from t h e i r annual summer l e a v e ( o u r neighbours f a i l e d t o t u r n up on y e s t e r d a y ' s PAN AM f l i g h t : o ther f a m i l i e s and f r i e n d s w a i t i n g a t t h e a i r p o r t t o m e e t people w e r e d i s a p p o i n t e d , so i t seems l i k e w e ' r e g e t t i n g a bad p r e s s o v e r s e a s . )
Your p r a y e r s would b e much a p p r e c i a t e d f o r God's people i n E a s t , C e n t r a l and W e s t A f r i c a ( 3 3 1 members and 3 m i n i s t e r s ) - - b o t h t h a t God would p r o t e c t them and a l l o w H i s Work t o go forward w i t h o u t undue r e s t r i c t i o n s . The m i n i s t e r s concerned are Melvin Rhodes ( A c c r a , Ghana) , Harold Jackson (Lagos, Nigeria) and Owen W i l l i s ( N a i r o b i , Kenya).
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h r e e s u b - o f f i c e s i n Accra, Lagos and N a i r o b i , t h e r e are s i x churches i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e world--Accra and Kumasi i n Ghana, Lagos and Oguta i n N i g e r i a , and Na i rob i and Meru i n Kenya. There a r e f u r t h e r B i b l e s t u d i e s i n V i c t o r i a (Uni ted Republ ic of Cameroons), Lusaka (Zambia) , B lan ty re ( M a l a w i ) and M a u r i t i u s , p l u s o the r sma l l groups of members s c a t t e r e d throughout Tanzania , L ibe r i a and t h e S e y c h e l l e s .
United Kingdom
Income i s s t i l l buoyant. The month of June showed a r ise of 1 9 % ove r June 1 9 7 8 and i s c o n t i n u i n g t h e h e a l t h y upward t r e n d . T h e c a l e n d a r year - to- date i n c r e a s e is 20%, w i t h t h e y e a r t o 3 0 t h June 1 9 7 9 r e g i s t e r i n g a 1 6 % rise o v e r t h e p r e v i o u s f i s ca l y e a r .
With f i g u r e s i n from around h a l f of t h e e x h i b i t i o n s , and w i t h household d i s t r i b u t i o n s now completed i n 1 2 c i t i e s , a lmost 2 , 0 0 0 PLAIN TRUTH t r i a l o f f e r b rochures have been r e t u r n e d t o date. Many w e r e s t i l l coming i n f r o m t h e l a t e s t e x h i b i t i o n s and household drops a t t h e t i m e of go ing t o p r e s s . Th i s encouraging response has been i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e exposure
PASTOR'S REPORT J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 1 4
g a i n e d by m u l t i p l e t h o u s a n d s o f t h e p u b l i c t o t h e name a n d PLAIN TRUTH v i a t h e d i s p l a y a n d a u d i o - v i s u a l p r e s e n t a t i o n .
I n some cases t h e r e c e n t p r o m o t i o n s h a v e more t h a n d o u b l e d c i r c u l a t i o n i n a p a r t i c u l a r town a n d i n most a s u b s t a n t i a l b e e n a c h i e v e d .
A s of J u l y 2 0 t h almost 1 4 , 0 0 0 r e s p o n s e s h a d b e e n r e c e i v e d
c o n t e n t of The
PLAIN TRUTH i n c r e a s e h a s
t o a t o t a l o f 36 recent- a d v e r t i s e m e n t s i n n a t i o n a l n e w s p a p e r s a n d s p e c i a l - i n t e r e s t m a g a z i n e s o f f e r i n g b o o k l e t s a n d / o r The PLAIN TRUTH magaz lne . Many more are e x p e c t e d before t h e f i n a l f i g u r e i s known.
Over 6 , 5 0 0 o f t h e p r e s e n t t o t a l have come f rom 8 i n s e r t i o n s a d v e r t i s i n g t h e b o o k l e t Why Were You Born? ( 2 , 0 0 9 from -_ The - Sun a l o n e ) . T h e --- O c c u l t E x p l o s i o n h a s - b e e n r e q u e s t e d by o v e r 2 , 5 0 0 , a l s o f rom 8 a d s , w h i l e The Seven L a w s o f S u c c e s s h a s r e a c h e d 3 ,200 homes v i a 1 0 i n s e r t i o n s . O t h e r b o o k l e t s a d v e r t i s e d i n selected media w e r e B u i l d i n g a Happy F a m i l y , ._ God E x i s t ? a n d P r i n c i p l e s -- of H e a l t h f u l L i v i n g . -
Does
N e w Zea land
Income f o r t h e f i r s t s i x months of 1979 i s 30 .7% up o n t h e same p e r i o d l a s t y e a r , w i t h J u n e ' s f i g u r e r e g i s t e r i n g a 12 .7% i n c r e a s e . We received 2 5 . 2 % more m a i l t h a n i n J u n e 1 9 7 8 , b r i n g i n g t h e y e a r - t o - d a t e m a i l c o u n t t o a p l u s 6 7 . 7 % o v e r l a s t y e a r . The P e n t e c o s t o f f e r i n g w a s up 3 9 . 4 % , w i t h a t t e n d a n c e up 1 2 . 8 % . The c u m u l a t i v e t o t a l f o r h o l y day o f f e r i n g s t h i s y e a r i s 33 .8% h i g h e r t h a n t h a t f o r l a s t y e a r .
The New Z e a l a n d economy i s i n r e a l t r o u b l e , a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t ' s a n n u a l b u d g e t , d e l i v e r e d d u r i n g J u n e , c o n t a i n e d v e r y bad news f o r God's Work. P o s t a l c h a r g e s f o r r e g i s t e r e d m a g a z i n e s w e r e i n c r e a s e d by a s t a g g e r i n g 80% a n d ra tes f o r l e t te rs a n d o t h e r a r t i c l e s w e r e i n c r e a s e d by 40%. I n o n e f e l l swoop, t h i s h a s l i f t e d o u r a n n u a l p o s t a g e b i l l by $30 ,000 , c a u s i n g u s t o have t o s e r i o u s l y r e t h i n k o u r b u d g e t . I f S a t a n wanted t o d e a l a b l o w t o God ' s Church a n d no o n e e lse , h e c e r t a i n l y h i t o n t h e way t o do it. Of a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a f f e c t e d b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l b u d g e t , w e g o t h u r t t h e m o s t !
Responses t o o u r o n g o i n g h o u s e h o l d e r c a r d p r o m o t i o n of The PLAIN TRUTH a n d - The D i l e m m a o f Drugs are s t i l l f l o o d i n g i n , b r i n g i n g o u r c u r r e n t PLAIN TRGTH m a i l i n g l i s t t o 37 ,750 .
--Compiled by Rod N a t t h e w s , I n t e r n a t i o n a l O f f i c e
ON THE WORLD SCENE
EURO-PARLIAMENT - UPDATE: On Tuesday J u l y 1 7 , t h e f i r s t s e s s i o n of t h e en- larged a n d d i r e c t l y - e l e c t e d European P a r l i a m e n t convened i n S t r a s b o u r g , F r a n c e . The f i r s t o r d e r o f b u s i n e s s f o r t h e 410 delegates w a s t h e e l e c t i o n of t h e a s s e m b l y ' s p r e s i d e n t . The p o s t wen t t o a woman--Sirnone V e i l of F r a n c e . M r s . V e i l , 5 2 , t h e f o r m e r F r e n c h m i n i s t e r of h e a l t h a n d soc ia l services, i s a l s o a Jew. S h e a n d h e r f a m i l y were t a k e n f r o m F r a n c e t o t h e Auschwi tz d e a t h camp i n 1 9 4 4 when she w a s 1 7 y e a r s o l d . S h e a l o n e s u r v i v e d t h e o r d e a l - - w i t h a t a t o o e d c o n c e n t r a t i o n camp number on h e r a r m which she c o n c e a l s t o t h i s day b e n e a t h l o n g - s l e e v e d dresses.
PASTOR'S REPORT, J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9 Page 1 5
The e l e c t i o n of M r s . V e i l ( t h e f o r m e r Simone J a c o b ) w a s n o t too s u r p r i s i n g . She i s a p o p u l a r p o l i t i c a l f i g u r e i n F r a n c e , though somewhat c o n t r o v e r s i a l . She h a s been a l e a d i n g s u b j e c t on French magazine c o v e r s f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , s h a r i n g s p a c e w i t h movie and rock s ta rs , P r i n c e s s Grace and P r i n c e s s C a r o - l i n e . P r e s i d e n t G i s c a r d d ' E s t a i n g shrewdly employed M r s . V e i l , as a Jewess i n C a t h o l i c F r a n c e , t o push a p r o - a b o r t i o n b i l l t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l Assembly.
M r s . V e i l ' s c l o s e t i e s t o G i s c a r d d ' E s t a i n g ( s o m e s a y s h e c o u l d e v e n t u a l l y become t h e f i r s t woman p r e m i e r o f F r a n c e ) made h e r a n a t u r a l t o head t h e G i s c a r d i a n Union f o r F rench Democracy t i c k e t i n t h e Euro -pa r l i amen t elec- t i o n s . The p a r t y came o u t on t o p i n t h e F rench v o t i n g - - f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e t o p p i n g t h e S o c i a l i s t s , t h e Communists and t h e f a d i n g G a u l l i s t s .
Some of h e r f e l l o w P a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s i n S t r a s b o u r g , w h i l e a d m i r i n g h e r p o l i t i c a l s k i l l s , n e v e r t h e l e s s see M r s . V e i l ' s e l e c t i o n as a n a t t e m p t by t h e French government t o c o n t r o l t h e new assembly and p r e v e n t it f r o m becoming any k i n d of t h r e a t t o n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y .
T h e i s s u e o f n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y v e r s u s growth of a European s u p r a - n a t i o n a l i s m rema ins t h e fundamenta l o n e , o f c o u r s e . W i l l t h e new d i r e c t l y - e l e c t e d p a r l i a m e n t a i d t h e pan-European c a u s e ?
"You c a n ' t m o b i l i z e 1 8 0 m i l l i o n voters and t h e n have such a p a r l i a m e n t do n o t h i n g , b e l i e v e n o t h i n g o r p rove t h a t n o t h i n g h a s changed ," s a i d former B e l g i a n P r e m i e r L e o Tindemans. Y e t t h e p a r l i a m e n t h a s e x t r e m e l y l i m i t e d powers. I t h a s a u t h o r i t y o v e r t h e European Economic Community's $ 2 1 b i l l i o n b u d g e t and i t can l e g a l l y ( though i t is n o t l i k e l y t o do s o ) d i s m i s s t h e EEC Commission, which o v e r s e e s Common Market p o l i c y . But it c a n n o t b r i n g down a n a t i o n a l government , c a n n o t f o r c e a p o l i c y on a member s t a t e , a n d w i l l be under c o n s t a n t s c r u t i n y by governments t o make s u r e i t does n o t o v e r s t e p i t s a u t h o r i t y . " A t m o s t , i t w i l l b e a power fu l moral v o i c e , " r e p o r t s a n A s s o c i a t e d Press c o r r e s p o n d e n t i n S t r a s b o u r g .
M r s . Lou i s Weiss, t h e o l d e s t m e m b e r a t 86 and p r e s i d e n t o f honor on t h e f i r s t day s a i d t h e p a r l i a m e n t h a s t h e t a s k of i n s p i r i n g a new b r e e d of i n t e r n a t i o n a l men and women l i k e t h o s e who made Europe great d u r i n g t h e midd le a g e s , t h e r e n a i s s a n c e and t h e a g e of e n l i g h t e n m e n t .
"Our i n s t i t u t i o n s have succeeded /through Common Market s t a n d a r d i z a t i o z 7 i n p r o d u c i n g European -beets, b u t t e r , c h e e s e , w ine , c a l v e s , even European p i g s . What t h e y have n o t succeeded -- i n -- d o i n g -I i s making - E u r o p e a n s , " - M r s . Weiss s a i d .
__I-______
"TO be t r u t h f u l , " conc luded a U P 1 d i s p a t c h from S t r a s b o u r g , " t h e p a r l i a m e n t h a s n o t been v e r y i n s p i r i n g so f a r . T o be f a i r , it i s too soon t o judge w h e t h e r i t w i l l b e . "
--Gene H . Hogberg, N e w s Bureau
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD J u l y 3 0 , 1 9 7 9
MEMBER 'S HOTLINE PIR. ARMSTRONG EXPOUNDS WONDERFUL TRUTH AT S .E , P . L a s t Sabbath, J u l y 28th, M r , Armstrong f lew t o O r r , Minnesota t o speak w i t h t h e second s e s s i o n o f campers a t t h e Church 's Summer Educa t iona l Program ( S . E . P . ) . H e had spoken t o t h e teen-agers a t t h e f i r s t s e s s i o n a t O r r j u s t t h r e e weeks b e f o r e .
I n a P a s t o r ' s Report l e t te r t o t h e m i n i s t r y ( J u l y 3 0 t h ) , M r . Armstrong spoke e x u b e r e n t l y a b o u t t h e YES (Youth Educa t iona l Service) program abou t t o be launched i n t h e Church. H e s t a t e d h i s i n t e n t i o n t o work d i r e c t l y and ve ry c l o s e l y w i t h t h e l e a d e r s of YOU and YES so t h a t t h e s e programs w i l l have h i s p e r s o n a l d i r e c t i o n and supe rv i s ion .
M r . Armstrong w a s a lso ve ry e n t h u s i a s t i c about t h e SEP program i n g e n e r a l and s a i d it i s "a wonderful t h i n g . I t b r i n g s t h e teen-agers ( 1 2 t o 18) i n t o an a c t i v i t y t h a t d e f i n i t e l y i n c r e a s e s t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n t h e ac t iv i t i e s of God's Church."
M r . Armstrong went on t o summarize f o r t h e m i n i s t r y t h e sermon h e gave t o approximately 600 campers, c r e w and v i s i t i n g p a r e n t s . H e s t r e s s e d how God does t a k e a s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t i n ch i ldren- -not j u s t t h e i r p a r e n t s and o t h e r a d u l t s . God's p l a n i n c l u d e s young people of a l l ages. M r . Armstrong then expounded t h e wonderful t r u t h t h a t c h i l d r e n of a conver ted m e m b e r are s a n c t i f i e d a long w i t h t h e p a r e n t even i f t h a t p a r e n t i s t h e o n l y b e l i e v e r . "The c h i l d r e n o f a b e l i e v i n g p a r e n t are set a p a r t , i n t h e s e n s e t h a t they a r e n o t c u t off from God as are o t h e r ch i ld ren !" ( I C o r . 7:14.) H e went on t o e x p l a i n t h a t , of c o u r s e , d o e s n ' t mean c h i l d r e n of Church m e m b e r s are conve r t ed , b u t God h a s made s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n f o r them making it p o s s i b l e f o r b e l i e v i n g p a r e n t s t o t e a c h them, the reby o f f s e t t i n g S a t a n ' s i f l u e n c e , so t h a t t h e y may h o p e f u l l y be conver ted when mature.
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This wonderful t r u t h , M r . Armstrong emphasized, " p l a c e s a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y on G o d ' s Church and on a l l p a r e n t s i n t h e Church t o work w i t h the i r c h i l d r e n from babyhood u n t i l a d u l t s . " An a r t i c l e based on t h e subject of h i s sermon w i l l appear i n t h e September GOOD NEWS. B e watching f o r it!
DALLAS TO RECEIVE A WITNESS THIS WEEKEND
M r . Dennis Luker w i l l be conduct ing a p e r s o n a l appearance campaign i n D a l l a s , Texas t h i s weekend. The campaign w i l l be t h e l a s t of t h e c u r r e n t series of m i n i - e v a n g e l i s t i c campaigns begun e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r . Your p r a y e r s f o r God's guidance and b l e s s i n g on t h e speaking and t h e h e a r i n g w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e ap- p r e c i a t e d !
PAN AM WELCOMES QUEST
P u b l i s h i n g Services r e c e n t l y announced t h a t Pan American A i r w a y s w i l l now c a r r y Q u e s t magazine on most, i f n o t a l l , of i t s commercial f l i g h t s world- wide. Th i s i s a r e a l compliment f o r us a s Pan American i s very s e l e c t i v e . Many p u b l i s h e r s t r y hard t o g e t i n t o t h i s p r e s t i g i o u s market.