PASTOR'S REPOR PUBLISHED BY THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD

N O N - T I T H I N G I S STEALING! -

by Herbert W . Armstrong

I f i n d it i m p o s s i b l e t o b e l i e v e t h a t a M i n i s t e r of J e s u s C h r i s t c o u l d a t t h e same t i m e b e THIEF--STEALING FROM GOD! N e a r l y a l l m i n i s t e r s and 9 8 % of b r e t h r e n have been LOYAL. Y e t d u r i n g r e c e n t y e a r s " l i b e r a l s " h a v e r i s e n up i n t h e Church , w a t e r i n g down t h e l a w s o f G o d .

God s a y s , " I f there arise among you a prophet, o r a dreamer of d reams , and g i v e t h t h e e a s i g n or a wonder, and t h e s i g n o r wonder come t o p a s s , whereof h e s p a k e u n t o t h e e , s a y i n g , ' L e t u s go a f t e r o t h e r gods ... and l e t us s e r v e t h e m , ' Thou s h a l t n o t h e a r k e n u n t o t h e words o f t h a t p r o p h e t , ... f o r t h e LORD y o u r God p r o v e t h you . . . Y e s h a l l walk a f t e r t h e ETERNAL y o u r God, and f e a r him, and keep h i s commandments.. , " (Deut . 13:l-4). And i n O l d Tes t amen t t i m e s s u c h a f a l s e p r o p h e t w a s p u t t o d e a t h .

Y e t i t i s r e p o r t e d t o m e t h a t a m i n i s t e r h a s s a i d t o a c o n g r e g a t i o n words t o t h i s e f f e c t : " I f you d o n ' t want t o t i t h e , you d o n ' t need t o . "

The l i v i n g C h r i s t who h e a d s t h i s Church h a s been , f o r a f u l l y e a r now, SETTING GOD'S CHURCH BACK ON GOD'S TRACK. J e s u s C h r i s t h a s moved s w i f t l y . G r e a t s t r i d e s have been t a k e n - - g r e a t change a l r e a d y h a s t a k e n p l a c e .

But d u r i n g t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s much f a l s e t e a c h i n g h a s gone o u t , s u b t l e l y , c r a f t i l y , i n d u c i n g many of God's p e o p l e t o ease o f f on k e e p i n g God 's Commandments, l e a d i n g many i n t o S I N , w h i l e b e i n g d e c e i v e d i n t o s u p p o s i n g t h e y are on s a f e ground s p i r i t u a l l y .

God h a s shown m e t h a t my Commission i s n o t ONLY t o p r o c l a i m t h e Good Y e w s o f t h e coming Kingdom o f God, b u t a l so t o r a i se up t h i s Church (which a l r e a d y h a s been done) and, f a r m o r e , t o lead t h i s Church i n t o becoming Z A D Y f o r C h r i s t ' s soon r e t u r n i n GLORY t o e a r t h .

LISTEN! F e l l o w M i n i s t e r s and wives--and you b r e t h r e n i n t h e Church: Jesus " l o v e d t h e Church, and gave h i m s e l f f o r i t; t h a t h e migh t s a n c t i f y and c l e a n s e i t . . , t h a t h e might p r e s e n t it t o h i m s e l f a GLORIOUS c h u r c h , n o t ' h a v i n g spot, o r w r i n k l e , o r any s u c h t h i n g : b u t t h a t i t s h o u l d be H O L Y , and W I T H O U T BLEMISH" (Eph. 5 : 2 5 - 2 7 ) .

Again , (Rev. 1 9 : 7 ) , a t t h e t i m e of C h r i s t ' s r e t u r n i n power and GLORY, t h e Church s h a l l have "MADE HERSELF READY"--and b r e t h r e n , w e h a v e many s p o t s t o be c l e a n e d o u t , and many w r i n k l e s t o b e i r o n e d o u t b e f o r e w e a r e "XEADY! And TIME I S SHORT and GROWING SHORTER FAST!

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A c t u a l l y , I t h i n k God a l r e a d y h a s h e l d up t h e p r o g r e s s i o n of w o r l d e v e n t s , TO G I V E U S more t i m e t o 1) g i v e o u t t h e Gospel of t h e Kincjdorn i n g r e a t e r power t o m o r e and 2 ) g e t o u r s e l v e s - - t h e Church--READY!

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I a m s i m p l y h e a r t s i c k t h a t my son assumed power and a u t h o r i t y n e i t h e r C h r i s t n o r I gave him t o WATER DOWN GOD'S TRUTH. I n t h a t infamous "STP" p a y i n g t i t h e s which w e OWE t o God was changed t o mere ly mean a l i t t l e GIVING--IF w e f e e l l i k e it! -

God s a y s , "TO him t h a t knoweth t o do good and d o e t h i t n o t , t o him it i s S I N " ! Pe rhaps some of you--even m i n i s t e r s - - w e r e DECEIVED by t h e s e " i n t e l l e c t u a l s " who f e l t t h e y w e r e s u p e r i o r t o J e s u s C h r i s t and p u t o u t of c i r c u l a t i o n t h e o f f i c i a l Church b o o k l e t on T I T H I N G , and s u b s t i t u t e d a new b o o k l e t b a s e d on t h e "STP.

Perhaps " t h e t i m e s o f t h i s i g n o r a n c e God winked a t , b u t now commandeth a l l men everywhere t o REPENT" ( A c t s 17 :30) - -and THAT MEANS YOU!! -

God h a s o r d a i n e d t h e t i t h i n g sys t em. T h i s whole e a r t h BELONGS TO GOD--not t o us! E v e r y t h i n g w e have , whe the r goods o r va l l le i n money, comes o u t of t h e ground. Even w e , o u r s e l v e s , have c o m e o u t of t h e ground --WHICH I S GOD'S EARTH--therefore even WE OURSELVES b e l o n g t o God, w h e t h e r w e wish t o admit i t o r n o t .

The Church of God i s b u i l t on t h e f o u n d a t i o n of t h e a p o s t l e s a n d t h e p r o p h e t s - - J e s u s C h r i s t b e i n g t h e c h i e f c o r n e r s t o n e . The p r o p h e t s who f o r m p a r t of t h e v e r y f o u n d a t i o n are t h e OLD TESTAMENT p r o p h e t s , f o r t h e a p o s t l e s ' t e a c h i n g s and N e w Tes t amen t w r i t i n g s are q u i t e l a r g e l y b u i l t on t h e O l d Tes t amen t p r o p h e t s . The re w e r e NO NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS WHO CONTRIBUTED any d o c t r i n e s o r t e a c h i n g s t o t h e Church. Malachi wrote a f t e r b o t h t h e Kingdom o f I s rae l and t h e Kingdom of Judah had gone i n t o c a p t i v i t y and s l a v e r y , and h i s words w e r e t h e r e f o r e w r i t t e n f o r US, r a t h e r t h a n for r e c o r d i n g " O l d Tes t amen t t e a c h i n g . " I t i s THE WORD OF GOD! ----

And t h i s P r o p h e t on which t h e Church w a s b u i l t , s a y s t o YOU who have n o t been t i t h i n g , " W i l l a man rob GOD? Y e t y e have robbed m e ... i n t i t h e s and o f f e r i n g s . YE ARE CURSED W I T H A CURSE: FOR YE HAVE ROBBED ME, EVEN THIS WHOLE NATION! B r i n g ye a l l t h e t i t h e s i n t o t h e s t o r e h o u s e ... and p r o v e m e now h e r e w i t h , s a i t h t h e LORD of h o s t s , i f I w i l l n o t open you t h e windows of heaven , and p o u r you o u t a b l e s s i n g , t h a t t h e r e s h a l l n o t be room enough t o r e c e i v e i t" ( M a l . 3 :8 -10) .

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You o u g h t t o know how t i t h i n g i s COMMANDED i n t h e NEW Tes t amen t also --eTiTen though s o m e l i b e r a l s try t o t w i s t t h e S c r i p t u r e s of t h e Holy GOD s o t h e y can "GET" and n e v e r " G I V E . " Speak ing o f t h e Old Tes t amen t L e v i t i - c a l P r i e s t h o o d , w e r e a d i n Hebrews: "And v e r i l y t h e y t h a t a r e of t h e s o n s

- o f L e v i , who r e c e i v e t h e o f f i c e of t h e p r i e s t h o o d , have a commandment t o t a k e t i t h e s of t h e p e o p l e , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a w ... B u t h e whose d e s c e n t i s n o t c o u n t e d from them r e c e i v e d t i t h e s of Abraham, 2nd b l e s s e d him t h a t had

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t h e p romises .... And a s 1 may so s a y Lev i a l s o , wno r e c e i v e t h t i t h e s , PAYED t i t h e s i n Abraham." ( T i t h i n g i s n o t a m a t t e r of t a k i n g p i t y on p o o r God and G I V I r U ' G H i m a l m s and c h a r i t y i n t h e form of t i t h e s and o f f e r i n g s - - I F YOU FEEL L I K E I T . I T I S A MATTER O F P A Y I N G t o God WHAT YOU OWE AND ARE COMMANDED T O P A Y ) . N e g l e c t o r r e f u s a l t o PAY i s STEALING from GOD--cutting y o u r s e l f o f f f rom t h e l a v i s h BLESSINGS H e p r o m i s e s t o f a i t h f u l t i t h e r s as q u o t e d above.

But c o n t i n u e in fiebrews 7 : "For t h e p r i e s t h o o d b e i n g CHANGED, It-- (not a b o l i s h e d , b u t a change i n which P r i e s t h o o d r e c e i v e s y o u r t i t h e s a n d e r t h e NEW TESTANENT) , " t h e r e i s made o f n e c e s s i t y a change a l s o of t h e l a w . "

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What l a w i s i t t a l k i n g a b o u t ? A s q u o t e d above , a l a w i n which t h e p r i e s t - hood "have a COMMANDMENT t o t a k e t i t h e s o f t h e p e o p l e ACCORDING TO THE LAW" ( V e r s e 5 ) .

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The p r i e s t h o o d w a s changed a t t h e found ing of t h e New Tes tament Church back aga in t o t h e Melch i sedec p r i e s t h o o d unde r CHRIST. There i s t h e r e f o r e a CHANGE i n t h e T I T H I N G LAW which COMMANDS YOU AND ME TO PAY TITHES TO THE MINISTRY OF JESUS C H R I S T , s i n c e C h r i s t is now o u r High P r i e s t a t t h e r i g h t hand of GOD! ( A l l above q u o t e d from Hebrews 7 ) .

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B r e t h r e n , i t i s n o t e a s y f o r me t o w r i t e t o you whom I d e a r l y LOVE, and t e l l you t h a t some o f YOU ARE THIEVES b r e a k i n g God 's h o l y Commandments, and s t e a l i n g from GOD--which s u r e l y i s f a r worse t h a n h o l d i n g up and s t e a l - i n g from a bank!! I w a n t you t o t h i n k t h i s over . I d o n ' t know WHO you are --I have j u s t been in fo rmed t h a t a s h o c k i n g number of members and m i n i s t e r s ARE NOT P A Y I N G TITHES, a n d are g i v i n g e i t h e r NO o f f e r i n g s , o r a compara- t i v e l y s m a l l amount.

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I want you t o look a t i t a s GOD l o o k s a t YOU!

J e s u s s a i d t o t h e P h a r i s e e s , "Woe u n t o you, P h a r i s e e s ! f o r you t i t h e m i n t and i u e and a l l manner of h e r b s , and p a s s over judgment and t h e l ove o f God: t h e s e / 'S i th inqT OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, and n o t t o l e a v e t h e o t h e r undone" (Luke il: 42) . ----

You who have n e g l e c t e d t i t h i n g have NEGLECTED " S O GREAT SALVATION" (see Hebrews 2 : 3 ) .

The l i v i n g JESUS CHRIST p u t T I T H I N G i n G o d ' s Church from t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g of t h i s P h i l a d e l p h i a e ra , and it h a s been i n God ' s Church EVER SINCE 3 1 A . D .

H e r e t o f o r e I have made NO EFFORT TO CHECK OUR COMPUTER RECORDS TO FIND OUT WHO TITHES. I s u r e l y n e v e r wanted t o " snoop . " B u t it i s A LAW! N e g l e c t o r r e f u s a l i s MAJOR SIN!!

I a m n o t p u s s y - f o o t i n g ! Commandment b r e a k e r s w o n ' t g e t i n t o t h e Kingdom of God, and I a m commissioned t o b l o t o u t t h e spots and i r o n o u t t h e w r i n k l e s (Eph. 5 : 2 7 ) t o make G o d ' s Church READY when H e comes (Rev. 1 9 : 7 ) .

B r e t h r e n , w e are n o t l i k e o t h e r p e o p l e . We are n o t l i k e t h o s e i n t h e more t h a n 250 P r o t e s t a n t " C h r i s t i a n " denomina t ions . W e a re n o t o f t h i s w o r l d . W e are CALLED OUT t o b e a s e p a r a t e , and a h o l y p e o p l e .

HOW WONDERFUL! HOW WE SHOULD PRAISE GOD AND R E J O I C E t h a t H e h a s c a l l e d u s t o b e a s e p a r a t e a n d a p e c u l i a r p e o p l e : N e a r l y a l l o u r m i n i s t e r s , and I w o u l d e s t ima te 9 9 % o f t h e l a y membership have proved 1 0 0 % LOYAL, s t a n d i n g f a i t h f u l l y w i t h m e and God 's l e a d e r s i n t h e t e r r ib l e , i l l e g a l and u n c o n s t i - t u t i o n a l o n s l a u g h t of t h e S t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a , t r y i n g t o DESTROY God ' s Church and Work, t a k e o v e r o u r b e a u t i f u l p r o p e r t i e s a t P a s a d e n a , and them- selves p e r s o n a l l y PROFIT by t a k i n g t h e money. B u t GOD WAS W I T H U S , and YOU w e r e w i t h us !

Y e t , d u r i n g recent y e a r s a few "LIBERALS" a t Pasadena used m y S:,I

Garne r Ted, m a n i p u l a t e d a u t h o r i t y even Ted d i d n o t have , i n o r d e r t o xater down GOD'S LAW w i t h i n t h e Church.

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I f a m i n i s t e r does n o t obey God 's LAW h e s imply CANNOT HAVE GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT! The B i b l e s p e a k s o f t h e Holy S p i r i t which God g ives t o them t h a t OBEY H I M .

How, t h e n , can a m i n i s t e r who v i o l a t e s GOD'S LAW AGAINST STEALING, p r e a c h God's TRUTH--lay hands o n , a n o i n t and p r a y f o r t h e s i c k ? Is not t h e r e a s o n t h a t s o m e few m i n i s t e r s w e r e sc) vehemently opposed t o God 's p romise of h e a l i n g , w e r e t h o s e who w e r e n o t obey ing God i n t h e matter of f i n a n c e s ?

HOW can such a man b e m i n i s t e r to, and p a s t o r o f , a c o n g r e g a t i o n o f T I THE-PAYE RS ?

I f you a re on t h e p a y r o l l , u n l e s s t i t h i n g b e g i n s w i t h t h e v e r y next paycheck , YOUR PAYCHECKS WILL BE CUT O F F WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.

Don ' t s a y you c a n ' t a f f o r d t o t i t h e . You ca:i ' t a f f o r d n o t t o . I f you owe other d e b t s , PAY GOD'S T I T H E F I R S T , AND PRqY FOR H I S PROMISED BLESSING TO HELP YOU ON THE OTHER EEBTS. THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSES for n o t t i t h i n g . F a i l u r e t o t i t h e i s STEALING--COMMANDMENT BREAKING. I t i s w i t h - o u t excuse ! Keep c u r r e n t w i t h God and HE w i l l keep you c u r r e n t w i t h your o t h e r o b l i g a t i o n s !

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T h i s m a t t e r of STEALING FROM GOD i s one m a t t e r t h a t C h r i s t is CLEANING UP I N G O D ' S CHURCH NOW! N o d e l a y ! And no excuses!!! -

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FURTHER RE: STANLEY RADER - I t h a s been b r o u g h t t o my a t t e n t i o n t h a t s o m e m i n i s t e r s h o s t i l e t o

Yr. Rader and i n f l u e n c e d by Garne r Ted Armst rong , may s a y : " M r . Rader gave M r . Armstrong o r d e r s t o w r i t e t h a t . "

M r . Rader knew n o t h i n g a b o u t what I have w r i t t e n a b o u t him i n this ,,'iast/ - i s s u e o f t h e P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t u n t i l h e r e a d i t i n p roof copy r e a d y t o be m a i l e d . Tears came t o h i s e y e s .

L e t nne say f l a t l y and on t h e AUTHORITY of J e s u s C h r i s t , I will NOT -n r L . ~ ~ , E R A T E any more c h a r a c t e r a s s a s s i n a t i o n i n God ' s Church. Of course, if yo2 l e a v e God's Church I h a v e n o a u t h o r i t y over you .

B u t i f I h e a r of any h o s t i l e c h a r a c t e r - a s s a s s i n a t i o n remarks a g a i n s t Y r . Rader by any m i n i s t e r , I w i l l r e q u i r e t h a t m i n i s t e r t o come t o Tucson and p r e s e n t t o m e i n p e r s o n h i s EVIDENCE a g a i n s t M r . Rader . And i f h e HAS 1.10 EVIDENCE ( a n d I f e e l s u r e none h a s ) he w i l l l e a r n t h a t I a m t r u l y t h e PASTOR-GENERAL w i t h full power t o t e r m i n a t e such c h a r a c t e r assassinator on t h e s p o t . I a m s i m p l y i n d i g n a n t a t a l l t h i s UNCHRISTIAN h o s t i l i t y a g a i n s t a man WTTHOUT CAUSE i n God ' s Church. The l i v i n g J e s u s C h r i s t i s C L E A N I N G U P God ' s Church. T h a t j o b i s n o t y e t comple t ed , b u t i t ' s d e f i n i k e l y ON THE WAY!

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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 , t h i s t i m e from smoggy Pasadena! I hope a l l of you out t h e r e i n t h e f i e l d are i n good h e a l t h and k e e p i n g up t h e good work. A l l of u s h e r e are f i n e , e x c e p t f o r t h e smog and human problems which w i l l a lways be w i t h u s .

I j u s t r e t u r n e d l a s t e v e n i n g from a n e x c e l l e n t campaign i n Phoenix! Even though w e h a d no a d v e r t i s i n g whatsoever - -not even one scratch i n t h e newspaper o r one w o r d on radio o r TV--we, n e v e r t h e l e s s , had l a r g e r crowds t h a n any so f a r i n t h e series of "mini -campaigns ." T h e r e w e r e 1 0 5 en thu - s i a s t i c new - p e o p l e a t t e n d i n g t h e f i r s t n i g h t and 90 t h e second . T o t a l a t t e n d a n c e w a s 5 4 0 F r i d a y n i g h t and 5 2 5 S a t u r d a y n i g h t . Both t h e new p e o p l e and t h e b r e t h r e n w e r e _c v e r y e n t h u s i a s t i c i n t h e i r response- -and I a m s u r e t h a t t h e Phoen ix church w i l l b e a wonder fu l p l a c e i n which t o p l a c e a number of new p e o p l e whom G o d may b e c a l l i n g . Mark Cardona , o u r l o c a l m i n i s t e r , w a s t h e M.C. and d i d a v e r y f i n e j o b as d i d Ross J u t s u m and John Beaver on t h e e x c e l l e n t mus ic and John P rohs on t h e a u d i o and o v e r a l l whole o r g a n i z a t i o n and back-up. They are a f i n e g roup t o work w i t h , a n d w e a l l f e l t t h e program went v e r y w e l l and a re t h a n k f u l t o God f o r i t .

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One o f t h e pr ime b e n e f i t s o f t h e s e s m a l l campaigns i s t h e encourage- ment and e n t h u s i a s m it e n g e n d e r s i n t h e local b r e t h r e n ! I hope a l l of you i n t h e l a r g e r areas a r e t h i n k i n g a b o u t h a v i n g a campaign i r ? y o u r church areas and g e t y o u r church p e o p l e s o l i d l y and e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y b e h i n d i t once it i s announced.

On t h e way o v e r , my w i f e and I s t o p p e d by Tucson and had a f i n e v i s i t w i t h M r . and M r s . Herbert Armstrong. I t w a s S h y r e l ' s first o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e a l l y g e t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h Mr. Armstrong and h i s w i f e and s h e e n j o y e d i t v e r y much--plus t h e f i n e luncheon w e s h a r e d t o g e t h e r .

Mr. Armstrong i s i n e x c e l l e n t h e a l t h and w e w e r e able t o have i n t e n - s i v e d i s c u s s i o n s a b o u t a number o f t h i n g s i n t h e Work f o r a p e r i o d o f o v e r f o u r s o l i d hours. H e i s t a k i n g a g r e a t p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e Y . O . U . and Y . E . S . programs and i s g o i n g t o d i rec t them p e r s o n a l l y more t h a n e v e r b e f o r e . T h i s s h o u l d c e r t a i n l y be an i n s p i r a t i o n t o o u r b r e t h r e n and young people and h e l p a g r e a t deal i n b u i l d i n g toward t h e f u t u r e o f God's Church.

A s you s h o u l d have r e a d i n l a s t w e e k ' s " N e w s Summary," t h e thorough a u d i t by one of t h e m o s t r e s p e c t e d C . P . A . f i r m s i n t h e c o u n t r y , A r t h u r Andersen and Company, i s v i r t u a l l y comple t ed , and w e are g r a t e f u l t h a t i n t h i s a r e a and i n t h e v a r i o u s c o u r t a c t i v i t i e s which are p r o c e e d i n g , abso- lutely NOTHING i l l e g a l h a s been uncovered r e g a r d i n g M r . Armst rong , M r . Rader o r God ' s Work. Although t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n s and l e g a l " e x p l o s i o n s " --which w e d i d NOT s t a r t , remember--are wind ing down, o u r t e a m remains v i g i l a n t and d e d i c a t e d t o p r e s e r v i n g t h e i n t e g r i t y of M r . Armstrong and t h i s Work. A l l of u s m i n i s t e r s s h o u l d be m o r e g r a t e f u l t h a n w e have been for t h e f i n e work done by M r . Rader , M r . He lge and t h e e x c e l l e n t l e g a l Ze fense t e a m t h e y have p u t t o g e t h e r . Many of you o u t t h e r e p e r h a p s do n o t r e a l i z e t!ie t remendous job t h e y have done unde r a d v e r s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , and the z a s s i v e amount of work and l o n g h o u r s t h e y have had t o 2 u t in-- o f t e n working F A R INTO THE NIGHT--in o r d e r t h a t w e can have t h e t y p e of "peace" in God's Work now t o c o n t i n u e g e t t i n g o u t t h e g o s p e l from o u r own b e a u t i f u l campus here i n Pasadena .

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PASTOR ' S REPORT , J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 79 Page 6

Even though some of you may n o t have u n d e r s t o o d some o f t h e methods employed, o r t h e t y p e of g e n u i n e Church -S ta t e cr is is t h a t w a s i n v o l v e d , I hope you can s i n c e r e l y a p p r e c i a t e t h e r e s u l t t h a t - - i n t h e end--God i s g i v i n g us . So l e t ' s be g e n u i n e l y s u p p o r t i v e o f o n e a n o t h e r i n God ' s Work and 2 p r e c i a t e t h e e f f o r t s and s a c r i f i c e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e l i v e s o f e a c h one who i s s u p p o r t i n g M r . Armstrong i n t h i s wor ldwide work.

NOW, f e l l o w m i n i s t e r s , I would l i k e t o d i s c u s s someth ing t h a t i s becoming an i n c r e a s i n g l y c r i t i c a l problem w i t h i n t h e m i n i s t r y and w i t h i n God ' s Church as a w h o l e - - e s p e c i a l l y h e r e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I n c r e a s i n g numbers of our church m e r r b e r s are b e g i n n i n g t o d i v o r c e t h e i r m a t e s for, it s e e m s , a l m o s t ANY c o n c e i v a b l e r eason! What ' s m o r e , t h e y t h e n e x p e c t t o " r ema in i n t h e Church" and p r o b a b l y REMARRY someone e l se i n t h e Church-- p e r h a p s t h e i r former f r i e n d ' s w i f e who h a s , by now, d i v o r c e d him, a n d is a l so " s t i l l i n t h e Church."

W e are g o i n g t o h a v e l o n g d o c t r i n a l and t h e o l o g i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h M r . H e r b e r t Armstrong t o c o v e r and t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d any l eg i t ima te r e a s o n s f o r d i v o r c e and r e m a r r i a g e . However, as of t h i s w r i t i n g , t h e r e a re o n l y THREE t h a t God ' s Church h a s o f f i c i a l l y r e c o g n i z e d as l e g i t i m a t e : ( I ) P o r n e i a - - t h a t i s g r o s s i m m o r a l i t y i n v o l v i n g u n a d m i t t e d f o r n i c a t i o n

b e f o r e m a r r i a g e o r a v e r y s e r i o u s o r c o n t i n u i n g t y p e o f a d u l t e r o u s o r homosexual o r s i m i l a r r e l a t i o n s h i p a f te r m a r r i a g e , (11) F r a u d - - t h i s i s t h e case where o n e i s " t r i c k e d " i n some way and w e h a v e a lways u n d e r s t o o d a n d r e c o g n i z e d t h i s as an a c t i o n t h a t would i n f a c t " a n n u l " a m a r r i a g e s i n c e God would n e v e r b i n d a un ion based on f r a u d i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , (111) Deser t ion- -by t h e u n c o n v e r t e d mate--al though t h i s w a s a c c e p t e d and t a u g h t by t h e Church long b e f o r e h i s a c t i o n , a classic example of this would be M r . Raymond M c N a i r ' s s i t u a t i o n . H i s w i f e r e f u s e d t o b e a w i f e t o him f o r o v e r t w o y e a r s - - t o s l e e p w i t h him, cook f o r him, o r even c i v i l l y communicate w i t h him i n a d e c e n t manner. R a t h e r , s h e had l e f t God's Church a n d w a s a c t i v e l y FIGHTING God's Church and M r . M c N a i r , t u r n i n g h i s c h i l d r e n a g a i n s t him and l i t e r a l l y c u r s i n g him t o h i s face. F i n a l l y , upon a d v i c e o f M r . Armstrong a n d Ted Armst rong , he w a s f i n a l l y f o r c e d t o make l e g a l t h e a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g FACT t h a t s h e had d e s e r t e d him and w a s n o l o n g e r h i s w i f e i n any way w h a t s o e v e r .

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I r e p e a t , t h e s e t h r e e e x c e p t i o n s are t h e ONLY o n e s r e c o g n i z e d by God ' s Church as b i b l i c a l r e a s o n s f o r p e o p l e who a re a l r e a d y c o n v e r t e d t o d i v o r c e a m a t e . P e r h a p s even w e i n t h e m i n i s t r y need t o r e a l i z e m o r e v i v i d l y t h e meaning of J e s u s ' s t a t e m e n t : "What t h e r e f o r e God h a t h j o i n e d t o g e t h e r , l e t n o t man p u t a s u n d e r " (Matt . 19:6). ----

W e must g e n u i n e l y FEAR t o " w a t e r down" t h i s r i n g i n g d e c l a r a t i o n of t h e Son of God i n any of o u r own cases, o r i n s i t u a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e b r e t h r e n o v e r which God h a s g i v e n u s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . Because , f e l l o w m i n i s t e r s , God w i l l h o l d us all RESPONSIBLE if w e i n any way u n d e r c u t , "water down" or l e s s e n t h e B I N D I N G q u a l i t y o f C h r i s t i a n marriage which J e s u s C h r i s t emphas ized so f e r v e n t l y !

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I n Malachi 2:15-16 ( R S V ) , o u r Creator states: "Has n o t the one G o d made and s u s t a i n e d f o r u s t h e s p i r i t of l i f e ? And what does h e d e s i r e ? Godly o f f s p r i n g . So t a k e heed t o y o u r s e l v e s , and l e t NONE b e f a i t h l e s s t o t h e w i f e of h i s y o u t h . 'For I HATE DIVORCE, s a y s t h e Lord t h e God o f I s rae l , u n c o v e r i n g o n e ' s garment w i t h v i o l e n c e , s a y s t h e Lord of h o s t s . So t a k e heed t o y o u r s e l v e s and do n o t be f a i t h l e s s . " '

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PASTQR'S REPORT, JUNE 25, 1979 Page 7

Fellows, o u r God--who does NOT change i n t h e s e s p i r i t u a l p r i n c i p l e s --says h e HATES divorce!

D o we??

I do n o t f e e l it n e c e s s a r y , a t t h i s t i m e , t o p r i n t an e n t i r e w r i t t e n a r t i c l e on t h e subject of b i n d i n g Tarriages t o you m i n i s t e r s who should know t h i s s u ~ ~ e c t p r e t t y well anyway. B u t , i n l o v e a n d a s y o u r s e r v a n t , I f e e l I must b r i n g t h i s a b s c l u r e l y v i t a l mat ter t o your zorrbined attention. E v e r s i n c e t h e a t z i t u d e and a p p r o a c h of " w a t e r i n g down" and " l o o s e n i n g t h i n g s up' ' began u n d e r G . T . A . back i n 1 9 7 3 / 7 4 a f t e r h i s r e t i ; r n t o power , it seems t h a t " P a n d o r a ' s BOX" h a s been opened a n d i n d i v i d u a l people a n d o c c a s i o n a l l y even m i n i s t e r s a n d / o r mir-isters w i v e s are t a k i n g un tq then- s e l v e s t h e a u t h o r i c y t o d i v o r c e a n d r e m a r r y f o r almost ANY c o n c e i - J a b l e r e a s o n ! T h i s mzst now STQP!

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W e 2 s zi - i n i s t r y a r e r e s p o - s i b l e t o G o d f o r h e l p i n g our b r e t h r e n a n d co -worke r s t o z t r e n L ; t h e n a n d BLJILT: t h e i r r n a r r i a g e s i n e v e r y p o s s i b l e way. W e as a m i n i s t F must now make a YASSITTE e f f o r t t o t e a c h , p r e a c h , p r a y , c o u n s e l , 5311 j!' exarriple f o r , and i n e v e r y way w e c a n , e n c o u r a g e o u r b r e t h r e n t o p i c t u r e t'rLe r e l a c l a n s h i p oz J e s u s C h r i s t a n d h i s Church in t h e i r mar-

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r i a g e s . 2ener.her t h i s a b s o l u t e l y v i t a l a n a l o g y P a u l g i v e s u s : " F o r t h e husband is the iad o f t h e w i f e , even as C h r i s t i s t h e head of t h e Church: and h e i s t h e s i o c z of t h e body. T h e r e f o r e as t h e Church i s s u b j e c t u n t o C h r i s t , si' I .e t t h e wives be t o t h e i r own h u s b m d s i n e v e r y t h i n g . Yusbands , LOVE y o u r w i v e s , ETiEN A3 C h r i s t a l so l o v e d t h e Church a n d gayJe h i m s e l f f o r i t" (Eph. 5 : 2 3 - 2 5 ) .

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I f w e are g e n u i n e l y o n o u r k n e e s as a m i n i s t r y r e g a r d i n g this qrow- i n g p r o b l e m - - t h i s -- s p i r i t u a l CL?CER--within t h e v e r y body of C:-rlsx, I a m s u r e h e w i l l 7i;re z s t k e f a i t h , t h e f e r v e n c y , t h e l o v e and :he wisdom t o h e l p a i l r Brethren 2p.d o u r s e l v e s bli l i ld t h e k i n d of marriages p l e a s i n g t o him.

I-

- - 3 clc ~ J N 2 s k ail of you m i n i s t e r s t o g i v e t h i s 2reblen-i -2EcEA53:-:, -

.~ c-,p v..-, ,_-,-- L.Vy r I ; , u _ : -1 L,.- n : : i i s t ry a;iS do a11 you can t o e m p h a s i z e t:le V I T A L

<IcI. - -i ? l D I A j S , i:. '7 , i n yoi lr t e a c h i n g a n d B i b l e stasdies and o r h e r

r p e:~G:'ca I-^- 2n2 f a z e t s of t h e meaning of r n a r r i a g e a n d b u i l d i n g stron,; y . a r r i a g e s

~. _____ S m p o r t L Z c e 9 5 le, l o v i n g m a r r i a g e s i n God's Church. DO this,

ocz-asi:?s, in i t s and i n c o u n s e l i n g a f t e r c h u r c h and o t h e r ,.,"- r - , - - - .c i . j i3378. ".;s;gn t h e s e r r n o n e t t i men i n y o u r area a l so t o c o v e r 1 :x ious

ir. T h e i r t a l k s and i n t h e i r v i s i t s a s w e l l . U n i t e d l y , l e t u s werk a n 3 : ,ra\- .Y~:,-~ a l ! . o u r h e a r t s t o ~.=ern t h e t i d e of t h i s s w e l l i n g f l o o d o f s e l f i s n n e s s ,

L '? i t ;~r 1-s t , b i t t e r n e s s a n d ,all-around CATWALITY, wh ich i s t h e r ea l c a u s e r;f t h e i n c r e a s i n g f r u s t r a t i o n and b i t t e r n e s s be tween so mapy h u s b a n d s a22 w i v e s .

. . . - -

m, - :!-!, w ? 7i;st OUT of t h i s w o r l d a n d b e s e p a r a t e . An3 o a r e n t i r - , ? Q xi::-:?~e c e r + _ ? r n l y 13ne of t h e m o s t i y p o r t a n t a r e 3 s :n which

z:t--if we y i e l d t o i t and e x e r c i s e i t - - w i l l x a k e u s t r x l y

"T'ns:iks '-r l i s t e n L n g " - - a n d t h a n k s i n a d v a n c e f o r p u t t i n g t h i s pmc:-an - - -nto s-;e: . , ~ e ../ill yet 3ack tc v o ~ l 2 s s o o n a s w e c a n w i r h xcre d e t a i l ; ,

P A S T O R ' S Z E W R T , June 2 5 , 1 9 7 9

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Page 8

s e e i n g many of you o u t t h e r e w i t h i n a f e w weeks i n v a r i o u s area con- f e r e n c e s .

With Christian love,

I I Roderick C. Meredith

P .S . M r . 3 m n s t r o n q and I have a s k e d M r . Raymond M c N a i r t o c o o r d i n a t e a l l d o c t r i n a l 2 : ies t icns t h a t come t o u s , and b r i n g them t 9 G o d ' s A p o s t l e i n an o r g a n i z e d _ a s h i 3 n . S o p l e a s e n o t e c a r e f u l l y M r . M c N a i r ' s accompanying l e t t e r , 2 3 3 I_- s e n d - in - any q u e s t i o n s you have r e g a r d i n g d o c t r i n a l o r p o l i c y mat ters r-3. 3 i v o r c e and Remarr iage t h a t need t o b e c l a r i f i e d . Addres s y o u r 1e t tz . r -,I ? a s t o r a l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , A t t e n t i o n : Raymond M c N a i r .

T h e T'3s:;~21 3 3 n i n i s t r a t i o n Department ( P A D ) needs t h e c o o p e r a t i o n of a l l cf 1 7 3 1 1 mir,:sters. R e p e a t e d l y , w e g e t r e p o r t s t h a t t h e r e is a cer- t a i n arnol:-.t 3 1 z o r f c s i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e h a n d l i n g of d i v o r c e and r e m a r r i a g e problerrs

O f C O : I Y S ~ , any d o c t r i n a l o r p o l i c y mat te rs w i l l b e d e c i d e d by C h r i s t ' s A p o s t l e . :.!r. H e L b e r t W. Armstrong h a s e x p r e s s e d t o some of u s on v a r i o u s occas ic . ; i s h i s deep conce rn o v e r r e p o r t e d a b u s e s i n t h e a c t u a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f o u r r ~ ~ . ~ h i ~ ~ , - y 3 c o n c e r n i n g t h e B i b l e grounds f o r d i v o r c e and r e m a r r i a q e . Yr. J-rm,:.r!i.iq 5 3 s wantec. some o f u s ( M r . M e r e d i t h , m y s e l f , e t c . ) t o g e t t q e t k e r .:.::? 53.cts which s h o u l d be t a k e n t o him f o r h i s d e c i s i o n i n t h i s . i ... ~ p 3 r t z . :. 3 r e a I

r - A : 7.~1~16 l-ke :/cu to s e n d i n v a r i o u s q u e s t i o n s , p rob lems , s p e c i f i c

exan? F 5 , - 7 r . 7 2 1 - 5 :'?u feel w e need a s i n p u t i n o r d e r t o b e a b l e to t a k e t:-&ei- -: = - -ny for f u r t h e r i n s t r u c t i o n and c l a r i f i c a t i o n .

2 - i -li, a r c o r d i n g t o p e r s i s t e n t r e p o r t s , t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n - -

2-10 2r. . * . i 'IS I d r : -nd d i s p a r i t y of p r a c t i c e i n a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e C h u r c h ' s t-zr- . - . - j - -vcrce and r e m a r r i a g e .

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2~c:z . t~ p l e a s e remember t o do e v e r y t h i n g ( i n se rmons , Bible r,3l c c m s e l l i n g , e t c . ) t o b u i l d s o l i d m a r r i a g e s , t e a c h i n g ,: t ~ ~ t 2od-o rda ined i n s t i t u t i o n , and t h e a w f u l n e s s of

3 ~ 3 i l ~ s s of how it comes a b o u t .

> - - -L?:sE s?r,ci y ~ c r q u e s t i o n s , p roblems o r s p e c i f i c examples t o m e z J -e I . 4 - . --:- gc aTie: this mater ia l , o r g a n i z i n g i t e t c . , f o r t h e pu rpose - - J L . - 1 .1-. ! ,.: -,7 I,. _ - . i e rber t W. Armstrong f o r f u r t h e r c l a r i f i c a t i o n .

.- r - - f - -;ucr,. --Raymond F . M c N a i r

S i n c e ' a , ? ' - i - :he rridzle of sum"ner t r a n s f e r t i m e a g a i n , I t h o u g h t i t might ' cz - - J L - L .i 1 k 3 rnake a few comments r e g a r d i n g a ma jo r a s p e c t o f

P A S T O R ' S REPORT, J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 7 9 Page 9

m i n i s t e r i a l t r a n s f e r s ; area cost of l i v i n g d i f f e r e n c e s . Even though you y o u r s e l f may n o t b e moving t h i s y e a r , you are s t i l l affected by a r e a cos t o f l i v i n g d i f f e r e n c e s .

P r o b a b l y m o s t of you have h e a r d o f Murphy's Law: "If a n y t h i n g can go wrong, it w i l l . " W e l l , t h o s e of u s i n M i n i s t e r i a l S e r v i c e s f e e l t h e r e must b e a humorous c o r o l l a r y t o t h i s r e l a t i n g to m i n i s t e r i a l t r a n s f e r s . I t goes someth ing l i k e t h i s : "Whenever t r a n s f e r r e d , a m i n i s t e r w i l l o n l y be s e n t t o a h i g h e r l i v i n g cost a rea ." A t l eas t so i t s e e m s .

Al though t h i s o b v i o u s l y i s n ' t t h e case, t h e r e a re r e a s o n s why i t seems t o be t r u e . A s a n a t i o n ( s p e a k i n g b a s i c a l l y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u t i t p r o b a b l y h o l d s t r u e t o some d e g r e e of o t h e r s as w e l l ) , w e are programmea to e x p e c t and hope t h a t each move w e make w i l l raise our q u a l i t y o f l i v i n g . I t i s n a t u r a l f o r an i n d i v i d u a l who i s moving t o d e s i r e t o upgrade h i s l i v i n g s t a n d a r d . I t ' s p a r t of o u r s u c c e s s - o r i e n t e d c u l t u r e . However, s u c h t h i n g s as a l i t t l e l a r g e r o r somewhat n i c e r house o r a p a r t m e n t i n a s l i g h t l y better ne ighborhood can s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t a p e r s o n ' s l i v i n g costs. Con- s e q u e n t l y , a s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n t h e cos t o f l i v i n g i n t h e new area may be p a r t l y a r e f l e c t i o n of an i n c r e a s e i n t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g and n o t t o t a l l y a r e s u l t o f h i g h e r l i v i n g c o s t s .

A l s o , c e r t a i n costs a r e b r o u g h t t o y o u r a t t e n t i o n a t moving t i m e t h a t have n o t been a conce rn i n some t i m e . They i n c l u d e s u c h t h i n g s for t h e new home a s r u g s , d r a p e s and c u r t a i n s , and o t h e r n e c e s s a r y i t e m s f o r a d i f f e r e n t home. A l s o , t h e cos t of g e n e r a l i t e m s s u c h as food and u t i l i t i e s are b r o u g h t t o o u r a t t e n t i o n s imply b e c a u s e it i s n e c e s s a r y t o f i n d new s o u r c e s f o r t h e s e basics . F o r i n s t a n c e , I know how aware o f p r i c e s I a m when I v i s i t a new g r o c e r y s to re , I a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e g i n comparing p r i c e s .

Obv ious ly , s o m e t i m e s m i n i s t e r s are s e n t t o areas where t h e cos t of l i v i n g i s h i g h e r t h a n b e f o r e . However, even though i t migh t b e h a r d t o b e l i e v e i n t h i s day and a g e , t h e r e are lower - than -ave rage cost areas as w e l l as a v e r a g e ar.d h i g h e r - t h a n - a v e r a g e cos t areas. Those moving from lower - than - a v e r a g e cos t areas are l i k e l y g o i n g t o e x p e r i e n c e a jump i n l i v i n g costs no matter where t h e y go . I n s u c h cases, t h e y are l o s i n g t h e s p e c i a l b e n e f i t o f l i v i n g i n a l o w cos t area. Those who have t h i s b e n e f i t o f t e n d o n ' t r e a l i z e what a b e n e f i t it is u n t i l t h e y lose it. C o n s e q u e n t l y , i t h i t s them h a r d e s t when t h e y move t o a n a v e r a g e o r h i g h e r - t h a n - a v e r a g e cos t a r e a .

Another r e a s o n i t seems t h a t new areas are h i g h cost areas i s t h a t m o s t i n d i v i d u a l s l a c k t h e i n f o r m a t i o n upon which t o make a c c u r a t e compar i sons . E x p e r i e n c e h a s shown us t h a t t w o d i f f e r e n t i n d i v i d u a l s can have d r a m a t i c a l l y v a r y i n g o p i n i o n s o n t h e cost of l i v i n g i n t h e same area. All w e c a n do i n such cases i s c h a l k t h e d i f f e r e n c e up t o v a r i a t i o n s i n i n d i v i d u a l p e r c e p t i o n .

W e r e a l i z e t h a t h i g h e r costs of l i v i n g i n new areas are n o t e x p e r i e n c e d by e v e r y o n e , b u t f o r s o m e t h e r e are rea l i n c r e a s e s t h a t a r e n ' t due t o i n c r e a s e s i n l i v i n g s t a n d a r d s , o r f r o m h a v i n g been f o r m e r l y i n l o w cos t a reas , o r f r o m a l a c k of p r o p e r compar i sons . Some l o c a t i o n s j u s t s i m p l y are more e x p e n s i v e p l a c e s i n which t o l i ve . I n a n o t h e r P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t , w e would l i k e t o e x p l a i n what i s b e i n g done i n s t u d y i n g cost of l i v i n g p a t t e r n s ?.cross t h e c o u n t r y ; a.nd what ideas are b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d i n an e f f o r t t o h e l p w i t h problems a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m i n i s t e r i a l t r a n s f e r s .

--Ted H e r l o f s o n , M i n i s t e r i a l S e r v i c e s

PASTOR'S REPORT, J u n e 25 , 1 9 7 9 Page 1 0

PAY RAISES PUT ON HOLD

( E d i t o r ' s Note: From t i m e t o t i m e management and employee m e m c s f rom v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t s are c i r c u l a t e d t h r o u g h o u t a l l t h e o f f i c e s h e r e i n P a s a d e n a , b u t n e v e r r e a c h t h e f i e l d m i n i s t r y . I t i s t h e d e s i r e of M i n i s t e r i a l Services t o b e g i n r e p r o d u c i n g i n t h e P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t t h o s e m e m o s w i t h s p e c i a l re le- vance t o t h e m i n i s t r y . B e l o w i s a m e m o t o a l l d e p a r t m e n t managers f rom P e r s o n n e l . I t w a s d a t e d May 30 and c o n c e r n s t h e s u b j e c t of pay ra i ses . )

We have been advised t h a t no m e r i t i n c r e a s e s , cos t o f l i v i n g i n c r e a s e s , a n d / o r bonuses can b e allowed a t t h i s t i m e b e c a u s e o f p r e s e n t budge t - a r y c o n s t r a i n t s .

W e r e a l i z e t h a t i n f l a t i o n and t h e accompanying e s c a l a t i n g c o s t of l i v - i n g i s c a u s i n g c o n c e r n f o r you and y o u r employees , a n d w e hope t h a t t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n w i l l n o t l a s t too l o n g .

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

U n i t e d Kingdom

On June 5 , 6 and 7 a l l t h e f u l l - t i m e m i n i s t e r s i n t h e U . K . , p l u s t w o non- employed loca l e l d e r s , g a t h e r e d a t t h e Heathrow H o t e l n e a r London f o r a c o n f e r e n c c t o u p d a t e them on t h e p r o s p e c t s f o r t h e Work i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e world. M r . H a r o l d J a c k s o n , t h e m i n i s t e r i n Lagos, N ige r i - a , w a s a l s o a b l e t o a t t e n d . The c o n f e r e n c e p roved h i g h l y p r o f i t a b l e , w i t h m i n i s t e r s a p p r e c i a t i n g t h e chance t o have e x p l a i n e d t o them how w e are t a k i n g advan- t a g e o f t h e avenues t h a t are open t o t h e Work i n t h i s area.

?!ie f i n a n c i a l p i c t u r e a g a i n looks b r i g h t . M a i l income f o r t h e month of May w a s up 2 1 % o v e r May 1978. The i n c r e a s e for t h e c a l e n d a r y e a r t o da t e i s 2 0 % and c o n t i n u e s t o h o l d s t e a d y . The P e n t e c o s t o f f e r i n g w a s up a h e a l t h y 2 4 % o v e r l a s t y e a r a l t h o u g h a t t e n d a n c e remained a b o u t t h e same. M a i l f l ow g e n e r a l l y w a s w e l l up due m a i n l y t o t h e a d v e r t i s i n g program.

T o t a l r e s p o n s e s f rom o u r c u r r e n t a d v e r t i s i n g campaign h a v e reached 9 , 2 3 1 as of June 1 5 t h , m o s t p o p u l a r b o o k l e t s b e i n g Why Were You Born? and The Seven L a w s of S u c c e s s . W e were able t o o b t a i n a c u t - p r i c e h a l f - p a g e s p a c e i n a p o p u l a r t a b l o i d , "The D a i l y S t a r , " t o a d v e r t i s e t h e P l a i n T r u t h . C o s t p e r r e s p o n s e h a s been q u i t e e n c o u r a g i n g .

From t h e e x h i b i t i o n s w e have a p p e a r e d a t so f a r , over 1 , 0 0 0 P l a i n T r u t h r e q u e s t c a r d s have been r e t u r n e d . W e remain c o n f i d e n t t h a t r enewa l ra tes f o r t h i s g r o u p of t r i a l s u b s c r i b e r s w i l l be r e l a t i v e l y h i g h i n v i e w of t h e d i r e c t e x p o s u r e t o t h e magazine p e o p l e have received a t t h e s t a n d . The e x h i b i t i o n series c o n t i n u e s n e x t month when t h e P l a i n T r u t h d i s p l a y w i l l be f e a t u r e d a t t h e Devon County F e s t i v a l i n Exeter ( J u l y 2 0 - 2 8 ) and t h e Royal Welsh Show i n Llane lwedd, Powys ( 2 4 - 2 6 ) .

The S p r i n g e d i t i o n o f o u r loca l " N e w s l e t t e r " ( a q u a r t e r l y p u b l i c a t i o n f o r Co-Workers, donors and members) drew some i n t e r e s t i n g r e a c t i o n . A s an e x p e r i m e n t w e i n c l u d e d t h e names, a d d r e s s e s and t e l e p h o n e numbers o f a l l f u l l - t i m e m i n i s t e r s i n t h e B r i t i s h Isles a n d i n v i t e d readers t o c o n t a c t t h e i r l o c a l m i n i s t e r i f t h e y wi shed t o a t t e n d a S a b b a t h s e r v i c e . R e p o r t s f r o m t h e r e c e n t c o n f e r e n c e i n d i c a t e t h a t i n almost e v e r y case a s t e a d y number of phone ca l l s and l e t te rs w e r e r e c e i v e d . A small number of baptisms w e r e t r i g g e r e d o f f by t h e announcement (one man had been i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e Work f o r 1 4 y e a r s ) and many are now a t t e n d i n g S a b b a t h services as a d i r e c t

PASTOR'S REPORT, June 2 5 , 1 9 7 9 Page 11

r e s u l t . The PCD m a i l f l o w h a s a l so been h i g h e r t h a n u s u a l , p r o b a b l y ro - f l e c t i n g i n p a r t t h e l a s t N e w s l e t t e r . W e believe t h a t one of t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e s u c c e s s of t h i s e x p e r i m e n t w a s t h e low-key way i n which i t w a s h a n d l e d , l e a v i n g t h e onus on t h e i n d i v i d u a l t o r e spond .

- -Submit ted by Rod Matthews, I n t e r n a t i o n a l O f f i c e

H I S T O R I C OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT!

Al though t h e bad p u b l i c i t y , n e g a t i v e comments, and t h e r e c e i v e r s h i p cr is is have had a n i m p a c t on o u r m e m b e r s and co-workers , MOST are still s t a n d i n g b e h i n d M r . Armst rong , h e l p i n g " h o l d up h i s hands . " W e wanted t o s h a r e t h i s p o s i t i v e s ide of t h e c o i n w i t h you, a s i t i s r e f l e c t e d i n o u r m a i l .

The M a i l A n a l y s i s s e c t i o n of MPC r e p o r t s t h a t i n a l l i t s y e a r s of r e a d i n g and g a t h e r i n g comments f r o m t h e m a i l , it h a s n e v e r s e e n such a tremendoils o u t p o u r i n g o f s u p p o r t as h a s come i n s i n c e J a n u a r y 1 9 7 9 1 Thousands and t h o u s a n d s o f l e t t e r s have been r e c e i v e d f r o m members, co-workers , a n d d o n o r s i n s u p p o r t o f M r . Herbert Armstrong and t h e Work o f God.

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B e l o w a re j u s t a f e w r e p r e s e n t a t i v e examples of t h e k i n d s of l e t t e r s w e are r e c e i v i n g :

M r . Armst rong , w e are 1 0 0 % b e h i n d you. W e know t h a t t h i s i s G o d ' s t r u e Church. W e a re p r a y i n g f o r you and t h e Work. Even o u r f i v e - y e a r - o l d d a u g h t e r p r a y s f o r you and t h e Work. Thank you f o r o p e n i n g o u r e y e s . - - B . L . , G r e e n s b u r g , PA

So happy t o h e a r M r . Armstrong a g a i n on t h e r a d i o on h a l f - h o u r programs. I a lways mis sed t h o s e so much d u r i n g t h e t i m e of t h e f i v e m i n u t e /Emad-, casts . Happy, M r . Armstrong, t o h e a r t h a t you are a b l e t o t r a v e l - a b r o a d a g a i n , and t h a t i t w i l l soon b e p o s s i b l e for you t o go t o Ch ina . The doors a re s u r e l y b e i n g opened now. I pray f o r you and M r . Rader and a l l t h e f a i t h f u l worke r s . I a m s u r e , w i t h o u t d o u b t s , t h a t you a r e d o i n g t h e Work of God. May G o d g r a n t you s t r e n g t h t o g o on.

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- -C .T . , E l k v i l l e , IL

I c a n n o t p u t i n t o m e r e words how I fee l l i s t e n i n g t o you e a c h Sunday morning a t 11 :30 a . m . o n Channel 1 2 i n o u r area. I t i s s o good t o h e a r t h e t r u e Word of God b e i n g p r e a c h e d a g a i n .

--L.J., Hyann i s , MA

I u s u a l l y d o n ' t i n c l u d e a l e t t e r when m a i l i n g my t i t h e . I d o n ' t t h i n k I f u l l y r e a l i z e t h e impor t ance of m a i l i n g you a l e t te r of s u p p o r t a l o n g w i t h my t i t h e . I o f t e n j u s t s e n d a c h e c k , t h i n k i n g t h a t t h a t shows you t h a t I a m b a c k i n g you and s u p p o r t i n g God 's Work. But t h a t d o e s n ' t t e l l you t h a t I a m c o n t i n u a l l y p r a y i n g f o r you , y o u r h e a l t h , for t h e m i n i s t r y , f o r t h e Church, f o r t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of t h e means by which t h e Church s p r e a d s t h e g o s p e l , and f o r t h e coming Kingdom of G o d ... I s t r o n g l y b e l i e v e t h a t you are God's ONLY a p o s t l e here on e a r t h and t h a t t h e Worldwide Church of God ( a n d no o t h e r c h u r c h e s ) i s t h e t r u e Church of God .... - - B . D . , San A n t o n i o , T X

O v e r a l l , t h e m a i l comments p r e s e n t a n a t t i t u d e o f RENEWED ENTHUSIASM i n t h e Church (and among t h e co-workers ) o v e r t h e new d i r e c t i o n t h e Work i s

PASTOR'S REPORT, J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 7 9 Page 1 2

t a k i n g . The v a s t m a j o r i t y "back on t h e r i g h t t r a c k , "

are g l a d t h a t M r . Armstrong i s p u t t i n g t h i n g s and t h e y a re s u p p o r t i n g him w i t h c o n f i d e n c e .

- -Richard R i c e , M a i l P r o c e s s i n g C e n t e r

PUBLISHING SERVICES UPDATE

T h i s p a s t week w e had a n o t h e r v i s i t f r o m t h e p e o p l e i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e S p e c i a l Olympics and t h e Kennedy Founda t ion which s p o n s o r and a re t h e d r i v i n g force b e h i n d t h e games. AICF i s i n v o l v e d t h r o u g h o u r "Out reach" Program and P u b l i s h i n g i s p r o d u c i n g t h e s o u v e n i r grames program which i s g o i n g t o b e a v e r y f i n e p r o d u c t i o n . The Kennedy F o u n d a t i o n p e o p l e have been v e r y i m p r e s s e d w i t h us as i n d i v i d u a l s and w i t h o u r f a c i l i t i e s h e r e i n Pasadena . They w e r e even more i m p r e s s e d t h a t d u r i n g o u r d a r k e s t h o u r s d u r i n g t h e s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a t h a t w e s t i l l had t i m e f o r them.

The Ques t a d v e r t i s i n g s t a f f i n N e w York s o l d a b o u t $ 4 0 , 0 0 0 wor th o f adve r - t i s i n q s p a c e for t h e program and a t t h e s p e c i a l d i n n e r r e c e n t l y Mrs. E t h e l Kennedy w a s making v e r y complementary remarks a b o u t Q u e s t and t h e Ambassador Founda t ion t o P h i l DuVal, o u r a d v e r t i s i n g d i r e c t o r .

The S p e c i a l Olympics i s f o r m e n t a l l y retarded c h i l d r e n 8 y e a r s o f a g e and o l d e r . These young p e o p l e love t h e chance t o show what t h e y can do--in f a c t t h e games i n p a s t y e a r s have changed t h e l i f e of many of t h e p a r t i c i - p a n t s .

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--Roger L i p p r o s s

PT/BOOKLETS UPDATE

M r . Armstrong h a s now approved t h e l a y o u t s on s i g s 2 & 3 o f t h e Augus t P T . S i g . 1 a n d t h e cover w i l l be s e n t t o him s h o r t l y .

M r . Armstrong i n s t r u c t e d m e t o g e t t h e U S & B book i n t o p r i n t a s soon as p o s s i b l e f o r c h u r c h m e m b e r s and t h e m a i l i n g l i s t . While t h e book i s s c h e d u l e d t o b e p u b l i s h e d by E v e r e s t House soon , a s p e c i a l paper -back e d i t i o n w i l l b e p r i n t e d f o r church usage . I t w i l l b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e s i z e o f t h e o l d -- f u l l - s i z e e d i t i o n of some y e a r s b a c k . The copy w i l l be i d e n t i c a l t o t h a t i n t h e p r e s e n t PT ser ies . T h i s i s - n o t a r educed v e r s i o n b u t a f u l l , book- s i zed e d i t i o n . A s soon a s l a y o u t s a r e done and t h e g r a p h i c s a r e approved w e ' l l g e t i t i n t o p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h Roger L i p p r o s s .

Xr. Armstrong i s p r e s e n t l y g o i n g o v e r t h e copy o n The Mark of t h e B e a s t and w e hope t o s h o r t l y g e t t h a t back i n t o p r i n t a f t e r many y e a r s .

The b o o k l e t Did God Create a D e v i l ? i s a l s o b e i n g s e n t t o M r . Armst rong for r e w r i t i n g . I t h a s been i n u s e f o r many y e a r s and h e would now l i k e t o do a r ewr i t e on it. The p r e s e n t e d i t i o n h a s been wi thdrawn from c i r -

--Brian Knowles, E d i t o r i a l S e r v i c e s c u l a t i o n .

NEWS SUMMARY BECOMES "MEMBER'S H O T L I N E "

"The Worldwide Church o f God NEWS SUMMARY" h a s now been renamed "The Worldwide Church o f God MEMBER'S HOTLINE. 'I A c t u a l l y , t h e MEMBER'S HOTLINE i s a summary o f s p e c i a l l a t e - b r e a k i n g news i n God's Work which would nor- m a l l y b e announced from t h e p u l p i t e a c h week. Thus t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , i n - t e n d e d t o be made a v a i l a b l e t o h e a d s o f - h o u s e h o l d s i n God's Church, a l lows

PASTOR‘S REPORT, J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 7 9 Page 1 3

o u r m i n i s t e r s more t i m e f o r t h e i r sermons. P r i m a r i l y , t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n 112s contained news u p d a t e s c o n c e r n i n g v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of the S t a t e of L . a L l f ~ r n i a ‘ s a t t a c k o n Cod’s Church. However, o f t e n o t h e r Church a n d C o l l e c j e n e w s f r o m t h e P a s t o r ’ s Repor t which should g e t t o t h e b r e t h r e n q u i c k l y i s also summarized and i n c l u d e d i n t h e MEMBER’S HOTLINE.

- -Pas to r ’ s R e p o r t S t a f f

Armstrong still traveling Last winter the front pages of the Star-

News were constantly reporting charges by deputy a t to rneys general t ha t Herbert W. Armstrong and his assistant, Stanley Rader, of the Worldwide Church of God were “pilfering” church funds by virtue of the fact that they traveled extensively in the co rpora t e j e t , conferring with heads of state a d other dignitaries all over the world.

What puzzles me is that the Star-News apparently does not see fit to inform its readers that these same gentlemen are continuing their travels in the same manner.

For example Mr. Armstrong just returned from Morroco and Tunisia where he conferred with the prime ministers of both nations, presented them with the customary gifts, and hid the groundwork for humanitar ian projects as he h a s with many other

nations. A senior member of t he Japanese Diet accompanied him and discussed plans for cooperative projects in the domain of nutrition. The deputy attorney general calls this

“pllfering” and started a lrmsuit over it. Yet, Mr. Armstong c o n t i e s abiwt his business as if the attorney general does not exist!

I would think the Star-News should report on these facts so the attorney general m a y reflect on the merit and effects of his actions!

And certainly the good citizens of Pasadena would like to know when leaders of institutions headquartered in the area are received and honored by heads of governments abroad; and about significant humanitarian projects being planned by Pasadena institutions.

DAVID HUNSBERGER Pasadena

E d i t o r ’ s Note: The above l e t t e r from an employee o f t h e P e r s o n a l Corre- spondence Department h e r e i n Pasadena a p p e a r e d i n t h e “ Y o u r Forum” sec t ion of t h e J u n e 2 4 i s s u e of t h e Pasadena Star-News. We t h o u g h t o u r readers would a lso e n j o y r e a d i n g i t!)

.;. 0. U. M A K I N G STRIDES

The S.O.U. program i s b e g i n n i n g t o r e a l l y r o l l once a g a i n . W e a r e c o m - p l e t i n g t h e s e c o n d y e a r o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Exchange Program and h a v e selected f o u r g i r l s ( J a n a Ledy--Michigan; Melissa Johnson- - Ind iana ; Yvonne Duncan--Scot land; and Marissa Campbell--England) t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e program f o r i t s t h i r d y e a r .

Y . 0 . U . F e a s t p l a n s a r e now w e l l underway and t h i s y e a r p r o m i s e s t o b e t h e b e s t y e a r e v e r fo r t h e young p e o p l e .

One of t h e b i g g e s t news i t e m s i s t h e f u l l approval by M r . Herber t Armstrong of t h e Y.E.S. program--which i s t h e major e d u c a t i o n a l phase of t h e o v e r - a l l V . O . U . p r ~ q r a m . W e a re a l l v e r y e x c i t e d a b o u t . t h e p o t e n t i a l and a l s o a b o u t Yr. A r m s t r o n g ’ s s u p p o r t o f t h e program.

PASTOR'S REPORT, J u n e 25, 1 9 7 9 Page 1 4

Ar.other m a j o r i t e m i s t h e r e i n s t a t e m e n t , a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y , o f t h e n a t i o n a l l e v e l programs. W e have o u r f o u r t h N a t i o n a l T r a c k and F i e l d m e e t s c h e d u l e d f o r Big Sandy on J u l y 2 4 and 2 5 t h . W e hope t o be a b l e , i n a s h o r t t i m e , t o r e i n s t a t e t h e whole n a t i o n a l l e v e l program. (Our t h a n k s t o M r . B i c k e t and M r . Rader f o r t h e i r s u p p o r t and f i n a n c i a l a p p r o v a l of t h e t r a c k m e e t . )

With a l l t h e s e t h i n g s happen ing and w i t h S . E . P . i n f u l l swing w i t h a b o u t 3 0 0 i n a t t e n d a n c e , it a p p e a r s Y . O . U . i s r e a d y t o move ahead once a g a i n . Thank you a l l f o r y o u r p a t i e n c e a n d c o n t i n u e d s u p p o r t .

--Mike B l a c k w e l l , Y . O . U .

ON THE WORLD SCENE

Whi le b e i n g engaged i n a PLAIN TRUTH a s s i g n m e n t overseas, I ' v e a s k e d my long- t ime associate , Don S c h r o e d e r , t o s u b m i t t h e f o l l o w i n g "change-of - pace" t o p i c i n my s t e a d t h i s week.

--Gene Hogberg

THE FRTiCTUPED FAMILY: Over t h i r t y y e a r s a g o , George O r w e l l w r o t e t h e book, 1 9 8 4 , d e s c r i b i n g t h e h o r r o r s o f a t h o u g h t - c o n t r o l l e d t o t a l i t a r i a n s t a t e . Over 1 0 0 a f O r w e l l ' s 1 3 7 p r e d i c t i o n s a b o u t t h e f u t u r e h a v e a l r e a d y come t r u e . Some of t h e s e i n c l u d e t h e deve lopment o f t h i n k t a n k s , de- f o l i a n t s t o s t r i p t h e e a r t h b a r r e n , h e l i c o p t e r g u n s h i p s v o i c e a n a l y z e r s , d a t a b a n k s , e tc .

--

O r w e l l a l s o p r e d i c t e d t h e b r e a k u p of t h e f a m i l y a n d t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f e m o t i o n a l t i e s between men and women and t h e i r c h i l d r e n .

A l r e a d y o n l y o n e U.S. h o u s e h o l d i n t h r e e c o n s i s t s of p a r e n t s - and t h e i r c h i l d r e n ( if w e c o n s i d e r p e o p l e l i v i n g a l o n e o r a p a r t f rom p a r e n t s as a h o u s e h o l d ) . An i n c r e a s i n g number of homes are a l r e a d y o n e p a r e n t , and t h e y are growing much f a s t e r t h a n t w o p a r e n t f a m i l i e s .

One of t h e m o s t p e r c e p t i v e a r t i c l e s on t h e a l a r m i n g t r e n d s i n t h e modern f a m i l y u n i t w a s w r i t t e n by Armand M . N i c h o l i 11, f a c u l t y m e m b e r of t h e Harva rd Medica l Schoo l and on t h e s t a f f o f M a s s a c h u s e t t s G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l . H e w r i t e s i n C h r i s t i a n i t y Today, May 25, 1 9 7 9 : " E a r l y f a m i l y e x p e r i e n c e d e t e r m i n e s our a d u l t c h a r a c t e r s t r u c t u r e , t h e i n n e r p i c t u r e w e h a r b o r o f o u r s e l v e s , how w e see o t h e r s and f ee l a b o u t them, o u r c o n c e p t of r i g h t and wrong, o u r c a p a c i t y t o e s t a b l i s h t h e c lose , w a r m , s u s t a i n e d r e l a t i o n s h i p s n e c e s s q r y t o have a f a m i l y o f o u r own, o u r a t t i t u d e toward a u t h o r i t y and toward t h e U l t i m a t e A u t h o r i t y i n o u r l i v e s , and t h e way w e a t t e m p t t o make s e n s e o u t of o u r e x i s t e n c e . N o human i n t e r a c t i o n h a s g r e a t e r i m p a c t on o u r l i v e s t h a n o u r f a m i l y e x p e r i e n c e . "

N i c h o l i emphas izes , "What h a s been shown t o c o n t r i b u t e m o s t t o t h e e m o t i o n a l deve lopment o f t h e c h i l d i s a close, w a r m , s u s t a i n e d , a n d con- t i n u o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h b o t h p a r e n t s . Y e t c e r t a i n t r e n d s i n o u r s o c i e t y make t h i s m o s t d i f f i c u l t t o d a y . "

A major f r a c t u r i n g e l e m e n t i s t h e t r e n d toward q u i c k and e a s y d i v o r c e - /Tn s o m e s t a t e s , a ' ' n o - f a u l t " d i v o r c e 7 and t h e e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g d i v o r c e r a t e which s u b j e c t s more and more c h z l d r e n t o p h y s i c a l l y and e m o t i o n a l l y a b s e n t p a r e n t s . The d i v o r c e r a t e h a s r i s e n 7 0 0 % i n t h i s c e n t u r y and c o n t i n u e s t o r i se . Over a m i l l i o n c h i l d r e n a y e a r are i n v o l v e d i n d i v o r c e c a s e s i n t h e U.S . a l o n e .

PASTOR'S REPORT, J u n e 2 5 , 1979 Page 1 5

A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s h i g h d i v o r c e ra te , t w o Census Bureau a n a l y s t s p r e d i c t t h a t 45% o f a l l c h i l d r e n bo rn i n 1978 w i l l become members o f o n e - p a r e n t f a m i l i e s , a t least fo r a p e r i o d i n t h i e r l i v e s , before t h e y r e a c h t h e age o f 1 8 y e a r s . T h i s i s a ra te t h a t a l r e a d y a p p l i e s t o b l a c k y o u n g s t e r s .

Then t h e r e i s t h e i n c r e a s i n g number o f married women who h a v e j o i n e d t h e l a b o r f o r c e and work o u t s i d e t h e home--espec ia l ly mothe r s w i t h young o r p r e s c h o o l c h i l d r e n . I n 1 9 4 8 , a r o u n d 18% o f t h e n a t i o n ' s mo the r s worked o u t s i d e t h e home. Today i t i s o v e r 50%. Many c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s , a n d t h e f e m i n i s t movement i n p a r t i c u l a r , p a s s on t h e n o t i o n t h a t t h e ro le of w i f e and mother is p a s s g , and t o s e t t l e f o r s u c h a role i n l i f e i s t o s e t t l e f o r s e c o n d - c l a s s c i t i z e n s h i p .

Lack of p r o p e r f a m i l y u p b r i n g i n g i s a l s o r e f l e c t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g g r i m s t a t i s t i c s . The number of i l l e g i t i m a t e b i r t h s i n t h e U.S. i s over a h a l f m i l l i o n a y e a r , h a l f of which are t e r m i n a t e d by a b o r t i o n . Teenage p reg - n a n c i e s have i n c r e a s e d by 3 3 % i n t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r s . Of t h e t e e n a g e r s t h a t mar ry , 50% end i n d i v o r c e w i t h i n f i v e y e a r s .

N i c h o l i p o i n t s t o s t u d i e s t h a t i n d i c a t e t h a t a b s e n t o r n o n - i n f l u e n t i a l f a t h e r s c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e i r c h i l d ' s l o w m o t i v a t i o n f o r ach ievemen t , i n a b i l i t y t o d e f e r immedia te g r a t i f i c a t i o n f o r l a t e r r e w a r d s , l o w s e l f - esteem, s u s c e p t i b i l i t y t o g roup i n f l u e n c e , j u v e n i l e d e l i n q u e n c y , a n d i n some, p a s s i v e e f f e m i n a t e o r dependen t s o n s .

N i c h o l i p r e d i c t s a s f a m i l y l i f e f r a c t u r e s , s o c i e t y w i l l h a v e a h i g h e r i n c i d e n c e of m e n t a l i l l n e s s t h a n ever b e f o r e . W e can e x p e c t t h e assassi- n a t i o n o f p e o p l e i n a u t h o r i t y t o be more f r e q u e n t , and a l s o v i o l e n c e ' ' j u s t f o r t h e f u n o f i t ." A s b a t t e r e d c h i l d r e n (if t h e y s u r v i v e ) p roduce c h i l d r e n , w e can e x p e c t v i o l e n c e w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y t o i n c r e a s e exponen- t i a l l y . And h e s a y s w e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o w i t n e s s changes i n t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f s e x u a l i m p u l s e s . "AS s e x u a l i t y becomes more u n l i m i t e d , more s e p a r a t e d -- from f a m i l y and e m o t i o n a l commitment, t h e deaden ing e f f e c t w i l l c a u s e more b i z a r r e e x p e r i m e n t i n g and w i d e s p r e a d p e r v e r s i o n , " p r e d i c t s N i c h o l i . H e p r e d i c t s s o c i e t y w i l l see much m o r e e x p e r i m e n t i n g w i t h h o m o s e x u a l i t y .

A s t h e home and church i n s o c i e t y have d e c l i n e d i n i n f l u e n c e , c h i l d care and t r a i n i n g h a s s h i f t e d t o o t h e r a g e n c i e s o r soc i a l g r o u p s . B u t , c o n c l u d e s N i c h o l i , p r o f e s s i o n a l o r p e e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s " c a n n e v e r g i v e us t h e e m o t i o n a l s u s t e n a n c e a n d s u p p o r t t h a t t h e close, w a r m , p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n - s h i p s w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y o u g h t t o p r o v i d e . "

Never w a s t h e need f o r t h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f Malachi 4 : 6 greater t h a n today!

Dear Pastor ,

Mice a year the Paper v e t w i l l sell to the Wrldwide Church of God libraries m k s listed in the current Mail Order Catalog a t our cost plus postage (Soncino Comnentaries not included). for your church library t o help provide references for those w b cannot afford their m volmes. not be included w i t h this special offer.

--- This offer is made only

We wuld like to ask that orders for individuals -

In order to hold dawn our costs by "bunching" the orders, re plan to make this special offer only twice a year. tine goal to raise mney for their library purchases.

It will also give churches a

Our first sale this year w i l l be from July 1-15. We will honor only those orders poslmdced no later than July 15. fran the publishers we wuld rather b i l l you for t h i s sale and ask that you remit payrent w i t h i n a mnth of receiving your inmice.

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WORLDWiDE CHURCH OF GOD J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 7 9

MEMBER 'S HOTLINE NEWS SUMMARY BECOMES "MEMBER ' S HOTLINE"

"The wor ldwide Church of God NEWS SUMMARY" h a s now been renamed "The Worldwide Church of G o d MEMBER'S HOTLINE. A c t u a l l y , t h e MEMBER'S H O T L I N E i s a summary of s p e c i a l l a t e - b r e a k i n g news i n God ' s Work which would nor - m a l l y be announced f r o m t h e p u l p i t each week. Thus t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , i n - t e n d e d t o b e made a v a i l a b l e t o heads of h o u s e h o l d s i n God ' s Church , a l l o w s o u r m i n i s t e r s more t i m e f o r t h e i r sermons. P r i m a r i l y , t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n h a s c o n t a i n e d news u p d a t e s c o n c e r n i n g v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of t h e S ta te o f C a l i f o r n i a ' s a t t a c k on G o d ' s Church. However, o f t e n o t h e r Church and C o l l e g e news f r o m t h e P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t which s h o u l d ge t t o the b r e t h r e n a u i c k l v i s a l s o summarized and i n c l u d e d i n t h e MEMBER'S H O T L I N E .

CAMPAIGN S E R I E S GATHERS MOMENTUM -

The c u r r e n t series of P e r s o n a l Appearance Campaigns i s g a t h e r i n g momentum, w i t h new a t t e n d a n c e up c o n s i d e r a b l y f o r t h e r e c e n t Phoen ix campaign, re- p o r t s Roder ick C . M e r e d i t h , Director of P a s t o r a l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Phoen ix w a s t h e t h i r d campaign f o r M r . Mered i th and t h e s i x t h of s e v e n i n t h i s series of "mini-campaigns. 'I

M r . M e r e d i t h s a i d 105 of 540 p e r s o n s a t t e n d i n g t h e campaign t h e f i r s t n i g h t w e r e "new a t t e n d a n c e , " w h i l e t h e second n i g h t s a w 90 new p e o p l e o u t o f 525 a t t e n d i n g - - a l l d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h e r e w a s "no / o u t s i d e 7 adve r - t i s i n g whatsoever - -not even one s c r a t c h i n t h e newspaper o r o n e w o r d on r a d i o o r TV."

The l a s t campaign o f t h i s c u r r e n t series w i l l b e h e l d August 4 and 5 i n Da l l a s , T e x a s , w i t h M r . Dennis Luker s p e a k i n g .

MR. - ARMSTRONG MAKES FURTHER CHANGES I N THE COLLEGE

Deputy C h a n c e l l o r Raymond F . M c N a i r i n fo rmed t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t t w e n t y - t h r e e m e m b e r s of t h e C o l l e g e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and f a c u l t y had v i s i t e d P l r . Armstrong i n h i s home i n Tucson. Commenting a b o u t t h e v i s i t i n %he J u n e 1 8 P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t , M r . M c N a i r s a i d M r . Armstrong encouraged and i n s t r u c t e d t h e g roup t o m a i n t a i n God's way i n t h e college.

"Dur ing o u r v i s i t , " s a i d M r . M c N a i r , " M r . Armstrong t o l d u s t h a t h e h a s come t o r ea l i ze t h a t ' h i g h e r ' d e g r e e s from t h i s w o r l d ' s i n s t i t u t i o n s have been d e t r i m e n t a l t o many o f o u r f a c u l t y . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , w e are no l o n g e r r e q u i r i n g o u r f a c u l t y / as - d i d t h e former a d m i n i s t r a t i o n 7 t o go ' o u t s i d e ' f o r d e g r e e s . I n f a c t , t h e c o l l e g e w i l l no l o n g e r s u b s i d i z e any ' h i q h e r ' d e g r e e s f rom t h i s w o r l d ' s colleges a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s . "

M r . M c N a i r a l s o ment ioned t h a t i n o rder f o r n e x t y e a r ' s s t u d e n t s t o r e c e i v e a maximum of g u i d a n c e and s u p e r v i s i o n from t h e f a c u l t y and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a l l u n d e r g r a d u a t e s i n g l e s t u d e n t s w i l l be r e q u i r e d t o l i v e on campus be- g i n n i n g n e x t f a l l . A l s o , d u a l e n r o l l m e n t w i t h o t h e r c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r - s i t i e s w i l l b e p r o h i b i t e d . " W e f e e l t h a t t h i s w i l l n o t o n l y g r e a t l y enhance t h e u n i t y o f Ambassador's s t u d e n t body, b u t w i l l a l so b e t t e r e n a b l e s t u d e n t s t o p a r t i c i p a t e f u l l y i n c o l l e g e a c t i v i t i e s , " commented t h e d e p u t y

MEMBER'S HOTLINE, June 25, 1 9 7 9 Page 2 1

c h a n c e l l o r . E n r o l l m e n t f o r t h e new s c h o o l y e a r , which b e g i n s August 2 7 , i s e x p e c t e d t o b e between 350 and 4 0 0 .

The m i n i s t e r s worldwide w e r e t hanked f o r t h e i r i n p u t r e g a r d i n g p r o s p e c t i v e s t u d e n t s f r o m t h e i r a r e a s , and M r . M c N a i r reminded them t h a t it s t i l l i s n ' t too l a t e fo r " p r o m i s i n g young p e o p l e " to a p p l y for e n t r a n c e i n t o Ambassador C o l l e g e f o r t h e coming 1 9 7 9 - 8 0 c o l l e g e y e a r . However, t h e y would have t o s e n d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n s i n v e r y soon. A l though , as a l w a y s , " w e r e q u i r e t h a t all a p p l i c a n t s b e able t o do c o l l e g e - l e v e l work ... w e a r e o n c e a g a i n l o o k i n g m o r e c l o s e l y a t a s t u d e n t ' s o v e r a l l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s ( l e a d e r s h i p , c h a r a c t e r , e t c . ) , I ' conc luded M r . M c N a i r .

A WAY TO PROMOTE THE P L A I N TRUTH

M r . H e r b e r t W . Armstrong r e c e n t l y ment ioned t h a t h e would l i k e t o see m i n i s t e r s and members a l i k e recommending The P l a i n T r u t h t o f r i e n d s o u t - s i d e t he Church , e n c o u r a g i n g them t o become r e g u l a r r e a d e r s . Reminding t h e J u n e 1 8 t h P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t r e a d e r s h i p t h a t " t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e form of a d v e r t i s i n g i s by word o f mouth," p u b l i s h i n g d i r ec to r Roger L i p p r o s s s u g g e s t e d t h a t members u s e t h i s v e r y p o w e r f u l t oo l of p e r s o n a l recommenda- t i o n and t o p a s s a l o n g t h e i r own copy o f The P l a i n T r u t h . " O r , b e t t e r s t i l l , t r y t o g e t h o l d o f any s p a r e c o p i e s of the newss tand i s s u e from y o u r l o c a l newss tand c o o r d i n a t o r . I'

M r . L i p p r o s s n o t e d t h a t t h e newss tand i s s u e i s s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n e d t o i n t r o d u c e p e o p l e t o t h e Work and t o e n c o u r a g e a s u b s c r i p t i o n . Al though w e do want t o g e t t h e message c o n t a i n e d i n The P l a i n T r u t h i n t o more new h a n d s , he c a u t i o n e d t h a t M r . Armstrong does n o t want u s t o i n any way "push o r force o u r message o n t o o t h e r s , " s u c h as one r e l i g i o u s g roup t h a t goes door- t o -door . So d i s c r e t i o n and b a l a n c e w e r e emphas ized as v e r y i m p o r t a n t i n promot ing The P l a i n T r u t h . M r . L i p p r o s s ment ioned t h a t y e t o t h e r ways f o r members t o promote and e n c o u r a g e b r o a d e r r e a d e r s h i p of t h e "magazine o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g " are b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d .

S P E C I A L DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR MR. ARMSTRONG'S BOOK

i n a r e c e n t P a s t o r ' s R e p o r t t h e Di rec tor o f P u b l i s h i n g r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e Wcrk h a s found i t n e c e s s a r y t o d e v e l o p i t s own d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m f o r Mr. H e r b e r t W . A r m s t r o n g ' s book, The I n c r e d i b l e Human P o t e n t i a l . Al tnough w e have r e c e n t l y c o n t r a c t e d t o have s o m e commercial b o o k s t o r e o u t l e - c s ( D a l t o n B o o k s , Doubleday and Walden Books) s e l l t h e book, w e r e a l l y need much b r o a d e r e x p o s u r e f o r t h e book t o g e t t h e s i z e and q u a l i t y of r e s p o n s e w e a r e l o o k i n g f o r .

"Most r e l i g i o u s books p u b l i s h e d commerc ia l ly i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , It s a i d Y r . Rcger L i p p r o s s , " a re d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h t h e C h r i s t i a n B o o k s e l l e r s A s s o c i a t i o n . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , The I n c r e d i b l e Human P o t e n t i a l h a s been r e f u s e d e c t r y i n t o t h i s p r i v a t e d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m b e c a u s e p a r t s of t h e book a re n o t complimentarq- t o t h e ' C h r i s t i a n ' c h u r c h e s t h a t back and s u p p o r t t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n . " And so t h e Work of God is f a c e d w i t h a n o t h e r c h a l l e n g e which " g i v e s a l l of u s a n o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o overcome a n obstacle which h i n d e r s d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h i s book and i t s message ."

Our own d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m h a s been worked o u t , and Mr. L i p p r o s s s o l i c i t E d each P a s t o r ' s s u p p o r t " t o e n s u r e t h a t t h i n g s go smoo th ly . " T h i s i s t h e program: A s m a l l d i s p l a y box h a s been d e s i g n e d and m a n u f a c t u r e d t o h o l d

MEMBER'S HOTLINE, J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 7 9 P a g e 3

six books a n d be p l a c e d o n a c o u n t e r o r t a b l e t o p . The box h a s a g l o s s y p r o m o t i o n a l card which car r ies a p h o t o g r a p h of M r . Herbert Arms t rong a n d a d v e r t i s i n g copy . The card s l ides b e h i n d the books . A s m a l l s a les k i t has also been a s s e m b l e d t o go a l o n g w i t h t h i s p a c k a g e e x p l a i n i n g t h e how a n d w h e r e f o r e of t h i s v e n t u r e .

One o b v i o u s o u t l e t f o r t h e s e books i s where The PLAIN TRUTH n e w s s t a n d p r o - gram i s a l r e a d y i n o p e r a t i o n , i . e . s u p e r m a r k e t s a n d s t o r e s t h a t h a v e o u r r a c k s on d i s p l a y . A c c o r d i n g t o M r . L i p p r o s s , w e a r e t h e r e f o r e a s k i n g e a c h of o u r 300 n e w s s t a n d c o o r d i n a t o r s t o t r y t o g e t t h e s e books p l a c e d i n as many of o u r n e w s s t a n d o u t l e t s as p o s s i b l e . The book sells f o r $ 8 . 9 5 , b u t t h e s tore owner o r manager w i l l b e g i v e n a s u b s t a n t i a l reduct ion i n price a s a n i n c e n t i v e t o h a n d l e t h e bDok. M r . L i p p r o s s c o n c l u d e d b y s t a t i n g t h a t w e wan t o u r " P l a i n T r u t h book d i s t r i b u t i o n program" t o be o u r "maio. t h r u s t " b e c a u s e i t h o l d s t h e g r e a t e s t promise of widespread exposure for b l r . A rms t rong ' s book .

Armstrong still traveling Last winter the front pages of the Star-

News were constantly reporting charges by deputy a t to rneys general t ha t Herbert W. Armstrong and his assistant, Stanley Rader. of the Worldwide Church of Cod were "pilfering" church funds by virtue of the fact that they traveled extensively i n the co rpora t e j e t , conferring with heads of state and other dignitaries all over the world.

What puzzles me is that the Star-News apparently does not see fit to inform its readers that these same gentlemen are continuing their travels in the same manner.

For example Mr. Armstrong just returned from Morroco and Tunisia where he conferred with the prime ministers of both nations, presented them with the customary gifts, and laid the groundwork for humanitar ian projects as he has with many other

nations. A senior member of the Japanese Diet accompanied him end discussed plans for cooperalive projects in the domain of nutrition. The deputy attorney general calls this

"pilfering" and started a lawsuit over it. Yet, Mr. Armstong continues about his business as if the attorney general does not exist!

I would think the Star-News should report on these facts so the attorney general may reflect on the merit and effects of his actions!

And certainly the good citizens of Pasadena would like to know when leaders of institutions headquartered in the area are received and honored by heads of governments abroad; and about significant humanitarian projects being planned by Pasadena institutions.

DAVID HUNSBERGER Pasadena

E l i t o r ' s Note: The above l e t t e r f rom a n employee of t h e P e r s o n a l Corre- s p ~ r ~ d e n c e Depar tmen t h e r e i n P a s a d e n a a p p e a r e d i n t h e "Your Forum" section cf t h e J u n e 2 4 i s s u e of t h e P a s a d e n a Star -News. We t h o u g h t o u r r e a d e r s w c c ; l d a l s o e n j o y r e a d i n g it!)

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