PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT

TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

VOL.2, N 0 . 2 8

J U L Y 11, 1 9 8 0

S.E.P.

WARMLY WELCOMES MR.

HERBERT W .

ARMSTRONG

Wednesday, J u l y 7 , m a r k e d a memorable o c c a s i o n f o r e v e r y o n e i n t h e Summer E d u c a t i o n a l Camp a t O r r , M i n n e s o t a . G o d ' s A p o s t l e , Herbert W. Armstrong, t o o k t i m e f r o m h i s b u s y s c h e d u l e t o f l y from Tucson t o a d d r e s s t h e f i r s t s e s s i o n o f c a m p e r s and f a c u l t y , T o g e t h e r w i t h M r . P a u l S u c k l i n g , d i r e c t o r of t h e E n g l i s h SEP, I w a s p r i v i l e g e d t o b e p a r t o f M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s group which i n c l u d e d h i s w i f e , h i s s i s t e r - i n - l a w , h i s p e r s o n a l a s s i s t a n t M r . Henry C o r n w a l l , a n d M r . M e 1 O l i n g e r , h i s c h a u f f e u r and deacon i n t h e Church.
F r o m t h e moment w e l a n d e d a t t h e O r r a i r p o r t i n t h e W o r k ' s G - 1 1 , e x c i t e ment a n d e n t h u s i a s m f i l l e d t h e a i r . When w e a r r i v e d a t t h e camp, t h e t e e n - a g e r s h a d l i n e d u p o n b o t h s i d e s o f t h e road t o w e l c o m e M r . A r m s t r o n g w i t h c h e e r s and c l a p p i n g . A few m i n u t e s l a t e r , a s he s t r o d e s m i l i n g l y f r o m h i s c a r t o t h e gymnasium, e v e r y o n e rose up a n d g a v e him a s t a n d i n g ovation.

Upon M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s r e q u e s t , M r . P a u l S u c k l i n g b r i e f l y s p o k e of t h e E n g l i s h SEP w h i c h i s s c h e d u l e d t o o p e n t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f J u l y . Then M r . A r m s t r o n g g a v e a p o w e r f u l a d d r e s s n o t o n l y t o t h e young c a m p e r s , b u t t o a l l o f u s . H e e x h o r t e d e a c h of u s t o be t h a n k f u l t o God; h e t o l d t h e t e e n - a g e r s how b l e s s e d t h e y w e r e t o have p a r e n t s w h o m God has c a l l e d a t this time. H e showed w h a t it r e a l l y means t o b e g i v e n m y r i a d o p p o r t u n i t i e s s t r e t c h i n g o u t b e f o r e them.
A f t e r t h e T e l e v i s i o n c r e w r e c o r d e d h i s message ( w h i c h I p e r s o n a l l y hope w i l l b e heard i n a l l t h e C h u r c h e s ) , M r . A r m s t r o n g m e t a f e w of t h e young c a m p e r s a n d s h o o k h a n d s w i t h them. B e l i e v e me!--they w e r e t h r i l l e d , n e r v o u s and e x c i t e d : U n d o u b t e d l y t h e y w i l l w r i t e home t o t e l l t h e i r p a r e n t s w h a t it i s t o p e r s o n a l l y m e e t M r . A r m s t r o n g , t a l k w i t h him--and

e v e n s h a k e h a n d s w i t h him! J u s t b e f o r e l e a v i n g O r r t h a t v e r y e v e n i n g , w e accompanied M r . Armstrong f o r a s h o r t t o u r a r o u n d t h e campus a n d s t o p p e d a t M r . T h o r n h i l l ' s c a b i n f o r a b r i e f b u t w a r m r e c e p t i o n w i t h t h e SEP f a c u l t y . Even t h o u g h I h a v e b e e n w i t h M r . A r m s t r o n g o n many o c c a s i o n s , t h i s t r i p w a s a l s o f o r m e o n e of t h e m o s t memorable o n e s , b e c a u s e I c o u l d s h a r e a n d f e e l t h e h a p p i n e s s - - a n d g r a t i t u d e - - o f f o u r h u n d r e d teen-agers who l o v e God, H i s Work a n d H i s A p o s t l e !
--Dibar
K.

Apartian

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SHALL W ALL LEAVE THE CHURCH - E O F GOD

AND J O I N "THE CHURCH - PEOPLE"? OF

by Herbert W.

Armstrong

Some a l r e a d y h a v e d o n e t h a t .

L e t ' s t h i n k a b o u t i t f o r a moment.

I h a d a v i v i d e x a m p l e o f t h i s a c o u p l e of m o r n i n g s a g o , a w a k e n i n g f r o m a dream. I n t h e dream i t seemed t o b e s e v e r a l y e a r s a g o when t h e Church w a s s m a l l e r . T h e r e w a s a young man across t h e s t r e e t who l o o k e d l i k e a p o s s i b l e one o f o u r l e a d e r s . H e w a s about age 3 0 , w i t h o u t s t a n d i n g p e r s o n a l i t y and appearance, and w a s a n a r t i c u l a t e e x t r o v e r t . Then t w o o t h e r young men o f a b o u t 3 0 , w e l l d r e s s e d , o f somewhat i m p r e s s i v e a p p e a r a n c e a n d m a n n e r , w e r e s e e n w a l k i n g o v e r a n d t a l k i n g t o him. They t o o k p a i n s t o avoid m e , a n d I seemed t o know t h e y w e r e o p p o s e d t o m e p e r sonally.

I n the dream I determined t o speak immediately w i t h t h e man they were t r y i n g t o i n f l u e n c e a d v e r s e l y . I t o l d him f r a n k l y I knew t h e y w e r e " l o b b y i n g " a g a i n s t t h e Church and a g a i n s t m e .
" Y e s , " h e r e p l i e d , " b u t I have t o t e l l you, M r . Armstrong, I t h i n k They s a y you a r r o g a t e t o t h e s e men h a v e s o m e t h i n g w o r t h l i s t e n i n g t o . y o u r s e l f t o o much power. You make y o u r s e l f t h e leader o f t h e C h u r c h . the They s a y - p e o p l e o u g h t t o h a v e a i l t h e ' s a y so. The p e o p l e o u g h t t o vote o n who - -t t o be t h e i r l e a d e r , a n d o n w h a t A - t t o bet h e. a n v w t h e y wan l i e v e a n d a c c e p t a s C h u r c h d o c t r i n e . T h a t s o u n d s l i k e a good i d e a t o m e . I t h i n k w e n e e d more DEMOCRACY."
I awoke a t t h a t p o i n t , my mind.

t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e d r e a m w h i c h had s t u c k i n

B u t b e f o r e a w a k e n i n g , I r e m e m b e r I h a d s a i d t o t h i s man i n t h e dream, " W e l l , t h e REAL QUESTION i s w h e t h e r t h i s i s GOD'S C h u r c h , o r t h e PEOPLE'S Church! I f it i s GOD'S C h u r c h , t h e n GOD i s r u n n i n g i t , a n d r e v e a l i n g w h a t w e s h a l l believe and t e a c h . GOD h a s the ' s a y s o . ' G o d r u n s it t h r o u g h And J e s u s C h r i s t r u n s it J e s u s C h r i s t , who i s t h e HEAD of t h e C h u r c h . t h r o u g h H i s c h o s e n A p o s t l e , whom HE, 1- c h o s e , p r e p a r e d , a n d nop n o t men, g u i d e s and l e a d s . T h o s e men a r e g e t t i n g y o u r e y e s o f f o f GOD--you a r e l e a v i n g GOD o u t of t h e p i c t u r e - - o u t of t h e Church. You a r e l o o k i n g o n l y a t people!! I f you w a n t t o p u t GOD o u t of H i s C h u r c h , t h e n you w i l l h a v e t o b e excommunicated! I'
I awakened c o n s i d e r a b l y i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e dream. Was G o d r e v e a l i n g t o m e t h a t TOO MANY w i t h i n t h e C h u r c h membership are l e a v i n g - -tGOD o u of t h e D i c t u r e ? - - i n t h e i r own m i n d s D u t t i n a GOD o u t of t h e C h u r c h ? D o t h e y t h i n k t h a t t h e k i n d o f men - p e b p l e would v o t e f o r ought. t o be made t h e the LEADERS i n t h e C h u r c h ? - - t h a t - p e o p l e s h o u l d s a y t o GOD, " T h i s i s OUR the C h u r c h , G o d , w e w a n t YOU t o GET OUT of t h e C h u r c h a n d leave u s a 1 .one. WE w i l l r u n t h i s C h u r c h OUR way!"

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2 -

I awakened i m p r e s s e d t h a t TOO MANY o f o u r p e o p l e a r e LEAVING GOD AND CHRIST OUT O F H I S CHURCH, a n d t r y i n g t o make it OUR C h u r c h - - t- c h u r c h he of t h e PEOPLE, a n d NOT The CHURCH O F GOD!

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I c o u l d c i t e you a n y number o f e x a m p l e s of w h e r e t h i s a c t u a l l y has b e e n done b y l e a d e r s u n d e r m e i n t h e C h u r c h . T h i s w a s done t o j u s t i f y w a t e r i n g down G O D ' S TRUTH, a n d t h e t r u e t e a c h i n g a n d d o c t r i n e H e had p u t T h a t w a s d o n e i n Ambassador i n H i s Church t h r o u g h H i s c h o s e n A p o s t l e ! C o l l e g e , u n t i l i t w a s no l o n g e r G O D ' S C o l l e g e . They w a n t e d a c o l l e g e a p p r o v e d by SATAN'S w o r l d - - t h e y c a l l e d i t " a c c r e d i t a t i o n , " a l t h o u g h w e had a l r e a d y had G O D ' S a c c r e d i t a t i o n - - t h e H I G H E S T a c c r e d i t a t i o n . I had t o s t a r t Ambassador C o l l e g e a l l o v e r a g a i n , w i t h o n e f r e s h m a n c l a s s ! NOW, o n c e a g a i n , w e h a v e G O D ' S a c c r e d i t a t i o n - - b u t w e d o n ' t want t h e a n t i - G o d a c c r e d i t a t i o n o f S a t a n ' s world! I t h o u g h t i m m e d i a t e l y o f t h e t i m e when God t o l d H i s p r o p h e t , S a m u e l , t o go t o t h e h o u s e , o r r a n c h , o f Jesse. God had c h o s e n o n e o f J e s s e ' s s o n s t o b e G O D ' S c h o s e n King over I s r a e l . Jesse knew r i g h t away w h i c h s o n p e o p l e would c h o o s e - - h i s e l d e s t s o n . H e w a s s t a l w a r t , handsome, w i t h a charming, o u t g o i n g e x t r o v e r t e d p e s o n a l i t y , and a r t i c u l a t e . He l o o k e d l i k e a leader. B u t God s a i d t o S a m u e l , " N O , h e i s n o t MY c h o i c e . "

The s e c o n d s o n w a s a l m o s t as handsome a n d had t h e a p p e a r a n c e of a leader. God s a i d , ''NO!" The t h i r d and s o o n . "Have you no more s o n s ? " a s k e d S a m u e l .
" W e l l , n o - - e x c e p t o n l y f o r a s t r i p l i n g of a y o u t h who i s o u t i n t h e f i e I d s h e p h e r d i n g s h e e p . It
" W e l l b r i n g him,'' s a i d S a m u e l . I n came t h e y o u t h n o n e o f - p e o p l e the would h a v e c h o s e n , t h e l a d D a v i d . " H e i s t h e one I have chosen," s a i d God. "The ETERNAL s e e t h n o t a s man s e e t h ; f o r man l o o k e t h on t h e o u t w a r d ( I Sam. 1 6 : 7 ) . a p p e a r a n c e , b u t t h e ETERNAL l o o k e t h o n thd?>eart"

Man does n o t see t h i n g s t h e way God daes. G o d s a y s , " T h e r e i s A WAY w h i c h s e e m e t h r i g h t u n t o a man, b u t t h e e e t h e r e o f a r e t h e ways of DEATH"! (Prov. 1 4 : 1 2 . )
- >

*A
+

A s t o how MAN looks a t i t - - h o w

MAN would c h o o s e , G o d s a y s ,

"Lean n o t

u n t o t h i n e own u n d e r s t a n d i n g " ( P r o v . 3:s). How d i d GOD p r e p a r e t h e o n e HE had c h o s e n r o l e a d Y O U - - H i s Church of o u r t i m e ? I h a d t o l e a r n a n d a d m i t t h a t w h a t 1 b e l i e v e d w a s ALL WRONG! I had t o give M i d e a s , b e l i e f s , o p i n i o n s , a n d ways. Y I h a d t o allow G o d t o sweep y mind c l e a n , s o HE c o u l d f i l l i t w i t h - T r u t h . HIS
Now I F t h i s t r u l y I S t h e C h u r c h of GOD a n d n o t o f THE PEOPLE--if GOD i s n o t o n l y v e r y much I N t h e p i c t u r e , b u t I R S T - - a n d AT THE HEAD of it,UPPERMOST i n o u r m i n d s z t h e n H 0 W d o e s GOD r u n o r o p e r a t e i t ? H 0 W d i d H e r a i s e up t h i s g e n e r a t i o n o r s u c c e s s i o n o f i t ? - - j u s t a s G o d ALWAYS h a s How i s t h a t ? d o n e when r a i s i n g up a n y t h i n g t h r o u g h humans.
A l l o f G o d ' s c a l l i n g and e l e c t i o n o f humans in X i s g r e a t o v e r a l l SPIRITUAL PURPOSE F O R MAN s t a r t e d w i t h ONE MAN--Abraham. A l l t h e promi s e s , b o t h m a t e r i a l a n d n a t i o n a l , a n d s p i r i t u a l , w e r e made t o a n d come t o u s t h r o u g h Abraham--promises p a s s e d o n t o Isaac a n d J a c o b who, w i t h Abraham, became " t h e f a t h e r s . "

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When God d e c i d e d t o c a l l a c e r t a i n g r o u p of humans t o b e H i s P e o p l e - - H i s C o n g r e g a t i o n o r CHURCH of t h e OLD Testament--He c h o s e t o l e a d them - - s p e c i a l l y p r e p a r e d and t r a i n e d f o r t h e purpose--MOSES! ONE MAN,
G o d f r e e d t h e I s r a e l i t e s l a v e s - - m a d e t h e m HIS NATION, His CONGREGATION o r Old Testament Church. WHO r e a l l y l e d them? GOD d i d ! By s u p e r n a t u r a l miracles God t o o k t.hem a c r o s s t h e Red S e a . B u t t h e people w e r e l e d b y G o d ' s c h o s e n , PilOSES! They d i d n o t SEE God--they o n l y s a w t h e l e a d e r GOD chose--Moses. GOD l e d t h e m , t h r o u g h Moses.

They became o r g a n i z e d . Some were p u t i n p o s i t i o n s o v e r f i f t y p e o p l e . Among them were some who had Some o v e r a hundred--some o v e r a t h o u s a n d . been e l e v a t e d q u i t e h i g h i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n - - " m e n of r e n o w n " - - j u s t a s i n t h e Worldwide Church o f God t o d a y w e h a v e had men i n c o m p a r a t i v e l y h i g h I d o n o t n e e d t o p r i n t t h e i r names--you know who o f f i c e - - m e n o f renown. t h e y were.
B u t -GOD SAYS: "Now Korah, and D a t h a n , a n d A b i r a m , a n d On, rose up b e f o r e Moses, w i t h . . . t w o h u n d r e d and f i f t y p r i n c e s of t h e Assembly And t h e y ( C h u r c h ) , famous i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ( C h u r c h ) , men o f renown. g a t h e r e d t h e m s e l v e s t o g e t h e r a g a i n s t Moses. . . a n d s a i d . Y e take too much upon you w h e r e f o r e t h e n l i f t y e up y o u r s e l f a b o v e t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ?Iq (Num. 1 6 : 3 ) (Church)

...

...

...

..,

Now t h r o u g h Moses, G o d had g i v e n them i m p o r t a n t o f f i c e s i n t h e Old T e s t a m e n t C h u r c h - - t h e y w e r e "men o f renown. I' B u t t h e y w a n t e d m o r e - - t h e y c o v e t e d Moses' seat! They w a n t e d t o be c h i e f boss! They c o v e t e d more

POWER!

I n 1 9 7 4 men of renown i n r e a s o n a b l y h i g h p o s i t i o n i n GOD'S CHURCH o f o u r t i m e , c o v e t e d F40RE POWER a n d AUTHORITY. I q u o t e d t h e a b o v e t o them I T MADE NO DIFFERENCE. They c o n s p i r e d t o -- headt a k e over a b o u t Korah. s h i p of t h e C h u r c h - - t o d e p o s e C h r i s t ' s c h o s e n A p o s t l e . They h a d t w o men - - V i c e P r e s i d e n t s and of E v a n g e l i s t r a n k , men i n h i g h p o s i t i o n , men of renown--at H e a d q u a r t e r s . They t h o u g h t t h a t w i t h t h e s e h i g h - u p men a t H e a d q u a r t e r s t h e y c o u l d p u l l a coup--a POLITICAL REVOLUTION--and t h e GOVERNMENT i n t h e C h u r c h would c a v e i n u n d e r t h e i r p o l i t i c a l l y - c o n s p i r e d plot.
B u t t h e y UNDERESTIMATED t h e REAL HEAD o f t h e C h u r c h - - J e s u s C h r i s t ! GOD They t h o u g h t i t was a c h u r c h O F THE PEOPLE--not t h e C h u r c h O F GOD! simply w a s n o t i n t h e p i c t u r e i n t h e i r eyes!
C h r i s t ' s A p o s t l e d i d n o t cave i n . T h e s e men WENT O U T - - s e v e r a l of them formed w h a t t h e y c a l l e d t h e "Associated C h u r c h , " i n o r n e a r Washingt o n , D.C. B u t t h o s e s o " a s s o c i a t e d " soon f e l l o u t among t h e m s e l v e s . GOD W S NOT I N THEIR PLOT T O TAKE OVER--NOR I N T H E I R ATTEMPT TO B U I L D A NEW A CHURCH O F THEIR OWN when t h e i r a t t e m p t e d c o u p f a i l e d ! I t w a s t h e "work of covetous M E N . " I t f e l l f l a t on i t s f a c e . I t came t o n a u g h t ! "EXCEPT THE LORD B U I L D THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR I N V A I N THAT BUILD I T " (Ps. 127:l).
L a t e r , o t h e r "men o f renown" i n G o d ' s C h u r c h c o u l d n o t see CHRIST THE PEOPLE! They w e r e i n v e r y h i g h p o s i t i o n s i n G o d ' s Their conspiracy was Church--but t h e y w a n t e d t o make i t M A " S c h u r c h .

i n t h e Church--only

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J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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f a r more s u b t l e t h a n t h a t of 1 9 7 4 . They u n d e r t o o k t o p r o d u c e a " s c h o l a r l y work" s e t t i n g f o r t h t h e i r own d i s t o r t i o n and p e r v e r s i o n o f t h e d o c t r i n e s GOD h a d p u t i n H i s C h u r c h t h r o u g h H i s c h o s e n A p o s t l e . I t w a s d o n e secretly. C h r i s t ' s A p o s t l e w a s overseas m o s t o f t h e t i m e , a n d it was caref u l l y k e p t f r o m him. I t w a s handed o u t t o a l l t h e m i n i s t e r s a s t h e " o f f i c i a l d o c t r i n e s of t h e Church." There w e r e a t l e a s t s i x o r seven i n TOP o f f i c e s n e x t t o C h r i s t ' s A p o s t l e i n a u t h o r i t y - - m e n t r u s t e d a n d h o n o r e d . B u t t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o make i t . "THE CHURCH O F P E O P L E , " i n s t e a d o f t h e CHURCH OF GOD. They c o u l d n o t see God n o r C h r i s t i n t h e i r m e n t a l p i c t u r e of G o d ' s C h u r c h . They w e r e LIBERALS! They l i b e r a l i z e d Ambassador C o l l e g e . They c h a n g e d a n d l i b e r a l i z e d They l i b e r a l i z e d The P L A I N TRUTH m a g a z i n e . Church d o c t r i n e s and t e a c h i n g s and b e l i e f s . B u t God b r o u g h t H i s c h o s e n A p o s t l e b a c k f r o m t h e j a w s o f DEATH--from complete h e a r t f a i l u r e . G o d , t h r o u g h H i s A p o s t l e , PUT THOSE MEN OUT O F HIS CHURCH. Now c h u r c h e s o r w o r k s O F T H E I R OWN have b e e n s t a r t e d . But t h e y overlook one t h i n g : "EXCEPT THE LORD B U I L D THE HOUSE THEY LABOR I N V A I N THAT B U I L D I T . " God i s NOT r a i s i n g up a n d b u i l d i n g a " h o u s e " b a s e d o n r e s e n t m e n t , b i t t e r n e s s a n d s t r i f e - - o n a t t e m p t t o DESTROY w h a t GOD h a s b u i l t a n d b u i l d s o m e t h i n g f o r SELF--on a t t e m p t t o DESTROY t h e Worldwide C h u r c h o f God b y t h e i r f a l s e w i t n e s s a n d f a l s e a c c u s a t i o n of wrong-doing i n G o d ' s C h u r c h , b r i n g i n g a b o u t t h e m a s s i v e l a w s u i t by America's l a r g e s t s t a t e t o t r y t o t a k e o v e r a n d DESTROY t h e C h u r c h o f t h e l i v i n g GOD!--and t o b u i l d f o r THEMSELVES b y " s i p h o n i n g o f f " t o t h e i r own work t h e members o f t h e Worldwide C h u r c h o f GOD!
N o , t h i s , l i k e several o t h e r l i t t l e t i n y o f f s h o o t s of e m b i t t e r e d , a n g e r e d , r e v e n g e - s e e k i n g d i s f e l l o w s h i p p e d f o r m e r m e m b e r ? , MUST COME TO NAUGHT! - i s n o t b u i l d i n g t h e i r houses! GOD
S o w h a t , now, d o w e h a v e ? Look a t t h e m - - a l l now coming D O W N - - a l l They a r e THE W R S OF EMBITTERED SELF-SEEKING MEN--ALL OK FALLING FLAT ON T H E I R FACES!

coming t o n a u g h t !

The o n l y good t h e y a c c o m p l i s h e d w a s t o a t t r a c t o u t o f GOD'S C h u r c h God's m i n i s t e r s r e p o r t t h e f e w malcontents, d i s g r u n t l e d troublemakers. t o m e t h a t now t h a t t h o s e c o n t e n t i o u s , a c c u s i n g , b i c k e r i n g t r o u b l e m a k e r s h a v e l e f t t h e i r l o c a l c h u r c h e s , THEY HAVE PEACE!
O f c o u r s e a few w e l l - m e a n i n g members w e r e h o n e s t l y d e c e i v e d by t h e s e departed leaders. They h a v e s i n c e had t h e i r e y e s o p e n e d - - t h e y h a v e r e a l i z e d t h e i r m i s t a k e , a n d h a v e r e t u r n e d HOME i n t o GOD'S C h u r c h .

Our GOD t u r n s S a t a n ' s h a n d i w o r k i n t o b l e s s i n g s f o r HIS p e o p l e . The l i v i n g J e s u s C h r i s t r a i s e d up f r o m d e a t h H i s A p o s t l e , whom H e

has u s e d t o SET HIS CHURCH BACK ON THE TRACK OF GOD!

Peace h a s b e e n r e s t o r e d . G o d ' s TRUTH h a s b e e n r e s t o r e d - - t h e l i b e r a l i s m swept o u t ! T h e r e i s p e a c e , harmony a n d TEAMWORK s o l i d l y behind C h r i s t and H i s chosen A p o s t l e a t Pasadena. T h e r e i s now ONE GOAL i n t h e C h u r c h - - t o COMPLETE t h e Work of God a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , a n d t o p r e p a r e G O D ' S p e o p l e f o r C h r i s t ' s s o o n coming! The S p i r i t o f - v i t a l i z e s GOD t h e C h u r c h , d r a w s u s c l o s e r t o H I M a n d c l o s e r t o ONE ANOTHER!

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

Page 6

Now, a f t e r some t w e l v e y e a r s o f t e a r i n g down what C h r i s t h a d b u i l t , o n c e a g a i n new members a r e coming i n - - C h u r c h GROWTH i s o n c e a g a i n , d u r i n g 1 9 8 0 , up t o a 3 0 % i n c r e a s e - - a s i t w a s f o r 3 5 l o n g y e a r s !

PICTUFE!

Today GOD A L M I G H T Y , and t h e l i v i n g J E S U S C H R I S T a r e v e r y much I N THE I t i s t r u l y t h e CHURCH O F GOD--not t h e " c h u r c h o f PEOPLE!" -

J e s u s s a i d , ''I am t h e v i n e , ye are t h e b r a n c h e s . . . w i t h o u t m e ye can do NOTHING!" (John 15:5.)

FROM M I N I S T E R I A L S E R V I C E S Mr.

A r m s t r o n g E x p r e s s e s A p p r e c i a t i o n t o L e t t e r Writers

R e c e n t l y some o f t h e l e t t e r w r i t e r s i n t h e P e r s o n a l C o r r e s p o n d - n c e Depar:He ment o f t h e M a i l P r o c e s s i n g C e n t e r w r o t e M r . A r m s t r o n g p e r s o n a l l y . a p p r e c i a t e d h e a r i n g f r o m them a n d r e s p o n d e d by w r i t i n g them a l e t t e r . They are among t h e u n s u n g who l o y a l l y l a b o r a l o n g w i t h t h e r e s t o f u s i n h e l p i n g h o l d up M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s a r m s i n f u l f i l l i n g G o d ' s Great Commission t o H i s Church. With M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s p e r m i s s i o n , w e wanted t o s h a r e h i s l e t t e r t o them w i t h you a n d , p e r h a p s , c o n s i d e r f o r a moment t h e i r v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e Work i n s e r v i n g t h o s e who n e e d e d t h i s " p e r s o n a l t o u c h ' ' i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g G o d ' s way o f l i f e .
T o Members o f t h e

M a i l Processing Center:
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! f o r t h e l e t t e r s f r o m you p e o p l e . a p p r e c i a t e d them b e y o n d words! I

You p e o p l e a r e a MOST IMPORTANT d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e Work of t h e I c o u l d n o t p o s s i b l y answer p e r s o n a l l y a l l t h e letters l i v i n g God. coming i n t o m e f r o m members, v i e w e r s , l i s t e n e r s a n d r e a d e r s o f o u r p u b l i c a t i o n s , books and b o o k l e t s . Y e t it i s a v i t a l function t h a t I THANK GOD t h a t H e h a s p r e p a r e d t h e y be i n t e l l i g e n t l y answered. f o r H i s Work a w e l l - i n f o r m e d a n d c o m p e t e n t s t a f f f o r t h i s i m p o r t a n t service.

From t h o s e o f you who w r o t e , I w a s p l e a s e d t o n o t i c e you show you are w e l l i n f o r m e d i n w h a t t o w r i t e , a n d you w r i t e i n a n e x c e l l e n t s t y l e - - p l a i n , s i m p l e , t o - t h e - p o i n t , smooth-flowing, i n p l a i n a n d s i m p l e l a n g u a g e u n d e r s t a n d a b l e by e v e n t h e p a r t l y e d u c a t e d . I ' m g l a d you avoid " t h e l a n g u a g e o f s c h o l a r s h i p " w h i c h r e q u i r e s a n i n t e r p r e t e r f o r average readers. Y o u ' r e d o i n g a n e x c e l l e n t job. J e s u s C h r i s t i s p l e a s e d , and s o a m I .
G r a t e f u l l y , i n J e s u s ' name, H e r b e r t W. A r m s t r o n g (Continued on Page 8)

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT,

J u l y 11, 1980

Page 7

Mr. Attorney General of California:

You cannot shut these doors opened to me for world travel
to Proclaim the Gospel!
to vour ofice, Mr. Attorney General, I a m under orders from a far higher authority-one who says you can't s t o p me! To me, the Supreme Authority.
ITH A L L DI'E RESPECT

w-

the living .Jesus Christ, says. "Go y e into all the world and prnclaim my Gospel Message." He says He is the Supreme One who has opened before me the doors. and no man con shut!
is t h i s t o t h e Supreme Authnritv a h w e all' For our time n u u - l a t e i n the 20th century-He sabs, -'This ( h i s p e l c,f the Kingdom of (c -hall ;d be p r w r h r d ~n oil f h r I( rirld for 8 witness. to all nations, and ! h e n 5hall the end ( o f this ucrld's rrvilizatc<mj come N o iither is taking this Gospel Me3saae of the m m i n c n t wDRLO-Rt!LINT. Kingdom of G < d into all the wirrld. In 1,9(K)years that Mwsagr has not gone out lo the u h o l p u rrrld' T h e S u p r e m e A u t h o r i t v p a y s you cannot shut the doors H e has opened h d o r e me'
"

We habc s n i.ol,pcratnl w i t h every other gmprnmrnt agency that has sought the true facts Forces of the Roman government per=cuted .IPSUS Christ-finally put H i m to death tc, pay for , o u r sins, M r Attorney ( k n e r a l . and mine Y w h a w allowed your^ self to he w a r d into fighting a g a ~ n s tthis Hiyher Authority' I shall du 81 the H e a d of the ('hurch admonisher. "Prav for them which despitefuly use you and persecute you " I shall pray for ynur enlightenment. 8nd that you may be fairgiven hu the Higher P O W QI~ ' w l d like to take yriu with me into w the nwn-coming Kingdrim of C d c'
t h a n $ 1 million per year1 Yet 11 was n ~ c c q s a r v that 1 take d o n g with me a team required for holding many series o f puhllr mpetlngs hefore large audiences on YBIII~UF contnnenld of thr earth Oprniny the d w r tu such public meetings upre 8nvitatiuns liir private audiences w i t h many heads 01 s t a t e - kings. emperors. presidents. prime minrslerr I have been given highest htmorc by the g w e r n m c n u of IoreUn natwns I have heen the first- and so far as I knnw ~ n l y - ~ l i p i i u slesder from the world o f Christianit\ to he invited as the honored guest of the Communist People's Republic of Chins. t c r speak to large audiences this MesSB~P from the Suprrmc"C'nscrn Strong Hand front Samewhere" at the Chinese capital M y party and I were the honurrd gucsb a1 that largest populatiun nation on earth The Higher Authoritv I serve hen said that in s o doing. I or m y others serving Him. would rutfcr the mdignitlcr of severe ptruruti~,n~-even from the high I O U ~ P C I of this world. .Jews Christ raid that i f they had persecuted H i m they would perwcute us who krlluw snd obey H i m N o t reahzing what you were doing, you have allowed yourself to be snared into thin msjor scale persecution of the e n t i r e Church of God-and. as a test case. your start on B campaign to take over. own. control and manage the affairs of ALL CHURCHES' I know that I N IC,NORANCK you hnve done this. You allowed yourself to be misled by ex-members. H a d you come to us in p a c e , seeking the harkground of the Worldwide Church of God and i!n world-girding o p r a lions. we would have given you the fulleat ccwperatton and told you the PLAIW TRUTH

hudgei-Ipr\

WE

ARE NON-PROSELYTING

.lust how impc,rtant

THE A T T O R N E Y

G E N E R A L ' S VIEW

dust how have YOU. Mr Attorney General.

viewed my Great Commission. going into a l l the world w i t h t h a t a l l - i m p u r t a n t a n nouncement of the coming world-ruling
(:O\ERNMEUT"

We do not compere with other churches We do not seek their members nor s011cit o n , MEMBERS DIRECTLY. Gd odds such c members as H e calls and who ccime voluntarily. We h a w . as we 90 w e l l know. been grievously misunderstocd. But we welcome u i t h thanks to Almighty God the present legal barking of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United Stales. the l,utheran Church i n Amenca. the A s m u tion of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. the Synagogue Council of Amerss. the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. the Roard uf Church and Society (of the United Methodist Church. the G e n ~ r aAssembly of l the United Presbyterian Church of the I ' n i t c d States of America, National Association or Evangelicals. and Northern California Ecumenical Council By them we are supported hy 83 MILLION AMLRIrLNS'

Without checking in B peaceful manner to learn W H Y I have been going in10 all t h c u d d , you listened to the dtssidcnt. expelled PI msmben zvf the Worldwide Church of G d You assumed that there arduous mis smns worldwide were mere pleasure trips"siphoning off millions o f dollars every year to my own personal account You accepted. without first checking. the testimony of expelled former member9. Through your actions, wvere and irreparable damage was done to the Work of the living GOD! In the first place. had you checked. you would have found that these globe-glrd,ng travels obeying the Great Cornmiasron from Christ. were allocated the smolksr nmounl o n the Worldwide Church of Cod annual
"

H e ~ s e n r AM T O G W. I S R U

Pastor General
Worldwide Church of Cod

For more d o r m a t i o n . w r i t e The Worldwide C h u r c h of God. Pasadena. Calif.. 91123. or call toll-free. (800)423-4444 In Californin call collect 1213) 511~5225.If you have some questions far the attorney genernI of the state of California. write to him. T h e Hon. G ~ r g c Deutmejian. California Attorney General. 555 Capirol Mall. Sacramenlo. C a l r f , 95814.

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

Page 8

Recapturing True Values i n Y.O.U.

A s a l l o f you know, M r . H e r b e r t A r m s t r o n g i s now p e r s o n a l l y d i r e c t i n g Our r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s m i n i s t e r s i s t o c a r r y e v e r y f a c e t o f G o d ' s Work. o u t o u r p a s t o r a l d u t i e s according t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s of God's Apostle.

M r . A r m s t r o n g h a s r e p e a t e d l y c a u t i o n e d u s a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s of a competitive spirit. Y e t , i t i s becoming e v i d e n t t h a t e v e n o u r Y . O . U . a c t i v i t i e s have t a k e n on a g r e a t d e a l o f t h a t s p i r i t . This does n o t a f f e c t only t h e teens! Many m i n i s t e r s , c o o r d i n a t o r s , a n d p a r e n t s h a v e become so i n v o l v e d i n w i n n i n g t h a t t h e y h a v e l o s t s i g h t o f t h e p u r p o s e s of Y.O.U. a c t i v i t i e s .
I f w e a r e g o i n g t o " r e c a p t u r e t r u e v a l u e s " i n w o r k i n g w i t h o u r young p e o p l e , w e n e e d t o c h a n g e t h e e m p h a s i s o f t h e s e p r o g r a m s . The p l a c e t o s t a r t i s t h e v a r i o u s t o u r n a m e n t s which l e a d t o h i g h e r and h i g h e r l e v e l s of c o m p e t i t i o n . B e c a u s e w i n n i n g i s so h i g h l y rewarded, many teams s t r i v e f o r c o m p e t i t i v e a d v a n t a g e a n d a wrong s p i r i t i s i n j e c t e d i n t o G o d ' s Church.

The o b j e c t i v e s o f Y . O . U . c a n b e a c h i e v e d among t h e m o s t p e o p l e a t t h e local and d i s t r i c t levels. T h e r e f o r e , a l l a t h l e t i c c o m p e t i t i o n above t h e d i s t r i c t l e v e l w i l l b e d i s c o n t i n u e d , and g r e a t e r emphasis w i l l b e p l a c e d o n e x p a n d e d d i s t r i c t p l a y t o p r o v i d e a l l teams w i t h a m p l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s for p l a y i n g and l e a r n i n g .
A s P a s t o r s , you w i l l n e e d t o e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h e D i s t r i c t

C o o r d i n a t o r s t o p l a n e d i f y i n g and e n c o u ra g in g a c t i v i t i e s f o r your t e e n s . E a c h o f you w i l l b e a s k e d t o s e r v e a s C o o r d i n a t o r o n a r o t a t i n g b a s i s . C o o r d i n a t o r s w i l l r e p o r t t o M r . Armstrong t h r o u g h M i n i s t e r i a l S e r v i c e s . P l e a s e begin also t o emphasize family-oriented a c t i v i t i e s t h a t w i l l e n c o u r a g e t e e n s and p a r e n t s t o p a r t i c i p a t e t o g e t h e r . S a t a n i s a t t a c k i n g t h e family--we m u s t d e f e n d it! S t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e f a m i l y s t r e n g t h e n s t h e whole Church. A s w e a l l work d i l i g e n t l y t o f o l l o w M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s l e a d i n p r e p a r i n g t h e B r i d e t o m e e t J e s u s C h r i s t , God w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b l e s s H i s Work a n d H i s p e o p l e . M i n i s t e r s G r a t e f u l f o r R e f r e s h i n g Program The f o l l o w i n g t w o n o t e s f r o m among t h e m i n i s t r y a n d t h e i r wives a t t e n d i n g t h e f i r s t M i n i s t e r i a l R e f r e s h i n g Program e x p r e s s h e a r t f e l t a p p r e c i a t i o n M r . A r m s t r o n g a s k e d t h a t w e r e p r i n t them i n t h i s s e c t i o n f o r t h e classes. of t h e Pastor G e n e r a l ' s Report. Dear M r .

Armstrong:

Please a l l o w m e t o t a k e a few p r e c i o u s s e c o n d s o f y o u r t i m e t o s a y Thank You, and t o c o n f i r m o u r t o t a l l o y a l t y t o you a s G o d ' s Apostle

M w i f e a n d I are h e r e f r o m A u s t r a l i a f o r t h e f i r s t M i n i s t e r i a l y ( W e g r a d u a t e d f r o m B r i c k e t Wood 1 0 y e a r s a g o . ) R e f r e s h i n g Program. A f t e r only t w o days of c l a s s e s , w e w a n t t o c o n v e y t o y o u o u r e x c i t e m e n t o f b e i n g a b l e t o h e a r from b o t h M r . Tkach and M r . Blackwell. W e wish a l l t h e m i n i s t r y w e r e here a t t h i s t i m e t o h e a r y o u r words r e l a y e d t o u s .

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

Page 9

W e w e r e a l s o o v e r j o y e d t o b o t h h e a r and m e e t M r . Rader i n B i b l e study l a s t Sabbath. H i s e n t h u s i a s m a n d s u p p o r t o f you a n d G o d ' s Work c a n ' t h e l p b u t e n c o u r a g e a l l of u s whom God i s t r a i n i n g f o r H i s government.
W e t h a n k G o d d a i l y f o r t h e g r e a t Work H e i s d o i n g t h r o u g h y o u .

We

are your c h i l d r e n i n t h e Lord and w e l o o k f o r w a r d t o s e r v i n g J e s u s C h r i s t w i t h you t h r o u g h a l l e t e r n i t y .

W e l o v e you M r .

A r m s t r o n g and s u p p o r t you t o t a l l y . Respectfully, Bruce and S o n n i e T y l e r

A l l w e hoped f o r a n d more!

The c l a s s e s a r e s t i m u l a t i n g , p o s i t i v e a n d i n f o r m a t i v e . s h i p i s warm and u p l i f t i n g .

The f e l l o w -

U n i t y i s t h e keynote--makes f o r t h e m o s t s t i m u l a t i n g a n d r e f r e s h i n g t i m e i n my career i n t h e m i n i s t r y ! --Jeff N e w s From N e w Z e a l a n d

T h e A u c k l a n d o f f i c e has b e e n overwhelmed by t h e dramatic and e n c o u r a g i n g i n c r e a s e i n t i t h e s and o f f e r i n g s i n r e c e n t months. Month a f t e r month h a s s e e n p r e v i o u s income r e c o r d s s m a s h e d , a n d J u n e w a s n o e x c e p t i o n . M a i l income r e c o r d e d b y f a r t h e h i g h e s t m o n t h l y f i g u r e ever r e a c h e d by t h e o f f i c e t h e r e - - a s t u n n i n g 6 8 . 2 % i n c r e a s e over t h e f i g u r e f o r J u n e l a s t y e a r . T h a t g i v e s a y e a r - t o - d a t e i n c r e a s e i n t i t h e s and o f f e r i n g s o f 32.7% o v e r t h e f i r s t h a l f of 1 9 7 9 .

a n d Geneva B a r n e s s

New Z e a l a n d a l s o h a s e x p e r i e n c e d e n c o u r a g i n g g r o w t h i n o t h e r a r e a s . M i n i s t e r s a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y are r e p o r t i n g a g r o w i n g amount o f P M i n t e r e s t , a n d a v e r a g e c h u r c h a t t e n d a n c e f o r t h e f i r s t s i x m o n t h s of t h i s J u n e ' s average w e e k l y y e a r i s 1 8 % a h e a d o f t h e same p e r i o d l a s t y e a r . a t t e n d a n c e f i g u r e o f 959 w a s t h e h i g h e s t o n record f o r t h i s area o f t h e world. W i t h v i g o r o u s p r o m o t i o n of t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e t h i s y e a r t h e number o f s t u d e n t s i s now 4 2 1 % a h e a d o f t h e number t h i s t i m e l a s t year. Over 5 , 7 0 0 p i e c e s of m a i l were r e c e i v e d i n J u n e , a n i n c r e a s e o f 3 2 . 7 % over l a s t J u n e . 5 , 2 9 4 new P . T . s u b s c r i b e r s h a v e b e e n a d d e d a s a r e s u l t of t h i s y e a r ' s h o u s e h o l d e r c a r d p r o m o t i o n , a t a c o s t p e r r e s p o n s e o f o n l y $2.83. S o f a r t h e p r o m o t i o n h a s b e e n made o n l y t o h a l f of t h e c o u n t r y ; t h e r e s t of t h e l e t t e r b o x e s w i l l b e covered l a t e r i n t h e y e a r . Ads f o r t h e P . T . a n d P . V . i n v a r i o u s P a c i f i c I s l a n d n e w s p a p e r s h a v e so f a r prompted 2 7 7 r e s p o n s e s , a t a c o s t per response of $ 7 . 9 4 . F i n a l l y , some t r e m e n d o u s news! A real s h o t i n t h e a r m w a s given t o t h e i r b u d g e t by t h e u n e x p e c t e d l i f t i n g r e c e n t l y of i m p o r t r e s t r i c t i o n s on o v e r s e a s m a g a z i n e s . I n t h e p a s t , 'real r e g u l a t i o n s h a v e r e q u i r e d them t o p r i n t t h e P . T . i n N e w Z e a l a n u no m a t t e r what t h e c o s t . T h i s month, t h e s e r e s t r i c t i o n s w e r e m i r a c u l o u s l y l i f t e d a n d t h e y ' r e now f r e e

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t o p r i n t t h e m a g a z i n e o u t s i d e New Z e a l a n d w h e r e c o s t s t e n d t o b e l e s s , a n d r e m i t money t o p a y f o r p o s t a g e a s w e l l ! Beginning w i t h t h e September

i s s u e , t h e New Zealand e d i t i o n o f t h e P.T. w i l l be p r i n t e d a l o n g w i t h t h e U.S. e d i t i o n a t D o n n e l l y ' s i n K e n t u c k y . T h i s c h a n g e w i l l save t h e m several thousand d o l l a r s p e r y e a r ! U p d a t e From Germany D u r i n g t h e month o f J u n e , A u s t r i a n l o c a l e l d e r W i n f r i e d F r i t z , h i s w i f e C a r o l a , a n d d a u g h t e r s N a t a l i e a n d D e b o r a h , moved f r o m A u s t r a l i a t o Bonn. W i n f r i e d w i l l a s s i s t J o h n K a r l s o n i n s u p e r v i s i n g t h e Bonn o f f i c e a s w e l l a s i n p a s t o r i n g t h e D u s s e l d o r f a n d Bonn c h u r c h e s . Our o t h e r m i n i s t e r s i n Germany r e p o r t s t a b l e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e c h u r c h e s , and t h a t t h e membership i s s o l i d l y b e h i n d M r . Armstrong. The month of J u n e p r o v e d t o b e a much b e t t e r month a l l a r o u n d i n c o m p a r i s o n t o J u n e 1 9 7 9 . I n c o m i n g m a i l h a s i n c r e a s e d i n e v e r y area b y a t l e a s t 2 0 % . D o n a t i o n m a i l h a s i n c r e a s e d by 3 7 % , r e f l e c t i n g t h e s t a b l e income i n s p i t e o f t h e summer v a c a t i o n , w h i c h n o r m a l l y c a u s e s a s h a r p d e c r e a s e i n m a i l . T h i s month b r o u g h t a t o t a l o f 1 , 8 2 2 new s u b s c r i b e r s f o r KLAR & WAHR. In t h e f i r s t s i x m o n t h s o f 1 9 8 0 , 1 3 , 7 6 2 new s u b s c r i b e r s w e r e a d d e d t o t h e German f i l e . D e s p i t e renewing t h e e n t i r e f i l e , which r e s u l t e d i n d r oppi ng over 7 , 0 0 0 s u b s c r i b e r s f r o m t h e l i s t , t h e German Work now h a s a KLAR & WAHR s u b s c r i b e r l i s t o f 4 0 , 3 0 0 . Comments From M o n t h l y C h u r c h R e p o r t s
BULLOCK: T h i s w a s a n e x c i t i n g month. Our C h u r c h members w e r e s o s t i r r e d up a b o u t t h e " 6 0 M i n u t e s " p r o g r a m t h a t w e h a d M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s l e t t e r a n s w e r i n g t h e program p u t i n t w o local p a p e r s , one Of w h i c h c a n be b o u g h t i n t h e e n t i r e s t a t e . W e a l s o h a d t e n t e n - s e c o n d s p o t TV ads a d v e r t i s i n g t h e a r t i c l e t o a p p e a r i n t h e p a p e r t h e d a y b e f o r e t h e ad a p p e a r e d i n t h e p a p e r . T h r e e o f o u r b e s t TV s p o t a d s w e r e d u r i n g , t h e 6:OO p.m. news o n t h e t w o major c h a n n e l s i n t h e area. One of t h e TV stations had t o ask t h e i r main o f f i c e (Legal D e p t . ) i n Washington; t h e i r r e p l y w a s , " W e h a v e t o s e l l them t h e t i m e . " The r e a s o n for t h e l o c a l o f f i c e n o t b e i n g s u r e is because t h e y a i r t h e " 6 0 Minutes" p r o g r a m w e e k l y . Some o f t h e p e o p l e t h a t r u n t h e l o c a l s t a t i o n d o n ' t l i k e " 6 0 M i n u t e s " t h a t I w i l l s e n d a c o p y o f t h e ad i n n e x t much a n d a r e h a p p y t h e y c a n r e s p o n d . I t h o u g h t M r . A r m s t r o n g m i g h t b e p l e a s e d t o see how much week's r e p o r t . t h e b r e t h r e n a r e b e h i n d him. JACKSONVILLE, FL--ALLEN

MIDDLESBORO, KY--MEL

DAHLGREN: Members v e r y e x c i t e d a b o u t a l l t h e r e c e n t p u b l i c i t y on " 6 0 Minutes." Many a r e b e i n g a s k e d q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e i r Church and b e l i e f s . Everyone i s f o l l o w i n g t h e developments i n t h e c o u r t case c l o s e l y .

MONTVALE, NJ--LLOYD

BRIGGIE: C h u r c h a t t e n d a n c e h a s b e e n up s i n c e t h e P a s s o v e r a n d s p r i n g h o l y d a y s . Zeal for t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f God's e n d - t i m e Work h a s b e e n s t i r r e d up. The " 6 0 M i n u t e s " s e g m e n t p l u s f u l l - p a g e a d s i n t h e N e w York T i m e s e n h a n c e s t h e e x c i t e m e n t . More p e o p l e a r e coming t o t h e p o i n t of baptism.

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ALBANY, NY--LYLE WELTY: Members are q u i t e e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e end of o u r Work b e i n g o n l y p e r h a p s months away. T h i s h a s had a profound impact o n t h e congregation. W e r e c e i v e d a number of f a v o r a b l e comments r e g a r d i n g M r . H e r b e r t W. A r m s t r o n g ' s a r t i c l e s r e g a r d i n g D & R and t h i r d t i t h e . MOBILE,

AL--STEVEN D . MOODY: W e have had v e r y good i n t e r e s t and r e s u l t s from and w i t h t h e P T w a i t i n g room program--40% of a l l w a i t i n g rooms c o n t a c t e d took s u b s c r i p t i o n s . W e had a good t u r n o u t o f v o l u n t e e r s .
CANTON,

OH--JOHN FOSTER: Most members a r e happy t o be i n v o l v e d i n PT d i s t r i b u t i o n and c a l l i n g programs. There i s a f e e l i n g o f u r g e n c y t h a t w e must do a l l w e c a n t o h e l p M r . Armstrong f i n i s h o u r commission.

A t t i t u d e s a r e v e r y good o v e r a l l . Many more YOUNGSTOWN, OH--EUGENE NOEL: new p e o p l e are r e q u e s t i n g v i s i t s and baptisms--more t h a n d o u b l e l a s t year's. W e had v e r y good r e s p o n s e t o o u r p u b l i c B i b l e l e c t u r e s i n M e r c e r ,
PA.

PITTSBURGH, PA--DON J. LAWSON: Things a r e going w e l l . O v e r a l l , people are e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e d i r e c t i o n t h e Church i s t a k i n g u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of M r . H e r b e r t W. Armstrong. The Church i s a g a i n g e t t i n g c l o s e r and involved. W e do n o t r u n i n t o t h e q u e s t i o n s and bad a t t i t u d e s common a c o u p l e of y e a r s back.
MIAMI,
FL--AL KERSHA: The M i a m i Church c o n t i n u e s t o b e p o s i t i v e and r e s p o n s i v e and encouraged by M r . H e r b e r t W. A r m s t r o n g ' s example and leadership. The membership i s c o n t i n u i n g t o draw c l o s e r t o one a n o t h e r and be more i n v o l v e d i n t h e s e v e r a l s e r v i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s a v a i l a b l e t o them. The momentum i s t h e r e ! --Joe Tkach, M i n i s t e r i a l S e r v i c e s

SECOND TITHE ASSISTANCE REQUESTS

Any U . S . Church P a s t o r s who have r e q u e s t s for Second T i t h e A s s i s t a n c e f o r m e m b e r s t o a t t e n d t h e F e a s t and h a v e n ' t s e n t them i n y e t , s h o u l d d o s o by no l a t e r t h a n J u l y 21. W e need t o r e c e i v e the forms by t h a t d a t e i n order t o give p r i o r i t y t o the m o s t d e s e r v i n g r e c i p i e n t s and f a c i l i t a t e proc e s s i n g of t h e r e q u e s t s .

--Ministerial

Services

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H I G H L I G H T S O F JULY FOURTH B I B L E S T U D Y

On t h e e v e n i n g of t h e f o u r t h many members w e r e a l r e a d y i n town f o r t h e M r . Rader c o n d u c t e d t h e B i b l e S t u d y t h a t second a n n u a l Church p i c n i c . n i g h t t o t e l l o f t h i s p a s t y e a r ' s accomplishments and t o d i s c u s s c u r r e n t p l a n s , a s w e l l a s t o i n f o r m t h e b r e t h r e n of some o f t h e o n g o i n g i s s u e s and c h a l l e n g e s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e S t a t e ' s l a w s u i t . I n t h e c o u r s e of t h e e v e n i n g M r . R a d e r ' s o p e n n e s s a b o u t h i s own p r i v a t e t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s a n d d e s i r e s made many of t h e b r e t h r e n f e e l t h e y h a d come t o know a n d u n d e r s t a n d M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s c h i e f h e l p e r much b e t t e r ! I n t h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s w e have t r i e d t o h i g h l i g h t t h o s e t o p i c s which w e t h o u g h t would g i v e f u r t h e r i n s i g h t s a n d o v e r a l l u n d e r s t a n d i n g t o o u r readers. Advertisements t o Become S t r o n g e r On t h e t o p i c o f t h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t s M r . A r m s t r o n g i s w r i t i n g , M r . R a d e r s a i d " t h e o n e s t h a t h e ' s g o i n g t o b e w r i t i n g a r e g o i n g t o be much s t r o n g e r . " T h i s , of c o u r s e , i s v e r y e x c i t i n g b e c a u s e n o t o n l y a r e w e s e t t i n g t h e record s t r a i g h t w i t h t h e p u b l i c , b u t M r . A r m s t r o n g w i l l b e p r e a c h i n g t h e g o s p e l p o w e r f u l l y t h r o u g h t h i s avenue! R a d e r n o t e d t h a t w e - g e t t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e p u b l i c . are "These a d s a r e s e e n a n d you h a v e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t . The A s s o c i a t e d Press h a s c a l l e d ( t h e y a l r e a d y d i d o n e s t o r y ) and w a n t s t o d o a l a r g e r o n e o n t h e whole e f f o r t . UP [ w i r e s e r v i c e l ' h a s a l s o c a l l e d . " H e also s a i d t h a t as a r e s u l t o f p e o p l e on t h e E a s t C o a s t h a v i n g seen t h e a d s , H e had b e e n Word h a s a l s o come t h a t s t a t i o n s i n t h e i n t e r v i e w e d i n N e w York. S a c r a m e n t o area a l s o w a n t him t o r e t u r n .
Mr.

S p e a k i n g W i t h One V o i c e
An associate e d i t o r o f t h e Sacramento B e e newspaper d i d a v e r y t h o u g h t f u l

p i e c e a b o u t o u r s i t u a t i o n w i t h t h e S t a t e . M r . Rader m e n t i o n e d t h a t h e h a d a s k e d Marc S e g a l l , l o c a l c h u r c h p a s t o r f o r C h i c o , C a l i f o r n i a , t o w r i t e t h e man i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e commentary i n a v e r y t h o u g h t f u l , res p e c t f u l way a n d t o l e t him know t h a t , o n b e h a l f o f t h e e n t i r e t y of t h e c h u r c h , s u c h a n a r t i c l e i s a p p r e c i a t e d . Marc w a s a s k e d t o a l s o o f f e r him more i n f o r m a t i o n a n d l e t him know t h a t M r . R a d e r w a s a v a i l a b l e i f h e ' d l i k e t o t a l k w i t h him. I n f a c t , v e r y h a p p y t o t a l k w i t h him. R a d e r n o t e d t h a t t h i s i s how w e c a n e s t a b l i s h a d i a l o g u e w i t h p e o p l e of t h e m e d i a . H e added: "Our m i n i s t e r s a r e v e r y c a p a b l e p e o p l e w h e r e v e r t h e y may b e , a n d M r . S e g a l l a n d M r . L i l l e n g r e e n were f o r t u n a t e enough t o be a b l e t o g o f r o m s t a t i o n t o s t a t i o n w i t h me--radio s t a t i o n s , t e l e v i s i o n And t h e y s t a t i o n s - - t o see m e w i t h n e w s p a p e r p e o p l e a n d w h a t h a v e you. p i c k up v a r i o u s t h i n g s i n t h e p r o c e s s a n d g r a d u a l l y a l l of o u r m i n i s t e r s w i l l b e a b l e t o d o t h e same t h i n g . "
Mr.

Commenting f u r t h e r about t h e r o l e of e v e r y o n e i n t h e C h u r c h , M r . R a d e r s a i d , ''after a l l , w e are s p e a k i n g w i t h one v o i c e , as I ' v e mentioned y e a r s ago h e r e . The v o i c e o f t h e Work i s t h e sum t o t a l o f e v e r y b r o a d c a s t , e v e r y t e l e c a s t , e v e r y a r t i c l e , e v e r y sermon, e v e r y s e r m o n e t t e , e v e r y l e c t u r e , e v e r y c o n v e r s a t i o n between any t w o people. N o m a t t e r how l o f t y a p o s i t i o n t h e y m i g h t h o l d o r w h e t h e r t h e y a r e j u s t o n e of t h e many b r e t h r e n around t h e world. But a l l of t h a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e v o i c e o f

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t h e Work. W e must s p e a k w i t h o n e v o i c e . And when w e s p e a k w i t h o n e v o i c e w e h a v e much power. And i n t h e e n d I t h i n k you w i l l see how t h a t power i s a m p l i f i e d so many t i m e s b y t h e A l m i g h t y God."
W e Must N o t Hide Our L i g h t

R e f e r r i n g u s t o Mark 4 : 2 1 , M r . Rader s t r e s s e d t h a t w e c a n n o t k e e p o u r s e l v e s hidden. A c a n d l e i s o n l y u s e f u l a s i t i s allowed t o e m i t i t s light. R e f e r r i n g b a c k t o A c t s where P a u l w a s b r o u g h t b e f o r e F e s t u s a n d s a i d t h a t t h e Work h a d n o t b e e n d o n e i n a c o r n e r , s o i t i s w i t h G o d ' s Work t o d a y ! I t c e r t a i n l y h a s n ' t been done i n a c o r n e r e i t h e r . " B u t by t h e same t o k e n , 'I s a i d M r . R a d e r , " t h i s i s a much b i g g e r c o u n t r y t o d a y t h a n t h a t p a r t i c u l a r e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e P a u l and o t h e r s a n d e v e n I t ' s a much b i g g e r w o r l d Christ w e r e confronting [others] a t t h a t t i m e . a r e many t h i n g s t h a t a t t r a c t t h e a t t e n t i o n of a l l o f t h e and t h e r e p e o p l e t h a t w e h a v e t o r e a c h i f t h i s announcement i s g o i n g t o b e h e a r d , and be h e a r d b y p e o p l e i n s u c h a manner t h a t t h e y w i l l h a v e u n d e r s t o o d N o w , when t h e Worldwide a n d h a v e h a d a r e a l o p p o r t u n i t y t o h e e d it Church of God i s m e n t i o n e d , p e o p l e know what it i s a n d t h e y a r e more c u r i o u s t o f i n d o u t [more] a b o u t u s . . . .

....

"So o u r name, e v e n t h o u g h i t h a s b e e n s u l l i e d a n d a l t h o u g h w e h a v e b e e n s l a n d e r e d a n d w e h a v e b e e n l i b e l e d , t h e p u b l i c i s now aware o f u s a n d i t i s o u r d u t y t o w a l k t h r o u g h -- T h a t ' s a n o t h e r door that h a s t h a t door. been opened. And w e c a n c o n t i n u e t h e r e i n Mark 4 : 2 2 b e c a u s e i t s a y s , 'For t h e r e i s n o t h i n g h i d , which s h a l l n o t be m a n i f e s t e d ; n e i t h e r was a n y t h i n g k e p t s e c r e t , b u t t h a t i t s h o u l d come a b r o a d . '

"And t h e s e t h i n g s are b e i n g h e a r d .

And n o t h i n g w i l l b e s e c r e t v e r y l o n g .

W e h a v e p l a n s t o make e v e n t h o s e t h i n g s w h i c h w e h a v e k e p t f r o m t h e a l m i g h t y A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l known t o o t h e r p e o p l e . H e ' l l be t h e -t-e l a s on t o g e t i t i n t h e manner t h a t he w a n t s t o g e t i t . E v e r y b o d y e l s e i s g e t t i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n b u t him. W e are making i t a v a i l a b l e t o o t h e r

p e o p l e on a c o n f i d e n t i a l b a s i s and i n o n e manner o r a n o t h e r w e w i l l g e t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o u t t o p e o p l e , and p r e t t y soon t h e y w i l l a l l r e a l i z e t h a t t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l and t h e b u r e a u c r a t s a n d t h e j u d g e s h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o do s o m e t h i n g v e r y d a s t a r d l y - - s o m e t h i n g t h a t m i l i t a t e s a g a i n s t t h e i r i n t e r e s t as w e l l as o u r i n t e r e s t s . "

An I n c r e d i b l e P a r a l l e l

I n t h e c o u r s e o f r e l a t i n g t h e news o f t h e Work a n d g i v i n g t h e b r e t h r e n many i n s i g h t s , M r . R a d e r embarked on w h a t almost seemed l i k e a p a r a b l e i n order t o i l l u s t r a t e a point. But it h a s a s u r p r i s e ending. Here i t is: " I ' d l i k e t o r e a d you a l i t t l e s o m e t h i n g h e r e t h a t i s k i n d o f i n t e r e s t i n g . J u s t follow t h e s e f a c t s . T h e r e w a s a w o r l d w i d e f i r m whose h e a d q u a r t e r s was i n P a s a d e n a , C a l i f o r n i a , a n d t h e h e a d of t h a t w o r l d w i d e f i r m a s k e d o n e o f i t s k e y p e o p l e t o move i n t o a l a r g e r h o u s e i n B e v e r l y H i l l s , C a l i f o r n i a . The f o u n d e r o f t h i s P a s a d e n a - b a s e d w o r l d w i d e company f e l t t h a t t h i s would e n h a n c e t h e companl;'s image a n d e n a b l e t h e company t o more p r o p e r l y e n t e r t a i n i t s g u e s t s h a p p e n e d t o come f r o m a l l o v e r t h e w o rI d .

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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"And t h e h e a d o f t h i s company d i d n o t w i s h t o c a r r y o n t h e b u r d e n of t h i s entertainment himself. D i d n ' t l i k e t o d o t h a t s o r t of t h i n g , d i d n ' t f e e l h e w a s up t o i t . D i d n ' t f e e l h e o u g h t t o b u t knew i t h a d t o b e d o n e , somebody had t o d o i t . B u t h e f e l t t h a t t h e c u r r e n t r e s i d e n c e o f t h e key p e rson i n h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s ' n o t b e f i t t i n g a p e r s o n i n t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ' - - t h o s e t h a t he h a d i n mind. "Because t h i s [key] p e r s o n c o u l d n o t a f f o r d t o f i n a n c e or m a i n t a i n s u c h a p r o p e r t y , t h e company made a r r a n g e m e n t s so t h a t he c o u l d . The company b o r r o w e d $ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m t h e Bank o f America a n d r e l o a n e d i t t o t h e e m p l o y e e o r p e r s o n a t 7 % p e r annum s e c u r e d by a d e e d o f t r u s t o n t h e p r o p e r t y . "The h o u s e t h a t t h e company h a d s e l e c t e d c o s t $ 6 5 5 , 0 0 0 a s f u r n i s h e d i n 1967. So t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l c o u l d a f f o r d t o make h i s p a y m e n t s , t h e company a g r e e d t o g i v e him a s i z e a b l e b o n u s a n d a n i n c r e a s e i n r e g u l a r m o n t h l y c o m p e n s a t i o n s u f f i c i e n t t o e n a b l e him t o m e e t t h e i n c r e a s e d o b l i g a t i o n s , and a g r e e d t o pay f o r 6 0 % o f a l l m a i n t e n a n c e e x p e n s e s , a l l d i r e c t f o o d , l i q u o r , e n t e r t a i n m e n t e x p e n s e s and a n a l l o w a n c e f o r d e p r e c i a t i o n b a s e d upon company u s a g e o f t h e home. "The I n t e r n a l Revenue S e r v i c e q u e s t i o n e d t h e t r a n s a c t i o n b u t t h e c o u r t f o u n d t h a t e v e n t h o u g h t h e t a x p a y e r w a s t h e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e company a n d i n some p o s i t i o n t o i n f l u e n c e h i s c o m p a n y ' s d e c i s i o n , b e c a u s e h e w a s n o t a s t o c k h o l d e r a t t h e t i m e t h e c o n t r a c t was n e g o t i a t e d , t h e a r r a n g e m e n t w a s an arms-length b a r g a i n . I t h e l d t h e r e f o r e t h a t if t h e r e s p o n d e n t - t h a t ' s t h e IRS--feels t h a t t h e a c t u a l use o f t h e r e s i d e n c e does n o t j u s t i f y t h e d o l l a r amount of r e i m b u r s e m e n t s , he h a s p i c k e d t h e wrong target.
" N o w t h o s e a r e some f a c t s . [But] t h e Attorney General keeps c r y i n g i n e v e r y f o r u m , a n y t i m e he c a n f i n d a l i s t e n e r - - w h e t h e r i t ' s o n r a d i o o r television. But h e ' s k i n d o f s t u c k now. H e ' s kind of l i k e a record H e ' s z e r o i n g i n o n ne a n d o n o n e t h a t ' s j u s t on t h e same t h i n g now. [So] e v e r y t i m e I a p p e a r s o m e p l a c e I ' m a s k e d t h e same t r a n s a c t i o n now. q u e s t i o n : 'What a b o u t t h i s h o u s e , M r . R a d e r , o v e r t h e r e i n B e v e r l y H i l l s ? W e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e C h u r c h b o u g h t you a h o u s e a n d t h a t you s o l d i t and pocketed t h e p r o c e e d s . '
-of God!

B u t y o u ' l l f i n d t h o s e f a c t s r e c i t e d i n a 1974 U n i t e d S t a t e s Tax C o u r t c a s e [ a n d ] of a l l t h i n g s ( d i d n ' t c h a n g e a n y d a t e s o r a m o u n t s ) i t c o n c e r n s t h e R a l p h M. P a r s o n ' s Company [ a h u g e m u l t i - n a t i o n a l e n g i n e e r i n g f i r m b a s e d i n P a s a d e n a ] . You see, M r . P a r s o n s d i d n ' t w a n t t o d o a l l t h e B u t h e h a d somebody i n h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n who t h i n g s t h a t had t o b e done. c o u l d do a l l t h o s e t h i n g s t h a t n e e d e d t o b e d o n e .

"NOW these f a c t s _ - r e a d you h a v e n o t h i n g - - - t h t h e Worldwide C h u r c h I -t o do w i -

''NOW M r . L e o n a r d , who i s t h e p r e s i d e n t , d i d n ' t w a n t t o l i v e i n P a s a d e n a : I d o n ' t know why. Maybe h i s w i f e d i d n ' t l i k e it. M w i f e d i d n ' t l i k e y So t h e p r e s i d e n t of t h e company h a d a h o u s e b o u g h t Pasadena a t one t i m e . over t h e r e i n B e v e r l y H i l l s . Parsons himself picked it out.

"And t h e p r i c e o f t h e home w a s e v e n more e x p e n s i v e t h a n t h e home t h a t I had. The money w a s b o r r o w e d by P a r s o n s a n d r e l o a n e d . And t h e f a c t s a r e almost i d e n t i c a l . The o n l y o n e t h a t d o e s n ' t know a b o u t t h e s e f a c t s y e t i s t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l . And I ' m s u r e i t ' s n o t t h e o n l y case. T h w e

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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w a s a b i g a r t i c l e i n FORTUNE m a g a z i n e a few weeks a g o w h e r e AT&T h a d a s i m i l a r problem. Bought a n a p a r t m e n t h o u s e c o o p e r a t i v e i n N e w York f o r i t s president f o r $950,000. I t ' s h i s a p a r t m e n t , a n d t h e company i s
paying f o r t h e i n t e r e s t , t a x e s , t h e maintenance and t h e upkeep and everyt h i n g else. " B u t I mean, w h a t I ' m t r y i n g t o p o i n t o u t t o y o u , w h a t t h e A t t o r n e y General i s t r y i n g t o do i s t r y i n g t o t a k e a t r a n s a c t i o n t h a t w a s p e r f e c t l y n o r m a l , s o n o r m a l t h a t w i t h o u t o u r knowing a b o u t i t , a t t h e v e r y same t i m e p r a c t i c a l l y , Ralph P a r s o n s , r i g h t o v e r h e r e , o u r n e i g h b o r , t h e l a r g e s t e m p l o y e r i n P a s a d e n a , w a s making t h e v e r y same a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r t h e v e r y same p u r p o s e w i t h i t s p r e s i d e n t . The c h a i r m a n o f t h e b o a r d , M r . P a r s o n s , h a d t h i n g s t h a t h a d t o b e d o n e t o g e t h i s work d o n e j u s t a s M r . A r m s t r o n g h a d c e r t a i n t h i n g s t h a t h a d t o b e d o n e i n G o d ' s Work.
" I o n l y p o i n t t h a t o u t t o you t o show you how i t i s n ' t j u s t a m a t t e r o f r e c o r d t h a t p r o v e s t h a t I ' v e d o n e no wrong a n d t h a t M r . A r m s t r o n g h a s d o n e no wrong a n d t h e C h u r c h h a s d o n e no w r o n g , a n d h e n c e t h e b r e t h r e n o b v i o u s l y ; b u t , I mean, i f t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l h a d r u n a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n h e would h a v e s e e n t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g s t r a n g e a b o u t t h i s a t a l l . "
M r . Kader commented t h a t M r . A r m s t r o n g w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e m a t t e r r e c e n t l y t o i n v e s t i g a t o r s of a n a g e n c y o t h e r t h a n t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s H e m e n t i o n e d how h e a n d M r . P o r t u n e (when h e w a s s t i l l B u s i n e s s office. When t h e y Manager) h a d t h o u g h t t h e h o u s e w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e Work. s a w o n e t h a t t h e y a l l c o n s i d e r e d s u i t a b l e a n d a v e r y good buy a t t h e t i m e , t h e y b o u g h t i t . L a t e r M r . Rader bought it. M r . Armstrong f u r t h e r told the investigators:

" L a t e r when p r o p e r t y v a l u e s profit. But what I s a y i s , n e c e s s a r y fo'r t h e Work. We i n a s t a n d a r d and a s t a t i o n p r o p e r l y , and so w e d i d .

h a d g o n e u p , M r . R a d e r s o l d it f o r a b i g so what? I t ' s h i s house. I f i g u r e d it w a s w e r e d e a l i n g w i t h a t y p e of p e o p l e who l i v e d i n l i f e t h a t w e n e e d e d t o e n t e r t a i n them

Q u a l i t y . P l a y s I m p o r t a n t R o l e i n t h e Work
Mr.

Rader dwelled f o r a t i m e on h i s f e e l i n g s a b o u t h i s p e r s o n a l p o s s e s s i o n s a n d money i n g e n e r a l . H e t a l k e d a b o u t how he s p e n t some of h i s income and e x p l a i n e d why he wore e x p e n s i v e s u i t s :

"Well, I know w e d o n ' t t a k e a vow o f p o v e r t y h e r e . I f w e d i d I would be o n e of t h e f i r s t o n e s t o do so. B u t f o r t h e moment, t h e t h i n g s t h a t I s p e n d my money o n , t h a t I e a r n , I u s e f o r t h e Work. M r . Armstrong knows t h a t . M s u i t s are e x p e n s i v e , b u t c e r t a i n l y t h a t ' s n o t c a p i t a l . y Maybe I s p e n d t o o much money o n my s u i t s , b u t I ' m r e p r e s e n t i n g M r . A r m s t r o n g and t h a t ' s t h e way he w a n t s m e t o d r e s s f o r t h e p l a c e s t h a t I h a v e

t o go.
"And when I m e t M r . A r m s t r o n g I dressed t h a t way. And when M r . A r m s t r o n g f i r s t m e t m e , he t o l d m e t h a t my p r o f e s s i o n a l o f f i c e w a s t h e f i n e s t p r o That w a s t h e o n l y c a p i t a l or t o o l s f e s s i o n a l o f f i c e h e h a d ever s e e n . of t h e t r a d e t h a t I had.

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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"So I ' v e a l w a y s s p e n t my money i n t h a t way. B u t I ' v e d o n e so b e c a u s e M r . A r m s t r o n g h a s w a n t e d m e t o d o i t , e v e n b e f o r e I w a s a member. It was w h a t he knew t h i s Work n e e d e d i f I w e r e t o meet t h e s e b a n k e r s , i f I w e r e t o m e e t [ e x e c u t i v e s o f ] i n s u r a n c e companies, i f I w e r e t o m e e t media p e o p l e , i f I w e r e t o m e e t k i n g s a n d p r i n c e s s e s and q u e e n s - - i t w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e Work. " I f I s p e n d a s m a l l f o r t u n e o n t h i s s u i t , what do you t h i n k i t ' s w o r t h t h e moment t h a t I t a k e i t f r o m t h e t a i l o r ? Does anybody h a v e a n i d e a o f w h a t i t s w o r t h a s o f t h a t moment? M r . K e s s l e r ' s t h e r e . What would i t be w o r t h, p e r c e n t a g e w i s e ? G u e s s . A t t h e m o s t . [ M r . J a c k Kessler res p o n d s 2 0 % ] . The moment t h a t I , t h e moment t h a t t h e e x c h a n g e t a k e s Immediately! N o w you c a n place, I ' v e lost 80 p e r c e n t , j u s t l i k e t h a t . B u t it r e a l l y i s n ' t . Who am I t r y i n g t o i m p r e s s ? say i t ' s vanity.

" E v e r y t h i n g t h a t I d o i s t i e d up w i t h t h e Work, j u s t l i k e e v e r y t h i n g M . r A r m s t r o n g d o e s i s t i e d up d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e Work. H e spends seven days a week, 1 5 h o u r s a d a y , c o n c e r n e d o n l y a b o u t t h e Work. And I s p e n t a good p a r t of my l i f e t h e r e f o r 1 2 y e a r s w i t h h i m , w h e r e w e s h a r e d a l m o s t every minute. Who a r e w e t r y i n g t o i m p r e s s , o n e a n o t h e r ? B u t t h e r e had t o b e a r e a s o n , w a s n ' t t h e r e ? I n h i s j u d g m e n t i t would be b e t t e r f o r u s t o b e t h a t way, d r e s s i n g t h a t way, a p p e a r i n g t h a t way t o t h e s e p e o p l e t h a t w e h a d t o d e a l w i t h o n b e h a l f o f G o d ' s Work t h a n t o t r y t o g e t away T h a t was h i s w i t h a n Arab r o b e o f some k i n d o r a t o g a o r a s a c k c l o t h . Now when I became a m e m b e r , i f i t h a d b e e n d i f f e r e n t , I would judgment. have changed.
" M r . Armstrong w r o t e a v e r y n i c e p i e c e a b o u t m e one t i m e which I n e v e r , I t ' s c a l l e d t h e Plain Truth about m e , never even remotely a n t i c i p a t e d . a b o u t S t a n l e y R a d e r . And he m e n t i o n e d t h a t t h e r e a s o n p e o p l e d o n ' t l i k e m e , h e s a i d , w a s maybe b e c a u s e t h e same r e a s o n t h e y d i d n ' t l i k e him. T h a t h e h a d a c e r t a i n amount o f c r i t i c i s m b e c a u s e h e came i n t o t h e Work, i n t o G o d ' s Work l a t e i n l i f e , o r l a t e r i n l i f e ; h a d a c e r t a i n v e n e e r a n d d i d n ' t b o t h e r g i v i n g t h a t up, d i d n ' t t h i n k t h a t w a s n e c e s s a r y i n doing God's Work. H e thought j u s t t h e opposite. I t w a s important n o t t o be sanctimonious and s e l f - r i g h t e o u s . And he s a i d t h a t ' s w h a t h e a l w a y s l i k e d about m e , t h a t I d i d n ' t change.

" B u t t h e p o i n t i s , I w a n t t o do w h a t i s r i g h t i n G o d ' s e y e s . And I want t o d o w h a t i s r i g h t i n M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s e y e s . And I a l s o w a n t t o b e o f t h e g r e a t e s t service t h a t I can." " C u l t " B e c o m e s a Buzz Word
Mr.

R a d e r r e l a t e d how assemblymen (who w i l l and " c u l t " b e c a u s e he us and o t h e r churches future.

t h e Attorney General i s going around button-hol'ing b e v o t i n g soon on t h e P e t r i s b i l l ) a r g u i n g " f r a u d " d o e s n ' t know w h i c h w i l l be more e f f e c t i v e a g a i n s t he i s a t t a c k i n g a n d i n t e n d s t o g o a f t e r i n t h e

Of c o u r s e w e a r e n o t a t a l l l i k e a c u l t by a n y r e a s o n a b l e d e f i n i t i o n . One o f t h e f i n e s t l a w y e r s i n t h e n a t i o n , P r o f e s s o r L a w r e n c e T r i b e (who j u s t won a n i m p o r t a n t case i n t h e Supreme C o u r t t h e o t h e r d a y ) i s w o r k i n g I n a r e c e n t b r i e f h e made a p o i n t t o diligently for us a l l the t i m e . stress t h e l e g i t i m a c y o f t h e Worldwide C h u r c h of God he h a s become acquainted with. H e r e i s p a r t of t h a t b r i e f which M r . Rader r e a d t o t h e B i b l e study audience: (Continued on Page 18)

PASTOR GENERALS REPORT, July 11, 1980

Page 1 7

.............................. FROM SACR A MENTO .~.~,!.!,....*..*.......................................

Thursday, July 3, 1980

Cult Now Weapon Against Religion

..................................... By ............................................. .....................................
A word may be just a word. A combination of letters that, added together, have a particular meaning to those who hear it. But, those shades of meaning can be subtly changed. It is then that a word can become more than just a word. It can become a weapon. That, in the opinion of church leaders throughout the nation, is what IS happening to the word cult. And, to them, this subtle change is adding up to a threat to religious freedom in California and .the nation that - in the opinion of their spokesmen threatens to set us back 300 years and destroy the very reason that man first fled an oppressive Europe to start out again in the New World. At issue is a current battle between the attorney general of California and the national religious community over his interpretation of the California state law governing charitable trusts. And at immediate issue is a bitter controversy between Attorney General George Deukmejian and the Worldwide Church of God based in Pasadena. Deukmejian. investigating the church in the wake of allegations of fraud, used a new section of the states non-profit corporations code to seize church assets and records, thereby igniting an alarmed counterattack from religious groups nationwide who feared an historic breach in the hallowed wall that separates church and state. Deukmejian acted after he had received complaints from some members of the Pasadena-based church that assets of the church worth millions of dollars appeared to have been sihponed off to finance luxurious lifestyles for some of its top leaders. In so acting, the attorney general was utilizing an interpretation of the charitable trust law which holds that every charitable organization in California is a publlc trust, that is assets t are held in trust by it8 leaders for the benefit of the general public, a d that churches and charitable orgad-

Robert Studer

111
ernment tries to make laws respecting religious practicts or religious beliefs or religious expressions, which distin ish between religious groups mere y on the fact that one is called a cult and the other a religion, is acting contrary t the Constitution o of the United States. Pfeffer contradictd a generally %Id belief that when the U.S. Supreme Court on June 2 without comment let stand rulings by California courts that Deukmejian may seek documents and interro ate Worldwide Church of Cod officiafs in his current probe, that it was a victe ry for the California state government in the controversy. On the contrary, he said, it is the normal practice of the Supreme Court not to act on any matters brought before it until all avenues have been pursued in the lower courts. That is how it protects itself from being inundated by legal matters to the point where it could no longer function. This action by the court is not a prejudice against the position of the churches in this matter. Indeed, I am confident that should the matter finally end up before the high court it will be resolved in behalf of religious freedom in this nation. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1493, by Sen. George Petris, D-Oakland, in behalf of which Pfeffer. Dean M. Kelley, executive for religious liberty for the National Council of Churches, and others had flown to Sacramento, was passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee on an 8-0 vote. You dont mortgage liberties as part of the bargain when government seeks to protect the people against fraud and abuse, Petris told the committee. His bill would amend a current law, which took effect in Januuy. which allows the state Department of Justice to investigate g w mgisr o tered as tax-exempt religious c o w rations on the mere susuicion of fraudulent use of church property and donations.

zations and thus come under the purview of the code. Church leaders nationally, however. brind this interpretation of the law as a throwback to the Middle Ages, and an infringement on the First Amendment of the U S . Constitution, which could well lead t the o imposition of a statedictated standard of control of church operations and religious practices. It is an alarming breach in the wall between church and state. Leo Pfeffer, a professor of political science at Long Island University and a special counsel to the American Jewish Congress, put it this way in an interview here: The word cult is being equated to some kind of a leper, and this term is being widely applied to religious groups in this country. The point is being made that such cults do not belong in the society of civilized religions, that they are not entitled to deal with them as it sees fit. This terminology, he warned, is being used to gain acceptance by a court that such so-called cults are not religious at all. If this were to be accepted, Pfeffer said, it could very well mark the beginning of the end of true religious freedom. Established religions, the Catholics, the Protestant, the Jewish which once were very groups much in need of such protections today are accepted to the point where they seldom need the direct protection of t e First Amendment. h The purpose of the Bill of Rights, however, is not to protect established oups which don t need protection. From the very beginning, these rights were needed to protect thaw groups who need a colrstitutional guarantee against government that considers t e unpopular and unde hm sirable. In Sacramento t testify in behalf o of state legislation that would place limits on the right of the state to probechurch nuwmovingthr the Legislatur ?, Pkffer edde When a state x ne nationnl gw-

Y!?

R e p r i n t e d by P e r m i s s i o n of C o p l e y N e w s S e r v i c e

PASTOR GENERAL'S F-EPORT, J u l y 11, 1980

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I t i s more t h a n c o i n c i d e n t a l t h a t t h e p r e s e n t a s s a u l t upon t h e Worldwide Church of God o c c u r r e d soon a f t e r t h e t r a g e d y a t t h e P e o p l e ' s Temple i n Jonestown. " C u l t " h a s become a buzz word c o n n o t i n g u n s p e c i f i e d h o r r o r s and a p o t e n t i a l need f o r p u b l i c inquiry.

I n t h i s r e g a r d i t s h o u l d b e c l e a r l y u n d e r s t o o d , t h a t t h e Worldwide Church of God and i t s membership b e a r no r e s e m b l a n c e whatsoever t o what w e have come t o know a s c u l t s . The Church r e p r e s e n t s a c o n s e r v a t i v e branch of C h r i s t i a n i t y . I t s a d u l t members l i v e i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 0 0 n a t i o n s around t h e world and t y p i c a l l y a r e w e l l educated. Church members do n o t l i v e communally o r u n d e r t h e s u r v e i l l a n c e o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f Church l e a d e r s . A p a r t from t h e f e w needy members, t h e y do n o t depend f o r l i v e l i h o o d o r s h e l t e r upon They a r e f o r t h e most p a r t g a i n one a n o t h e r o r upon t h e Church. f u l l y employed, l i v e w i t h t h e i r own families and l e a d p u r p o s e f u l and i n d e p e n d e n t l i v e s . "And t h a t ' s a v e r y f i n e s t a t e m e n t by a v e r y h i g h l y e d u c a t e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w y e r 'I M. Rader reminded t h e a u d i e n c e . r
$ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 Reward B r i n g s N i b b l e

Our a d o f f e r i n g a reward f o r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e a s s a u l t o n G o d ' s Church h a s b o r n e some f r u i t a l r e a d y . "We got our f i r s t legitimate nibble f o r i t , " s a i d M r . Rader. "The p e r s o n i n v o l v e d was s m a r t enough t o g o t o a lawyer. The l a w y e r ' s f i r m h a s c o n t a c t e d u s and h a s s a i d t h e y have [someone] who gave i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e a t t o r n e y g e n e r a l and t o Mike W a l l a c e , and s o I ' m g o i n g t o go up t o San F r a n c i s c o t o see t h a t a t t o r n e y n e x t week. S o w e may b e c l o s e r t o f i n d i n g o u t a l i t t l e b i t more a b o u t f a l s e w i t n e s s e s and t h o s e who p r o b a b l y s u b o r n e d t h e f a l s e w i t n e s s . By t h a t [ I mean] h e l p e d t h e p e o p l e t o l i e . "
N o w f i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e newspaper a d s , M r . Rader s a i d w e a r e a l s o making a r r a n g e m e n t s t o u s e b i l l b o a r d s h e r e i n t h e S o u t h l a n d t o g e t o u r message across. G r a d u a l l y t h e p u b l i c w i l l know more and more a b o u t what h a s been h a p p e n i n g t o God's Church and a b o u t t h e message i t i s p r o c l a i m i n g .

"So w e ' r e n o t w o r r i e d a b o u t t h e f u t u r e , " M r . Rader r e a s s u r e d h i s a u d i e n c e . " W e have a commission t o f u l f i l l and a s l o n g a s w e do God's Work and remain l o y a l t o H i s laws and H i s ways, w e d o n ' t have any problem winning B u t w e w i l l continue t o f i g h t t h e o t h e r b a t t l e because w e that battle. a r e r i g h t and w e have c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s t o p r o t e c t and w e have a d u t y t o o t h e r p e o p l e now. W e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o wage t h a t b a t t l e , and w e w i l l T h i s p r o p e r t y w a s p a i d f o r by t h e b r e t h r e n of f i g h t f o r t h i s property. t h e Worldwide Church o f God a l l over t h e w o r l d l i i
Counting t h e Cost:
Mr.

The P o s i t i v e S i d e of P e r s e c u t i o n

Rader r e c a l l e d t h a t f a l s e a c c u s e r s w e r e b r o u g h t a g a i n s t C h r i s t . Paul And God's p e o p l e a r e t o l d t h a t t h e y , t o o , s u f f e r e d t h e same t r o u b l e s . w i l l s u f f e r persecution. Then M r . Rader r e f e r r e d t o words M r . Armstrong M r . Armstrong spoke r e c e n t l y a b o u t when he w a s coming i n t o t h e m i n i s t r y . s a i d : ' ' 1 c o u n t e d t h e c o s t b e f o r e I l e t myself g e t i n t o t h e m i n i s t r y , and I knew i t [ p e r s e c u t i o n ] would come. And now i t h a s come, from t h e b i g g e s t s t a t e i n t h e Union. But God had moved m e over h e r e t o Tucson [ b e c a u s e ]

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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G o d knew it. I know t h a t G o d moved m e h e r e : I w a s n o t e v e n a r e s i d e n t of C a l i f o r n i a when t h i s t h i n g h i t u s . "

the cos E m p h a s i z i n g t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e s i n g u l a r a c t of c o u n t i n g - -t , M r . Rader t h e n r e f e r r e d t o t h e p a r a b l e o f t h e sower i n Mark 4 a n d t h e s e e d w h i c h h a d no r o o t : "'When a f f l i c t i o n o r p e r s e c u t i o n a r i s e t h f o r t h e W e h a v e t h o s e p e o p l e . The word's sake, immediately t h e y are offended.' f i r s t s i g n o f a f f l i c t i o n , t h e f i r s t s i g n o f p e r s e c u t i o n and t h e y f l y W e are t o l d t h a t t h a t w i l l happen. But it i s r i g h t o u t o f t h e window. g o o d , i t ' s n o t bad: I t i s good. I t s e p a r a t e s t h e c h a f f from t h e g r a i n . I t g e t s o u t t h e lukewarm; v e r y i m p o r t a n t . We're t o l d i t ' s g o i n g t o b e But M r . Armstrong c o u n t ed t h a t way s o i t s h o u l d be no s u r p r i s e t o u s . t h e cost." And i t i s s a d , b u t t r u e , t h a t t h e r e may s t i l l be p e o p l e w i t h u s who h a v e e y e s a n d see n o t a n d e a r s a n d h e a r not--who s t i l l do n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e So, t h e s e p e o p l e , whoever t h e y a r e , r e m a i n e v e n t s o f t h e l a s t 1 8 months. d o u b t i n g Thomases a b o u t v a r i o u s p h a s e s o f t h e Work. A s M r . Rader s a i d , "And e v e r y t i m e t h e r e i s a new tremor, a new a f f l i c t i o n , some new b i t o f persecution, they waiver. B u t w e know t h a t w e w i l l b e p e r s e c u t e d a n d w e know t h a t w e w i l l b e s a v e d . So I d o n ' t know why a n y of t h o s e [ e v e n t s ] should be c o n s i d e r e d [ i n a n e g a t i v e l i g h t ] , any p e r s e c u t i o n o f t h a t t y p e . T o m e i t h a s a l w a y s b e e n a s i g n t h a t --- i s g e t t i n g d o n e ! " t h e work

* * * * * *
MR. RADER ADDRESSES BRETHREN AT CHURCH P I C N I C

Local C h u r c h e s o f God f r o m up a n d down t h e s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a w e r e r e p r e s e n t e d o n t h e f i r s t Sunday of J u l y a t t h e s e c o n d a n n u a l " 4 t h o f J u l y p i c n i c " i n P a s a d e n a . Over 5 0 0 0 members j o i n e d i n t h e f e s t i v i t i e s w h i c h c a n o n l y b e d e s c r i b e d a s a g r a n d s u c c e s s . You w i l l w a n t t o r e a d a b o u t t h e i m a g i n a t i v e and v a r i e d day o f a c t i v i e s t h a t o f f e r e d something f o r everyone. The Worldwide N e w s w i l l b e t e l l i n q you a b o u t t h i s d a y w h i c h underscored t h e Church's u n i t y i n a f u n - f i l l e d and r e l a x e d atmosphere.
A t t h e end o f t h e day b r e t h r e n g a t h e r e d on t h e m a l l and o n t h e c r o s s w a l k s o f t h e r e f l e c t i o n p o o l i n f r o n t of t h e Auditorium between t h e H a l l o f A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d S t u d e n t C e n t e r . A s t h e b u i l d i n g s ' shadows s t r e t c h e d a n d yawned l o n g a n d w i d e , M r . R a d e r s p o k e t o t h e b r e t h r e n a b o u t t h e W o r k ,

t h e freedom w e e n j o y and t h e s t a t e agency which s t i l l t h r e a t e n s t o s n a t c h them b o t h away.

Mr.

Armstrong's Latest Ad Introduced

M r . R a d e r b e g a n b y t h a n k i n g M r . A r m s t r o n g f o r making t h e d a y p o s s i b l e a n d H e then a c k n o w l e d g i n g God's r o l e i n making t h i s d a y t h e s u c c e s s it w a s . n o t e d t h a t w h i l e w e were e n j o y i n g t h e d a y ' s a c t i v i t i e s , M r . A r m s t r o n g w a s h a r d a t work o n h i s l a t e s t f u l l - p a g e n e w s p a p e r a d v e r t i s e m e n t w h i c h w a s

Mr.

t h e n t r a n s m i t t e d by f a c s i m i l e m a c h i n e t o P a s a d e n a l a t e i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . Rader t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o r e a d it t o t h e b r e t h r e n .

The a d i s a d d r e s s e d t o t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l o f C a l i f o r n i a a n d some o f t h e copy reads as f o l l o w s :

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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"The s t r e n g t h of G o d ' s Church l i e s i n t h e power o f t h e L i v i n g God, i n t h e dynamic power o f t h e t r u e g o s p e l message God s e n t t o t h e w o r l d by J e s u s C h r i s t and i n t h e Church p e o p l e . W e a r e n o t anchored t o b u i l d i n g s o r o t h e r a s s e t s you have t r i e d t o s e i z e . You, M r . A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , c a n n o t s e i z e o r c o n t r o l o u r L i v i n g God. I' Mr. Armstrong c o n t i n u e s , "Our s t r e n g t h does n o t l i e i n o u r numbers J e s u s C h r i s t s a i d of u s , ' I know t h a t you have b u t l i t t l e power and y e t you have k e p t m word and have n o t y d e n i e d m name. y I have s e t b e f o r e you an open d o o r which no o n e i s a b l e t o s h u t . I 'I

.. .

....

Growing s t r o n g e r i n i t s c o n t e n t , M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s ad c o n t i n u e s , "But o u r God h a s u s e d y o u r [ t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s ] p o l i t i c a l l y m o t i v a t e d p e r s e c u t i o n t o s t r e n g t h e n H i s Church, t o draw o u r d e v o t e d members c l o s e r t o H i m and t o b e m o r e u n i t e d and more welded t o g e t h e r A t the conclusion of t h i s ad (which w i l l be r e p r o d u c e d i n t h e P a s t o r G e n e r a l ' s R e p o r t a f t e r i t s i n i t i a l p u b l i c a p p e a r a n c e ) t h e b o o k l e t J U S T WHAT DO YOU MEAN--THE K I N G D O M O F GOD? i s o f f e r e d t o t h e p u b l i c .

...."

A f t e r g i v i n g t h e b r e t h r e n (many of whom d o n ' t o f t e n g e t t o h e a r M r . Rader speak i n p e r s o n ) a p r e v i e w of one o f o u r soon-coming a d s , he n o t e d t h a t it d e a l s w i t h t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r t h a t has brought u s t o t h e eye of t h e n a t i o n f o r t h e p a s t 1 8 months. H e o b s e r v e d t h a t "Mr. Armstrong i s s p e a k i n g o u t now v e r y p l a i n l y , v e r y b o l d l y , and w i t h much power." I t i s becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y p l a i n t h a t God h a s g i v e n H i s Church a n a t t e n t i o n - g e t t i n g means of f o c u s i n g p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n on t h e Church and i t s v i t a l message-even w h i l e it s t a n d s s t a u n c h l y a g a i n s t t h e p o l i t i c a l f o r c e s t h a t would c r u s h it! Rader went on t o r e f l e c t on t h e way G o d ' s p e o p l e , l e d by one man, M r . H e r b e r t Armstrong, r e m a i n i n g " r e s o l u t e and c o n f i d e n t , I' have s t r u g g l e d t o g e t h e r t o r e s i s t s t a t e t y r a n n y and how God t o o k c a r e o f a l l t h e c r u c i a l s t r a t e g i c a s p e c t s of t h e Work, s u c h a s moving M r . Armstrong t o Tucson, knowing t h e n e e d s o f H i s Church i n advance.
Mr.

" A u a i n s t t h e G a t e s of H e l l " D i s t r i b u t e d I n h i s book, A g a i n s t t h e Gates of H e l l , which w a s d i s t r i b u t e d f r e e of c h a r g e t o e a c h head o f h o u s e h o l d e a r l y i n t h e d a y , M r . Rader comments on h i s f e e l i n g s of a d m i r a t i o n f o r God's p e o p l e . H e e x p r e s s e d t h e hope t h a t e v e r y nonmember who r e a d s t h e book w i l l n o t e t h e p a r a g r a p h on page 1 2 1 i n p r a i s e of t h e b r e t h r e n . " I t j u s t b a r e l y d o e s you a l l j u s t i c e , " s a i d M r . Rader,"but i t c e r t a i n l y does t e l l t h e t r u t h . And t h a t ' s s o m e t h i n g t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l d i d n ' t know when he began t h i s l a w s u i t . And t h a t ' s what m o s t o f o u r d e t r a c t o r s d i d n o t know. And t h a t ' s what t h e newspapers, and t h e m a g a z i n e s , and t h e t e l e c a s t e r s d i d n o t know.
" B u t a s t i m e h a s p a s s e d t h e y h a v e l e a r n e d , " c o n t i n u e d M r . Rader. "And I t h i n k you c a n see t o d a y , f o r example, t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e cameramen from Channel 11, t h o s e who s a w t h e i r a p p e a r a n c e h e r e . T h e y ' r e much d i f f e r e n t t h a n t h e y w e r e b e f o r e and even t h e y a r e c a t c h i n g on when t h e y see y o u r faces." (Channel 1 news showed s c e n e s from t h e p i c n i c and some comments 1 by M r . Rader on t h e i r n e w s c a s t l a t e r t h a t e v e n i n g . ) Mr.

Rader a l s o hoped t h a t a l l t h e b r e t h r e n would r e a d h i s book. H e said it is " d e s i g n e d t o p u l l a l l t h e e v e n t s of t h e l a s t 1 8 months t o g e t h e r i n I t ' s a b i t l i k e a p r i m e r f o r t h o s e p e o p l e who have n e v e r one p l a c e .

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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been exposed t o t h e Church. I ' v e even t o l d a l l o f o u r l a w y e r s t h e y had b e t t e r r e a d t h e book a n d I ' m g o i n g t o s t a r t q u i z z i n g them o n i t . Some of t h e m d o n ' t l e a r n a l l a b o u t t h e C h u r c h a t t h e same r a t e : t h e y d o n ' t l e a r n q u i t e a s much a b o u t i t a s I would l i k e them t o . I t ' s only a f t e r they r e a d some o f t h e more i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s o f t h e book t h a t t h e y w i l l f e e l closer t o us. And I b e l i e v e o n c e t h e y d o t h e y w i l l d o e v e n a b e t t e r job." Mark 1 3 : l l - - a
Mr.

P r o m i s e of Help

Rader m e n t i o n e d t h a t p e o p l e h a v e commented t o him a b o u t h i s a p p e a r H e s t r e s s e d how a p a r t i c u l a r verse of a n c e s on TV a n d r a d i o t a l k shows. t h e B i b l e h a d b e e n so c o n v i n c i n g l y p r o v e n t o h i m s e l f t h r o u g h t h e s e e x p e r i r " I ' m r e f e r r i n g t o Mark 1 3 : 1 1 w h e r e it s a y s , ' B u t when t h e y s h a l l ences: l e a d you a n d d e l i v e r you u p , t a k e no t h o u g h t b e f o r e h a n d w h a t y e s h a l l speak, n e i t h e r d o ye p r e m e d i t a t e . B u t w h a t s o e v e r s h a l l b e g i v e n you i n t h a t h o u r , t h a t s p e a k ye: f o r i t i s n o t y e t h a t s p e a k , b u t t h e Holy [ S p i r i t ] .
" T h a t ' s v e r y t r u e , ' ' he a c k n o w l e d g e d . "I c a n n o t p l a n w h a t I ' m g o i n g t o say. I c a n n o t t a k e t h e t i m e t o even h e s i t a t e i n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n . I f I w e r e t o d o t h a t t h e a n s w e r s would n o t h a v e t h a t s p o n t a n e o u s q u a l i t y a n d t h e y would n o t h a v e t h a t q u a l i t y of c a n d o r w h i c h i s so e s s e n t i a l i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r t y p e of s e t t i n g . And so I j u s t s i m p l y s a y w h a t e v e r comes t o my mind a t t h a t moment....And i t ' s t h i s t y p e of t h i n g t h a t makes i t p o s s i b l e f o r u s a l l t o d o a v e r y good j o b and t r y t o u s e what w e have learned. "

'

...

P e r s e c u t i o n D e f i n i t e l y N o t Over
Mr. Rader t o o k t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e m i n d t h e b r e t h r e n t h a t t h e p e r s e c u t i o n t h e C h u r c h h a s b e e n e x p e r i e n c i n g i s n o t over. ''I know t h a t t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l i s a d e s p e r a t e man," h e s a i d . " H e i s a n e v i l man.... There i s no way f o r m e t o u n d e r s c o r e i t more' f o r you They l i e r e p e a t e d l y . They l i e a t e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y . They i n v e n t a t e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y t o do so. They l i e t o t h e c o u r t s , t h e y l i e t o t h e n e w s p a p e r s , t h e y l i e t o t h e p u b l i c , t h e y a r e l y i n g r i g h t now, a s D r . S c o t t h a s b e e n s a y i n g o n h i s TV program f o r da ys. They a r e l y i n g t o t h e assemblymen i n t h e s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e [ a b o u t t h e P e t r i s b i l l , a n d a b o u t c h u r c h e s ] . They l i e o n t h i n g s w h i c h a r e so f u n d a m e n t a l l y u n t r u e t h a t there i s no way f o r t h e m t o s u b s t a n t i a t e t o t h e s l i g h t e s t d e g r e e t h e t h i n g s t h a t t h e y are l y i n g a b o u t . I ' m - t a l k i n g a b o u t d i f f e r e n c e s of o p i n i o n . " not

....

Mr.

Rader p r o c e e d e d t o r e l a t e a n e x a m p l e o f j u s t w h a t h e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t : "They a r e s t i l l s a y i n g t o d a y i n t h e i r l a t e s t b r i e f s , i n t h e i r l a t e s t a r g u m e n t s , t h a t w e are s t i l l d e s t r o y i n g o u r d o c u m e n t s . W e are d e s t r o y i n g them i n p u r s u a n c e of a n e f a r i o u s scheme t o c a r r y o u t o u r w a n t o n , f r a u d u They s a y t h a t i n w r i t i n g , " M r . l e n t m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n of C h u r c h a s s e t s . R a d e r e x p l a i n e d , " t h e y p u t it i n t h e i r b r i e f s , a n d t h e y s u b m i t i t t o t h e h i g h e s t c o u r t s of t h e l a n d [ a n d ] i n t h e s t a t e . T h a t ' s p u r e e v i l b e c a u s e t h e y know t h e r e i s n o way o r t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e y a r e a d d r e s s i n g t h a t m e m o t o , o r t h a t b r i e f - - t h e r e i s n o way f o r t h a t c o u r t t o d e t e r m i n e t h e t r u t h o r f a l s i t y of t h e s t a t e m e n t . [ A t t h i s point] t h e court i s not being a s k e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e t r u t h o r f a l s i t y of t h a t s t a t e m e n t . D o you a l l u n d e r s t a n d t h a t ? They make t h e s t a t e m e n t a l t h o u g h t h e y d o n ' t h a v e t o make i t . They make it i n o r d e r t o t r y t o i n f l u e n c e t h e c o u r t .

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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"So t h e y a r e k n o w i n g l y l y i n g a b o u t u s . They a r e s t i l l a r g u i n g a n d l y i n g i n t h e i r p l e a d i n g s t h a t o u r p r o p e r t y i n Big Sandy i s w o r t h $ 3 0 m i l l i o n ! They a r e s a y i n g t h a t d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e ' d e c e i v e r , ' a s M r . A r m s t r o n g h a s p r o p e r l y l a b e l e d him, i m m e d i a t e l y t r i e d t o c o n f i r m t h e s a l e a t $ 1 0 . 5 m i l l i o n and p u t t h e money i n t o h i s own p o c k e t . "So d e s p i t e t h a t b e i n g a m a t t e r o f r e c o r d , i n d e a l i n g w i t h o t h e r c o u r t s t h e y a r e l y i n g a n d t h u s i n f l u e n c i n g t h e c o u r t a n d making u s l o o k bad-making M r . A r m s t r o n g l o o k b a d , making m e l o o k b a d , making you l o o k b a d .
"NOW t h a t k i n d o f c o n d u c t i s r e p r e h e n s i b l e . You would t h i n k t h a t a man o c c u p y i n g t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p o s i t i o n o f A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l . . . y ou would t h i n k a p e r s o n w o u l d n ' t s t o o p t o t h a t k i n d o f conduct.. They w i l l i f t h e y ' r e e v i l , and l e t ' s remember t h a t . They a r e e v i l men a n d t h e y w i l l l i e a n d i n v e n t a n d t h e y w i l l s l a n d e r a n d m a l i g n a n d t h e y w i l l c o n t i n u e t o do i t , " w a r n e d M r . Rader.

H e s a i d t h a t w i t h t h e a d campaign a r o u s i n g p u b l i c o p i n i o n and o t h e r l a r g e churches p u t t i n g p r e s s u r e on t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s o f f i c e , " t h e i r system i s u n d e r a t t a c k now." B u t p u t t i n g t h e m a t t e r i n p e r s p e c t i v e , h e r e m i n d e d u s t h a t t h o u g h b e s i e g e d now, t h e y s t i l l h a v e a l o t o f t i m e a n d money t o s p e n d - - t a x p a y e r ' s money.

"But we w i l l e n d u r e and w e must look a t t h e p e r s e c u t i o n i n t h e p r o p e r l i g h t , " s a i d M r . R a d e r a s h e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h e Work i s g e t t i n g d o n e a n d t h e C h u r c h i s becoming s t r o n g e r . "The C h u r c h a s i t ' s now c o n s t i t u t e d worldwide i s a h e a l t h y , growing, u n i t e d Church and what w e ' v e e x p e r i e n c e d today I t h i n k i s e v i d e n c e of t h a t . " I n sumning up o u r c a l l i n g , M r . R a d e r s a i d , " I t h i n k w e s h o u l d r e a l l y t h a n k t h e L i v i n g God, J e s u s C h r i s t , a n d M r . A r m s t r o n g f o r w h a t w e h a v e been given--an o p p o r t u n i t y t o [ h e l p ] i n s p r e a d i n g t h e g o s p e l and d o ing t h i s Work w h i c h i s more i m p o r t a n t t o m e , a n d I ' m s u r e i t ' s more i m p o r t a n t t o y o u , t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e t h a t you c o u l d p o s s i b l y d o . "

* * * * * *
P E T R I S B I L L PASSES W Y AND MEANS COMMITTEE AS

The P e t r i s B i l l c l e a r e d t h e C a l i f o r n i a A s s e m b l y ' s Ways a n d Means C o m m i t t e e y e s t e r d a y , J u l y l o t h , by a v o t e of 12-3. The b i l l h a s y e t t o be v o t e d o n a n d p a s s e d b y t h e f u l l a s s e m b l y a n d s i g n e d b y t h e g o v e r n o r . More w i l l b e r e p o r t e d i n t h e Pastor G e n e r a l ' s Report as t h e b i l l p r o g r e s s e s . W e unders t a n d t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l w i l l be m o u n t i n g a n e v e n more i n t e n s e e f f o r t t o quash t h e b i l l .

LIBRARY BOOK PROGRAM BRINGS RESULTS

R e p o r t s f r o m t h e f i e l d i n d i c a t e t h e L i b r a r y Book P r o g r a m i s p r o g r e s s i n g extremely w e l l . For e x a m p l e , M r . David M i l l s , p a s t o r o f t h e S a l e m a n d A l b a n y , O r e g o n c h u r c h e s r e p o r t s t h a t 14 o u t of 1 8 s t a t e , c i t y a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i e s i n t h e S a l e m area h a v e a g r e e d t o p u r c h a s e o r a c c e p t a d o n a t i o n o f b o t h THE I N C R E D I B L E HUMAN POTENTIAL a n d THE WORLD TOMORROW

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

P a g e 23

books.

Roanoke, V i r g i n i a p a s t o r R o b e r t P e r s k y , s a i d t h a t f i v e l i b r a r i e s i n h i s area w i l l p u r c h a s e M r . A r m s t r o n g ' s books, w h i l e n i n e are w i l l i n g t o accept a donation.

W e are e x t r e m e l y p l e a s e d w i t h t h e s e r e s u l t s and are l o o k i n g forward t o h e a r i n g how t h e p r o g r a m i s p r o g r e s s i n g i n o t h e r a r e a s . --Publishing S e r v i c e s

MAIL COPDENTS

T h i s w e e k ' s l e t t e r comments c o n c e r n t h e P l a i n T r u t h , C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e a n d members' f e e l i n g s o f d e l i g h t a n d g r a t i t u d e f o r b e i n g a p a r t R e a d e r s of t h e P.T. w e r e e s p e c i a l l y moved a n d o f G o d ' s t r u e Church. sobered by Mr. A r m s t r o n g ' s a r t i c l e , "America t h e B e a u t i f u l - - A m e r i c a t h e Condemned ! I' --Mail Processing Center P l a i n T r u t h Comments
I t h i n k t h e J u n e - J u l y P L A I N TRUTH i s t h e m o s t i n s p i r i n g a n d e x c i t i n g o n e I h a v e e v e r read a n d I h a v e r e a d q u i t e a few i n t h e p a s t 18 years. Keep o n l e t t i n g u s h a v e more of t h e same. --Mrs. W.G. (Odum, GA)

The May a n d J u n e - J u l y i s s u e s o f The P L A I N TRUTH w e r e t h e b e s t e v e r , w i t h eye-opening, h a r d - h i t t i n g a r t i c l e s . Please c o n t i n u e W e p r a y f o r t h e Work of t o give inspired issues l i k e these. God t o r e a c h more m i n d s a s t i m e p a s s e s . --Richard
S.

(Jersey City, N J )

Today I received t h e new i s s u e o f The PLAIN TRUTH a n d a f t e r s e e i n g t h e b e a u t i f u l cover, I c o u l d n ' t w a i t t o read t h e a r t i c l e s inside. The a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "America t h e B e a u t i f u l - - A m e r i c a t h e Condemned!" w a s v e r y t i m e l y a n d g a v e m e much f o o d f o r t h o u g h t . T h e PLAIN TRUTH i s g e t t i n g b e t t e r a n d b e t t e r w i t h e a c h new i s s u e . --Stephen
B.

(Bloomsburg, PA)

I j u s t received t h e l a t e s t P L A I N TRUTH w i t h t h e a r t i c l e "America

t h e B e a u t i f u l - - A m e r i c a t h e Condemned!" That w a s t h e f i r s t article I t w a s f a n t a s t i c , y e t so v e r y s a d . I had j u s t been reading i n Jeremiah, "Pray n o t thou f o r t h i s people, n e i t h e r l i f t up a c r y o r p r a y e r f o r them: f o r I w i l l n o t h e a r them i n t h e t i m e t h a t t h e y c r y u n t o m e f o r t h e i r t r o u b l e " ( J e r . 11:14).
I read.

God seems t o be s a y i n g t h a t t h e i r s i n s h a v e s h u t them o f f from God s p a r i n g them a n d H e w o n ' t e v e n l i s t e n t o a r i g h t e o u s man c o n c e r n i n g them b e c a u s e t h i n g s h a d g o n e t o o f a r . --Kathy
A.

( L a u r e l , MS)

I n your m a g a z i n e , The PLAIN TRUTH, y o u made m e see t h a t I must h e l p my God l e t t h e p e o p l e on t h i s e a r t h know o f H i m . In the J u n e - J u l y i s s u e t h e a r t i c l e , " D e s p i t e I n f l a t i o n You Can S o l v e

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT,

J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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Your F i n a n c i a l W o r r i e s , " r e a l l y g a v e m e a p u s h i n t h e r i g h t direction. I h a d b e e n t r y i n g t o f i n d a way t o h e l p my F a t h e r i n h e a v e n a n d you showed m e how. Thank you s o much. --Ida About t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e
I h a v e b e e n s u b s c r i b i n g t o The P L A I N TRUTH f o r s e v e r a l m o n t h s and
D.

( S a c r a m e n t o , CAI

j u s t r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d t h e Correspondence Course. The l e s s o n s a r e s t i m u l a t i n g and i n t e r e s t i n g and I a m f i n d i n g t h a t I j u s t c a n ' t r e a d f a s t e n o u g h t o l e a r n e v e r y t h i n g t h a t I y e a r n t o know. I am very excited about it. --Olive S. (Amherst, NY) I ' d l i k e t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o s a y t h e Correspondence Course i s t h e b e s t y e t o f a l l t h e r e a d i n g I ' v e done o f t h e Church literature. I ' m s t a r t i n g L e s s o n 6 now a n d I c a n t r u l y s a y t h a t t h e y do s t r i p away t h e f a l s e smoke s c r e e n o f d e c e i t t h a t h a s c o v e r e d m e m o s t o f my l i f e . --Greg
P.

( C i n c i n n a t i , OH)

I h a v e j u s t c o m p l e t e d L e s s o n 4 o f t h e Ambassador C o l l e g e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e and I a m l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o L e s s o n 5. It's s o i n t e r e s t i n g and s o e a s y t o u n d e r s t a n d . I f i n d myself t h i n k i n g "Is t h a t i n t h e B i b l e t o o ? " I l o o k i t . u p a n d s u r e e n o u g h - - t h e r e i t i s as p l a i n a s c a n be--I d o n ' t see how I c o u l d h a v e m i s s e d it!

--Mrs.

Leo S.

(Nelson, MN)

I r e c e i v e d t h e B i b l e Course i n t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s and j u s t r e c e n t l y A s I started d e c i d e d t o go t h r o u g h i t a g a i n i n i t s e n t i r e t y . r e a d i n g i n Lesson 1 t h a t w e should s t u d y a t l e a s t h a l f a n hour e a c h d a y , I l o o k e d a t my c l o c k . When I f i n a l l y d e c i d e d t o s t o p I t ' s so e n j o y a b l e , and go t o b e d , t h r e e and a h a l f h o u r s had p a s s e d ! I j u s t c a n ' t s e e m t o s t o p once I g e t s t a r t e d . I h a v e t o p u s h mys e l f t o s t a r t and push even h a r d e r t o s t o p .

--Larry Members R e f l e c t o n T h e i r C a l l i n s

W.

( R o a n o k e , VA)

B e f o r e b e i n g b r o u g h t t o G o d ' s t r u t h my l i f e w a s empty a n d m i s e r a b l e , f u l l of f r u s t r a t i o n a n d m i s e r y , n o t knowing w h e r e l i f e w a s g o i n g t o take me. And b e i n g a young man of 2 0 y e a r s o f a g e , t h a t s u r e i s sad. B u t t h i s y e a r has b e e n d i f f e r e n t : Being b a p t i z e d i n February; knowing t h a t l i f e d o e s h a v e a w o n d e r f u l m e a n i n g a n d p u r p o s e ; knowing t h a t w e a r e h e r e f o r a c a u s e , i n s t e a d of l e a d i n g a n empty l i f e God t r u l y h a s a n d t h i n k i n g t h a t when w e d i e w e g o t o h e a v e n . b l e s s e d my l i f e , a n d I know when I c a l l upon H i s name H e w i l l b e t h e r e t o a n s w e r my p r a y e r s . --Todd
L.

(Knox, I N )

W e a r e so v e r y h a p p y t o be a p a r t o f t h i s g r e a t Work. W e are l o n g i n g so much f o r t h e g r o w t h w e n e e d a n d f o r t h e a c t u a l r e a l i z a t i o n o f God's e t e r n a l g o v e r n m e n t t o be e s t a b l i s h e d . It is the

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, July 11, 1980

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only really bright hope in this otherwise very bleak world in which we live. It is such a wonderful blessing to know God's Truth and to participate in the training which He has provided. --Ken R. (Austin, TX) I am 8 6 and God has mercifully kept me well. I am thankful He called me out of the false church and has given me a portion of His Holy Spirit. --Miss M.F. (Venice, FL) ON THE WORLD SCENE BEHIND SCHMIDT'S TRIP TO MOSCOW:
M 0 s i . S

Chancellor Helmut Schmidt's mission to News & World Report in its July 7 issue, "demonstrates beyond all doubt West Germany's emergence as a new political force in the world arena.. . West Germaiy," it adds, "is playing a more aggressive and trail-marking role in the Western Alliance, in the European Economic Community and in its relations with the United States this nation is flexing its muscles and has transformed itself into a potent international leader..
.

...

..

I'

Not that Herr Schmidt's trip itself accomplished that much--the Soviets budged not an inch on the Afghanistan issue, despite blunt words from Herr Schmidt urging a Soviet troop pullout. In fact the effect of Schmidt's impressively straight'talk on Afghanistan and other East-West issues may well have been diluted by the parallel signing of a big trade agreement between the two countries. President Carter gave his blessing to Schmidt's Moscow junket once he had been convinced that it would not enhance Soviet desires to split the Western Alliance. Nevertheless, Washington claimed that now was hardly the time for a mammoth $12 billion deal to sell the Soviets steel pipeline in exchange for natural gas. The Germans countered that pipes are not in the same category as sophisticated computers. Besides, West German steel companies could use the business. The Germans and other West Europeans are generally fed up with Mr. Carter's weak attempts to "punish" the Soviets by cutting back on trade with Moscow. The Telegraph of London, i n an article written by David Shears says this of the growing Atlantic rift, especially that between Washington and Bonn: "German diplomats, for their part, single out Mr. Brzezinski, the White House national security adviser as the scapegoat. They claim to get alc quite well with t h e State Department but they blame 'that Pole in the White House' for most of the recent misunderstandings. They talk about M r . Brzezinski - in such scathing terms - - sometimes wonders whothat one - is their real enemy--the White House - - Kremlin? For these Germans, or the some of them very close to Herr Schmidt and doubtless reflectins his views, never use such language about Mr. Brezhnev.
7

"Specifically, they accuse Mr. Brzezinski of drafting the now famous 'Carter letter' which sent Chancellor Schmidt practically through the roof earlier this month. It urged him to stick closely to the NATO line

PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

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o n E u r o - m i s s i l e s - - n u c l e a r m i s s i l e s i n E a s t a n d West Europe--when t o Moscow. I t s tone w a s described as ' h a r s h . '

he went

"Herr Schmidt p u b l i c l y d e s c r i b e d t h e m i s s i v e [ l e t t e r ] a s ' a s t o n i s h i n g . ' When h e g o t t o V e n i c e h e l e t loos e i n a h a l f - h o u r l e c t u r e t o P r e s i d e n t Carter a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e i r 90-minutes m e e t i n g . A f t e r w a r d s t h e t w o men made a g r e a t show o f p a t c h i n g t h i n g s u p , f a l l i n g b a c k on t h e h o a r y o l d t e c h n i q u e o n s u c h o c c a s i o n s o f c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e whole t h i n g h a d b e e n g o t up b y t h e P r e s s . "

I m p a c t on Coming E l e c t i o n Many German p o l i t i c a l a n a l y s t s r e g a r d e d S c h m i d t ' s t r i p t o M o s c o w a s l a r g e l y a n e l e c t i o n gimmick. F r a n z - J o s e f S t r a u s s c a l l e d i t , i n so many words, a p p e a s e m e n t a l a ' C h a m b e r l a i n i n 1 9 3 8 . A b i t much, p e r h a p s , n e v e r t h e l e s s , i t showed how f i n e a l i n e Helmut S c h m i d t m u s t w a l k b e t w e e n cont i n u e d l o y a l t y t o t h e USA a n d NATO a n d t h e n e e d t o p r e s e r v e - s t p o l i t i k O a n d t h e German b e n e f i t s f r o m d e t e n t e .
And s p e a k i n g o f t h e O c t o b e r 5 e l e c t i o n , t h e D a i l y T e l e g r a p h comments t h a t Schmidt " e n j o y s what l o o k s l i k e a n u n a s s a i l a b l e l e a d i n t h e p o l l s . " N e v e r t h e l e s s , S c h m i d t ' s SDP p a r t y i s t a k i n g n o c h a n c e s i n i t s c a m p a i g n strategy. And, c u r i o u s l y e n o u g h , t h a t s t r a t e g y c o u l d b a c k f i r e . A s p e c i a l R e u t e r s d i s p a t c h f r o m Bonn, d a t e d J u l y 7 , g i v e s a n u p d a t e o n t h e campaign:

" G u i t a r s , l o u d s p e a k e r s , a d r i v i n g drum b e a t a n d r a u c o u s l y r i c s h a v e beC o m e t h e l a t e s t weapons i n a l e f t - w i n g c a m p a i g n t o s t o p c o n s e r v a t i v e

c a n d i d a t e F r a n z J o s e f S t r a u s s f r o m becoming W e s t G e r m a n y ' s n e x t c h a n c e l l o r . They a r e p a r t o f a n a r s e n a l o f p r o p a g a n d a a r m s , i n c l u d i n g p o s t e r s , b a d g e s a n d bumper s t i c k e r s , u s e d b y t h e ' s t o p S t r a u s s ' movement a n d i t s m u s i c a l b r o t h e r , 'Rock A g a i n s t t h e R i g h t . ' "The g r o u p s p o r t r a y M r . S t r a u s s a s a d a n g e r o u s r i g h t w i n g e r who would t u r n t h e Federal R e p u b l i c i n t o a p o l i c e s t a t e i f h e won O c t o b e r ' s N a t i o n a l elections. They h a v e e v o k e d a p r e d i c t a b l e r e s p o n s e f r o m M r . S t r a u s s a n d h i s C h r i s t i a n S o c i a l i s t ( C S U ) a n d C h r i s t i a n Democrat ( C D U ) a l l i a n c e . They s a y t h e a c t i v i s t s a r e u s i n g N a z i smear t a c t i c s t o d e f a m e t h e conA s i f t o demonstrate t h a t music i s n o t t h e excluservative candidate. s i v e p r e s e r v e of t h e l e f t , t h e CDU h a s a l s o c o m m i s s i o n e d t w o r e c o r d s t i t l e d ' S o n g s A g a i n s t The L e f t . ' T h e p u b l i c h a s n o t r u s h e d o u t t o buy either. " D e s p i t e p o s t e r s p o r t r a y i n g t h e i r o p p o n e n t as a l a t t e r - d a y H i t l e r , a warmonger a n d a s t r i k e - b r e a k e r , many s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e S o c i a l Democratic (SPD) a n d F r e e Democratic (FDP) p a r t i e s f e a r t h e ' S t o p S t r a u s s ' c a m p a i g n e r s may p l a y r i g h t i n t o M r . S t r a u s s ' h a n d s . " ' S t r a u s s l o v e s --- t of o p p o s i t i o n , h e t h r i v e s _ . - t . T h o s e " s t o p t h i s sor on i S t r a u s s " p e o p l e r e a l l y g e t h i s a d r e n a l i n g o i n g , ' grumbled o n e SPD a c t i v i s t i n Bonn. The movement, h e a d d e d , w a s a c t u a l l y a r o u s i n g s y m p a t h y -- c o n s e r v a t i v e l e a d e r . 'Many p e o p l e are b e g i n n i n g t o see S t r a u s s for the as a v i c t i m o f u n f a i r a n d d i r t y t a c t i c s r a t h e r t h a n a s a r e a c t i o n a r y w i t h some a n t i - d e m o c r a t i c i n s t i n c t s , ' h e s a i d .

PASTOR GENERAL'S -PORT,

J u l y 11, 1 9 8 0

P a g e 27

"Some e x p e r t s b e l i e v e t h e c a m p a i g n i s b e i n g m a n i p u l a t e d & E a s t Germany supporters i n t h i s c o u n t r y , a sensitive issue i n f e r o c i o u s l y a n t i - C o m m u n i s t W e s t Germany. W e s t German t e l e v i s i o n r e c e n t l y showed a f i l m o f a ' s t o p S t r a u s s ' weekend h o l i d a y camp n e a r F r a n k f u r t . The camp w a s o r g a n i z e d by t h e West Germany Communist P a r t y ' s Y o u t h Movement ( S D A J ) a n d a t t e n d e d by a l a r g e d e l e g a t i o n f r o m E a s t B e r l i n ' s o f f i c i a l youth o r g a n i z a t i o n . The f i l m a l s o showed SDAJ l e a f l e t s e n c o u r a g i n g p e o p l e t o t h r o w r o t t e n e g g s and f r u i t d u r i n g M r . S t r a u s s ' r a l l i e s .

- - Communist and i t s

" M r . S t r a u s s d o e s n o t seem w o r r i e d by t h e h a t e c a m p a i g n d i r e c t e d a t him. ' I t c o n s o l e s m e t o t h i n k t h a t e a c h t i m e t h e s e " s t o p S t r a u s s n i n s e c t s show t h e i r f a c e s , i t p r o b a b l y w i n s a f e w more v o t e s f o r t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e c a u s e , ' he t o l d a t e l e v i s o n i n t e r v i e w e r . " W e ' l l t r y t o k e e p you c o n t i n u o u s l y p o s t e d a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s of t h e West German e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n .

--Gene

H.

Hogberg, N e w s Bureau