One of the duties of the pastors of God's Church is to be especially careful to keep the brethren informed and looking to headquarters, which is wherever God's Apostle is working. One way we can do this is by using the Pastor General's Report as a source for late news in the announcement portion of services, and even in sermons as it would apply. It can also help keep the brethren appraised of policies and decisions which affect them. For example, the last Pastor General's Report (October 23, 1979) contained policy announcements about the blessing of children and applause in church services.
The amount of time spent reading or commenting on portions of the Pastor General's Report should be up to the individual pastor's discretion. He can decide what and how much is applicable and newsworthy to his particular congregation (i.e. you may have already spoken about clapping in services). But the more we can help God's people to progress together in understanding as well as unity, the more we are fulfilling our great calling and responsibility to Christ in helping His Apostle prepare the Church for His soon return.
God's people also need to be kept up to date with the ongoing legal battle in California. Although it tends to be complicated (from a technical standpoint), it can be understood in general terms. And so the brethren worldwide need to know what to be praying about. They need to understand that this confrontation is being used by God beyond our wildest imagination to help get our commission done. Through the lawsuit the Church is becoming a household name in California and gradually the entire nation. God truly can and does make "all things work together for good"!
Talking to the ministry at a luncheon in Tucson during the Feast of Tabernacles, Mr. Rader acknowledged that those of us without legal training have trouble following the lawsuit and the terminology. "So," he said, "we will try to use terms in our reports that convey the full meaning of the case, and you in turn can use whatever language you think is necessary if further refinements have to be made to get the brethren to understand and appreciate the complexities of the lawsuit."
—Joe Tkach
ORDINATION NOTICE CARDS
In the Pastor General's Report of a couple weeks ago it was mentioned that the ordinations of the fall festival season would be announced in the Worldwide News. Before we can release the information to the Worldwide News staff we must receive the Ordination Notice cards. To date we have received very few. Please be sure to send these cards in soon. Delays will not only hold up the announcement, but we cannot order the appropriate certificates of ordination without the ordination notices.
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Worldwide Church of God