The September issue of The PLAIN TRUTH will carry the ninth and final installment of the series of articles on childrearing. Be sure to encourage the members to read all these articles, and to occasionally review them. All ministers should also read these articles carefully, and make use of the principles set forth in them in their own families, in counselling and in Bible studies and sermons. Improper childrearing is certainly one of the major problems in the world today, especially in the Western nations.
Family relations is an area in which we will always need to be giving quality, balanced instruction, especially as God grants increased growth in His Church. Let's be sure we are continually making full use of the fine instructional material available to us in The PLAIN TRUTH, GOOD NEWS, YOUTH 85 and WORLDWIDE NEWS.
Mr. Dean May has informed me that new legislation affecting the use of fleet vehicles by the U.S. ministry has gone into effect. The House and Senate have passed bills repealing the controversial law that had required taxpayers to keep detailed daily logs of business use of automobiles. That law was enacted last year as part of the Deficit Reduction Act, and drew vociferous protest from many segments. The bill repealing those requirements has now been signed by President Reagan.
In attempting to implement last summer's Deficit Reduction Act, the Internal Revenue Service had promulgated guidelines calling for many burdensome contemporaneous records. The new bill has ended those strict contemporaneous record-keeping requirements, reestablishing the former practice of providing "substantiating evidence." Personal use of company cars must still be reported on employee tax returns.
Where does this leave us now? It appears that ministers on the fleet program need not keep a detailed daily log book. However, evidence should be accumulated to substantiate our estimation of personal usage. There is no question we must still keep records to know what our personal usage is. The monthly chargeback for personal usage will probably satisfy the tax liability based on current IRS regulations. Congress has requested the IRS to write new regulations on these provisions before October 1, 1985. We will keep you informed of any further developments in this regard. (Please see the box on page 2.)
Please note that all fleet drivers from the Pasadena and Big Sandy Corporate Fleets will receive additional instructions on personal use of their cars in the near future.
On another subject, I would like to request that we all be praying fervently for Mrs. Leonard Schreiber, who is suffering from melanoma, a very serious form of skin cancer. Many have expressed their concern for Mrs. Schreiber, and I know the Schreibers appreciate the prayerful support they are receiving from God's people and their fellow ministers.
Mrs. Jim Reyer has been improving steadily and has regained most of her strength, although the cancer is still present. The Reyers feel God has definitely intervened. Mrs. Reyer is now functioning normally and feeling well in spite of the cancer. Please continue to pray for her complete recovery.
One final matter. Please pray that God will provide a suitable site for the Feast of Tabernacles in Nigeria this year. It seems each year that one problem or another comes up at the last moment, creating difficulty for some of our brethren in being able to meet for the Feast.
God is on His throne. He promises to hear our prayers, whether on behalf of an ailing brother or sister, for opening a door for a Feast site, or for opening new doors to preach His Gospel to the world. As always, thank you for your diligent prayers for Mr. Armstrong, for everyone here in Pasadena and for one another.
As granted by the new record-keeping requirement measure passed by Congress, the Corporation has elected not to withhold taxes from the amount of personal usage added to your compensation. That will be your responsibility.
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Worldwide Church of God