Now that most summer U.S. transfers are nearly complete, it is a good time to again bring to mind the need to carefully follow the guidelines in the Ministerial Manual regarding an orderly transition from one church area to another. Those of you who are transfers should read over these guidelines again once you have settled into your new areas. One thing you need to be especially careful to avoid is becoming involved in the affairs of your former area. Generally, it is not wise even to visit there for at least a year or two after your transfer. The brethren need time to become accustomed to their new pastor without your presence. Even hearing that you were in the area can be unsettling for some who might wonder why you were visiting.
Recently, a number of young people in several U.S. churches received a chain letter claiming to have been started 10 years ago by the YOU in Germany. From time to time the question of how to handle chain letters arises. Some involve recipes, others simply nonsense. Some are illegal, containing promises of wealth, fame or success, and in some cases threats of doom for the person who breaks the chain.
The Church of God does not endorse or encourage any form of chain letter writing. Our advice to those receiving chain letters has always been the same — ignore them completely! The so-called German YOU chain letter is not Church sponsored or endorsed. Each local pastor should encourage those who receive such a letter to ignore it, and to feel no obligation whatsoever to "not break the chain." I'm sure we all realize that chain letters are based on the "get something for nothing" philosophy, which is contrary to God's way. If any are in need of recipes, I'm sure the local library would be happy to lend a book full of them.
Another matter I need to mention concerns when to hold Bible studies. Over the years, some pastors have come to hold regular Bible studies on the Sabbath either before or after Sabbath services. Of course there are situations where it is necessary for a pastor to do this. However, unless there is a compelling reason to do so, such as the members having to travel long distances, we should not hold the Bible study on the Sabbath before or after services.
There are some church areas where there could be no Bible studies if they were not held on the Sabbath. In some cases hall availability is a serious problem. But in all situations where a Sabbath Bible study is not a real need, we should work toward changing over to a mid-week study. The mid-week study provides the members with a much needed spiritual lift, and alleviates the potential problem of having so much to do on the Sabbath that it cannot be kept properly. (Special Bible studies that you may need to hold on a far more infrequent basis, such as for singles or youth, can be considered exceptions and held before or after Sabbath services.)
By the way, in all church areas where it is feasible, we should hold weekly Bible studies, rather than bi-weekly or monthly studies.
If any U.S. pastor has any questions about whether these guidelines apply to his congregations, he should contact Ministerial Services. International ministers should contact their respective regional office.
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Worldwide Church of God