Greetings again to the entire ministry worldwide. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to write the many letters I have received over the past few months.
Your expressions of support for God's Work and its leader, Mr. Herbert Armstrong, and your love, your backing and your loyalty are very much appreciated by Mr. Armstrong, by myself and by all the rest of us who are involved in directing this Worldwide Work.
It has been my intention to keep up with my correspondence by personal replies to all of you who write. This way I had hoped we could keep communication at this personal level on a two-way street. I am sorry that keeping up with paperwork is such a continual "war" that this results in belated replies to many of you. But, we'll do our best to keep as current as possible.
In order to effectively respond to Mr. Armstrong's leadership of the Church, we here at headquarters are setting up systems enabling us to work together in a well coordinated way. In the first meeting held recently by the Executive Coordination Team for the purpose of discussing the entire subject of media as utilized by the Work, I was impressed how totally this Work is one Work. Every facet of it overlaps, and impinges on every other area. For example, it is impossible to effectively discuss the programs that disseminate the gospel to the general public without at some point discussing the ministerial role in the personal contact (prospective member visits) that is ultimately generated by the Work's media efforts.
The last Pastor's Report contained an article by Robert Kuhn outlining the objectives of these coordination meetings. We are including in this issue of the Report a summary of the first meeting.
We in Pastoral Administration have also begun a more effective means of coordinating the functions of the Church worldwide. We intend to have weekly meetings of the key personnel here at Pasadena representing all facets of the Church in order to discuss collectively all current activities, needs and problems. This team will provide me with the "multitude of counsel" what God tells us gives safety.
In no way are we the "policy-making" team. We are responsive to Mr. Armstrong's leadership and recognize him as the one who establishes policy and major procedural matters.
Our meetings will isolate particular problems, needs for clearer definition, recommended changes in procedure, etc. We will then submit such needs to the Executive Coordination Team, and in turn to Mr. Armstrong for resolution as is proper and required.
There are several major areas of the ministry that particularly concern us at the present time. One large area is the need for much more specific and definitive understanding of the role of the ministry. One person said recently that he felt that if 10 people were asked to define the job of the local pastor you would get 10 different answers. This is probably so. It might even be that all 10 ideas put together would be one good definition. But, my point is that in recent years the concept of what the work of the local church pastor is has become somewhat confused. This is only one of the many areas we will be devoting attention to over the coming weeks.
I am very pleased to tell you that basically the Church is stable at the present time. The activities of Ted Armstrong are having very little effect on the Church. So far as we know, NO minister has thus far left the Church to join Ted. A small number of "members" have been attending meetings of the "Church of God International" in Tyler, Texas, but we have been informed by the ministry in and around Big Sandy that most of these people were of questionable loyalty to the Church anyway.
Our purpose is not to fight those who oppose us in doing this Work of God, but rather simply work all the harder in devoting ourselves to God's service. That, I hope, is what each of you is striving in every way to do in your local church pastorates.
One more item I want to cover in this Report concerns the Festival season now very soon to be upon us.
God has given us an understanding of the meaning of the Holy Days. The keeping of these annual "stop-signs," these reminders of God's plan that is being worked out here on earth, is one of the most important doctrinal understandings we have and is one of the signs that designates us as "people of God." Understanding the truth about the Holy Days is vital to our remaining close to God in the realization of His purpose for mankind.
Be sure that each of you preach moving, effective, powerful and meaningful sermons in advance of and in preparation for the fast approaching Festival season. Let's all of us do our part to prepare God's people for the most uplifting, most encouraging and most inspiring Feast of Tabernacles we've observed in this age.
We all need to draw closer to God in unity, in teamwork, in personally identifying with Christ as His "called-out" ones who have been made a part of this "body of Christ" to do the work of God in this critical time.
Fellow ministers, this is a good time for all of us to examine ourselves. If we are not motivated by an attitude of gratitude to God for revealing to us the "pearls of wisdom and truth," for making us a part of His Work and allowing us to serve in His ministry, then we surely cannot be effective in leading, inspiring and motivating others. Please take time in thought, prayer and study to be sure you have your priorities organized and your objectives well defined. Know where you are going and always make your decisions based on the right reasons.
Once again, let's do our part very sincerely and effectively to ensure that God's people are thoroughly edified and uplifted by the coming Holy Days.
Greetings Fellow Ministers:
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