Herbert W Armstrong

   In the Pastor's Report of April 2, Mr. Meredith reported to the ministry that "continuing progress has been made in planning our Evangelistic Campaigns! Halls in the following cities have already been selected for the upcoming campaigns and these cities have been approved by Mr. Herbert Armstrong: San Antonio, Denver, Pasadena, Seattle, Shreveport, Phoenix, Dallas. So be sure to tell your people about these upcoming campaigns and ask them to pray fervently for their success!"

STATE OF CALIFORNIA CHALLENGES INDIVIDUAL SURETIES

   In its efforts to set a precedent in the courts through its actions against the Worldwide Church of God, the California Attorney General's office has decided to challenge the individual sureties presented to the court on March 15th and accepted by Judge Title. In ordering a second receiver to be put over the Church, Title said that a $1 million money bond would stay (neutralize) the receivership pending appeal. When the membership in California unexpectedly came up with more than double the needed bond in the form of sureties ($2,374,307 worth of sureties were presented to the court), the Attorney General said his office was "stymied." However, at the last moment the state exercised its option to contest the individual pledges, which now total in excess of $3,800,000.

   The Church's attorneys welcome this opportunity to have the member's heard from in court to verify the value of their signed pledges. In the ensuing hearings (which could take weeks), many members may be called upon to show proof of personal wealth pledged on their signed declarations. It is expected that this forum will give members opportunity to express themselves about how they feel concerning the actions of state officials who actually said that "church members don't matter"!

TAXPAYER'S LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE STATE

   A taxpayer's lawsuit has been filed in the state of California contesting the use of taxpayer's money to persecute the Church of God. In the suit several California members are asking the courts to prohibit the Attorney General from using tax monies to interfere in church affairs contrary to constitutional mandate which guarantees separation of church and state.

   The suit also questions the application of a section of the California Corporations Code to churches. The Attorney General is trying to say the Church of God is a "charitable trust" on a par with any secular organization such as the March of Dimes. The Church is a legal entity in the state of California organized as a "non-profit corporation." It is not a charitable trust (which solicits money from the public) and has never been viewed as such in the past. However, as an excuse to exercise excessive controls over a church, the Attorney General contends that a church can be examined and regulated to the same extent and in the same manner as any other charitable organization.

MEMBERS ARE REALLY PITCHING IN

   The following statement from the Treasurer's Office was published in the Pastor's Report dated March 27: "As you will recall, in January Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong asked for contributions to help pay for the legal defense of the Work against the unfounded legal attack by the State of California in concert with a few dissidents. Over $400,000 has already been contributed for that special 'war chest.'

   Meanwhile, the special. offering f0r a money bond, if needed, has been growing and is now over $600,000. This offering is still accruing from members' contributions arriving from around the world. If the surety bond remains acceptable to the court then these funds will be used directly in doing the Work at this time of sagging income just prior to the spring holy days. Incidentally, the amount of the surety pledges from all over the state of California has swelled to over $3,800,000.

   "In response to the recent request sent to all employees of God's Work (including the ministry) asking if they could help the cash-flow situation over the next four paydays by foregoing part of their pay in the form of an automatic contribution from each paycheck, our Accounting Office has already received pledges amounting to nearly $50,000 per payday! This was in addition to all the other ways employees cheerfully sacrificed right along with other members around the world- On top of all this it should be noted that many local employees gave even further in terms of volunteer time on special projects during the last few months of siege."

MEMBERSHIP CAN HAVE A GREATER "PIECE OF THE ACTION"

   In the Pastor's Report of March 27, the Pastoral Administration Department asked the ministry to begin encouraging members who want to be of further help during this very tight financial situation the Work will be in for the next few months.

   Mr. Meredith said, "We want to start immediately to implement... church fundraising projects." The ministry will be receiving packets containing information on how to organize such projects "as a special emergency crusade to raise monies to be sent to Tucson at the earliest possible date."

   Some of the suggested activities are painting houses, cleaning houses, washing cars, selling farm produce, conducting paper drives, collecting scrap iron, delivering sales papers or advertisements for local firms, etc. Many of these would involve very little of members' personal money — "merely time, effort and elbow grease." Here is something many can do to have a greater "piece of the action" in serving God's Work at this critical time of financial need.

A NOTE OF THANKS

   The Y.O.U. staff wants to thank those members who have recently submitted Y.E.S. materials, as well as in the past. Materials have been received from many Church areas within the U.S. as well as overseas. The staff really appreciates the very fine quality and creative effort reflected in the material. As they go into production of Y.E.S. teaching programs, they will be drawing on the material sent in.