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WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
PRESIDENT and PASTOR
October 14, 1971
Dear Brethren of GOD'S CHURCH:
I have just returned from visiting the Feast sites again
this year.
A short time ago I sent a general letter to the Church
membership explaining the serious need for Garner Ted Armstrong
to be allowed a leave of absence by reason of ill health -- not
physical, but frayed nerves and excessive high tension which has
built up over a period of years due to the heavy and crushing
responsibilities of his office.
After starting his leave of absence, he felt he would be
up to making the circuit of the Festival sites. He felt the
imperative duty to speak at these sites. I agreed. But after
Squaw Valley, his fourth site, tensions had built up until his
nerves-were at razor-edge, and he could not continue.
He is now on the leave of absence. It may take some weeks
for full recovery. Therefore I have this morning called board
meetings of both the Church and the College, at which we made
official the relieving of all responsibilities from my son Garner
Ted until recovery and return. The Boards have acted on my
appointment of Mr. Albert J. Portune as acting Executive Vice
President of both Church and College, and as Vice-Chancellor of
Ambassador College.
I feel few if any realize the crushing superhuman load
Garner Ted has been carrying. The many hours at high tension to
accumulate facts, knowledge of conditions, material, for a half-
hour radio broadcast daily, seven days a week, a half-hour
documentary telecast every week, many lectures before many outside
groups, much travel to make radio and television interviews in
various parts of the world, the writing of so many articles,
reports to field ministers, so many sermons. This is all
STRENUOUS, high-tension, hard driving work, much harder than
physical labor. He has had to drive himself entirely too hard. In
addition to the above, he has been interrupted by a constant
succession of problems to solve and questions to answer in the
executive capacity, from both the college and the Church. He has
had to carry a good share of my chief executive responsibilities.
He will be going hunting as soon as the season opens, after
which he will seek quiet and calm out in the wide open spaces.
I have been shocked to learn that there have been many
rumors circulating among members in regard to my son. These could
not be more FALSE!