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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, June 20, 1980
Why,
MikeWallace,
on
60
Minutes
did you not tell
the
plain truth?
I
N
60 Minutes
(CBS, .June 8)
you took a second swat at the
WORLDWIDE CHURCH or Goo.
You attempted a second "un
der-the-belt smear" by using the
term, "God and Mammon." You
covered and misrepresented only
part of the financial picture-only
that which would defame and dis
credit the Church of Almighty
GOD. You called us a "wealthy
church." We are not. You made us
look wealthy by saying our financial
income is greater than that of Billy
Graham or Oral Roberts combined.
Whether true or false, I respectfully
point out that we are a CHURCH.
They are merely evangelistic and
broadcasting crusades-though the
latter also operates a minor univer
sity.
WHY did you not tell the No. I TV
viewing audience in America that we are
a CHURCH of long standing? That the No.
I allocation on our annual budget is the
ministerial IJayroll supporting ordained
ministers on all continents of the earth?
And that the devoutness of our mem
bership is attested to
by
the fact that
more than 95 percent of all members of
our hundreds of local churches faithful
ly attend services with their child�en
every week?
WHY did you falsely represent us as
having only a financial operation
IGNORING
ourprimarymotivation. which
is
SPIRITUAL,
proclaiming the
TRL'E:
Gos
pel message of Jesus Christ to the world
and to our baptized members?
VlHY
did
you deliberately avoid mentioning that
our primary interest, purpose, and
HERBERT W. ARM.STRO�G
activity. is devoutly
SPIRITUAL,
and that
the financial area is only a minor means
to that end?
\"lHY
did you not tell America that
this present nearly half-century-old suc
cession of the true Church of God was
raised
up
and has grown on
liuing faith
in God and in Jesus Christ our Savior
alone-that we never solicit money
from the pubtic?-that although our
members believe in the Christ-taught
doctrine of tithing, the second tithe does
not come to the Church. but is saved by
members for their own expenses and
spiritual enjoyment attending our bibli
cal annual festivals'J -that the third
tithe is contributed only every third
year and goes not into Church opera
tions. but for the support of our widows,
orphans and poor, thus taking that bur�
den utf the public tax rolls?
You know
well
that
a
half-truth, or a
partial truth. can be manipulated to
utterly
MISLEAD
your audience) Even
more than an outrageous direct lie. Our
attorneys have urged me to sue you for a
misleading. defaming and slanderous
attack on a sincere, devout, upstanding
Christian citizenry. But I prefer to sim
ply tell the public
THE TRt:TH, THE
WHOLE TRt'TH
and
SOTHING BUT THE
TRL'TH,
at our own expense.
Y.le
do not
attack
or strive to harm anyone(
In the massive lawsuit brought
against GOD'S Church by the office of
the California attorney general, such
church bodies as the National Council of
Churches
of
Christ in the L'nited States,
the Catholic League, the Board of
Church and Society of the United
Methodist Church, the Baptist Joint
Committee on Public Affairs and others,
representing 83 million American citi
zens, have come to our aid.
These large church bodies do not
believe all our doctrines, even as they do
not believe one another's, nor we theirs.
But they do believe
in
the First Amend
ment
of
the Constitution, guaranteeing
the right of freedom of religion.
When you subtly back up this lawsuit
and attack theWorldwide Church of God
on the most-viewed program on national
television, you indirectly attacked all other
churches.
In
defending ourselves from this
corrupt political attack we defend all other
churches
ln
California, andby extension. in
America
We are comparatively small, yet
we
fight to uphold the
RIGHTS
of all church
es in this land of the free and home of
the brave.
If you want more information, write
to us: The Worldwide Church of God.
Box 111, Pasadena. Calif., 91123, or call
our toll-free number: (800) 423-4444_ In
California, call collect (213) 577-5225.
HERBERT
W.
ARMSTRONG
Pastor General
Worldwide Church of God
Pasadena, California
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