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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, August 29, 1980
Page 3
I can tell you that Christ is not planning to add many--perhaps none
or almost none--to His CHURCH membership by getting His Message effec
tively before ''the great and the near-great." But He wants us to reach
them "AS A WITNESS!" And it is a POWERFUL witness.
One thing this full-page ad campaign is doing--it is establishing
God's Church as a REPUTABLE, INFLUENTIAL FORCE instead of a contemptihle
"cult," in the public mind, and among national leaders.
You might read some of this about the new major-prestige ad campaign
before your local congregations.
PETRIS BILL AWAITING GOVERNOR'S ACTION--HOW YOU CAN HELP
Once again the attorney general's conduct and outrageous claims of
authority over churches in California have met a resounding defeat in
the California Senate. On August 26, 1980, the Senate confirmed Senator
Petris' bill (SB 1493). The bill is now in the governor's office await
ing his signature or veto.
The Petris bill, if you will recall, would remove all civil jurisdiction
of the attorney general to supervise or control churches.
Therefore, it would be very helpful if church members and family, friends
and relatives from all across the United States write Governor Brown and
encourage him to sign the Petris bill into law. Persons outside the state
of California have an interest in the bill in that California has always
been viewed as a leading state in social reform. Should the attorney
general be victorious in palming off hiF exorbitant claims of jurisdic
tion over churches in California, other states are going to look upon his
victory as a model to be followed.
Everyone in the United States who would like to express their concern for
their religious freedoms, and therefore the Petris bill, should immedi
ately write letters or send telegrams to Governor Brown at the following
address, urging his signing of Senator Petris' bill (SB 1493).
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor, State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
--RALPH K. HELGE, LEGAL OFFICE