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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JANUARY 4, 1985
PAGE 5
the Church to use in its commissions, but these bad checks needlessly cost
the Church time and money. Our employees must spend dozens of hours to pro
cess them, change donation records and notify each contributor.
Even though the Church does not charge for bounced checks, the sender's
bank does. The individual must pay a fee when the check is returned to his
bank. Worse still, the tithes intended for God's Church have not been paid.
The following points should help members reduce this problem:
• Members should be encouraged to pay tithes first.
• They should be careful to write only valid checks. It is better to
give a smaller offering or wait until they have sufficient funds than
to send a check that will bounce.
• They should keep careful records and maintain an up-to-date balance in
their checkbook. This should help eliminate the chances of writing
checks for more than they have in their account.
A Reminder About Annual Receipts (U.S. Only)
We plan to mail 1984 annual receipts on January 15-16. They will be mailed
first class and should arrive at most homes by the end of January.
All donations postmarked by December 31 will be credited on the 1984 annual
receipts. Any contributions mailed after that time will be posted on 1985
records.
Any members who do not receive their receipts by the first week in February
should call to let us know so we can send a duplicate copy. The toll-free
number is 1-800-423-4444. (In Alaska and Hawaii, call 1-818-304-6111 col
lect.)
--Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
ON THE WORLD SCENE
SOUTHERN AFRICA--DISINVESTMENT: PLAYING WITH FIRE
(SPECIAL REPORT--CONCLUSION)
The world has entered a frightening new era of irrational behavior. Re
cently, a train was bombed in Italy, killing dozens of people. About twenty
terrorist groups stepped forward to claim responsibility, each demanding a
share of the media's attention. And in the United States, an emotionally
charged "moral crusade" has been launched, leading to the suddenly worsen
ing state of relations between the United States and South Africa.
This state of affairs has far-reaching and potentially devastating implica
tions. President Reagan is under the gun to abandon his policy of quiet
diplomacy--called "constructive engagement"--with Pretoria.
Municipal,
state and university pension fund operators are being pressured by radical
protesters to "disinvest" stocks of those companies doing business in or
even trading with South Africa. In effect, the activists have declared
economic warfare against South Africa.
They have chosen the path of
confrontation rather than cooperation. If they are successful in their
efforts, the most dire consequences could befall not South Africa, but the
United States-
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