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"Dear Stan, I regret exceedingly having triggered the violent emotional
outburst" (that is puttin� it mildly) ''over the telephone last evening.
Our personal relations together through the years have been too pleasant,
stimulating and rewarding, and based on mutual esteem, loyalty and trust,
to let anything come between us. I'll certainly do my best to prevent
any such outburst
in
the future." So once again, he let me off the
hook, because he did not really say anything to me that should have made
me go into orbit. What he had said, he had said to my secretary. He
caught the flack, and I, of course, apologized.
He goes on, ''I had been considerably distraught by things brought to
my attention, or I should not have spoken so emphatically to Virginia.
As I said on the phone, I am deeply sorry. Things have been brought
to my attention that seriously threaten the very life of God's Church
and Work. I feel I must now candidly bring it to you. If ever I
needed your help, Stan, it is now. You have been a faithful help to me
in the Work that no one else could have contributed. Ted has been
playing overtime on the rift between himself and you. I told you last
spring that I felt I could come more effectively to your defense after
I got the Church turned around and had built back my own credibility.
I did accomplish that and sincerely, Stan, I'm sure that feelings that
may hav� been aroused against your integrity, honor, and loyalty have
not disappeared, and I will continue to defend your good name as do you
mine. But from a number of coordinators and field ministers as well
as from Pasadena, I have learned that definitely the following situation
does now exist which could prove fatal to the Work unless cleared before
the ministers' conference.
"I have the following report from the office of Pastoral Administration:
'Quite frankly, Mr. Armstrong, � very large number of members and
ministers see only two choices for the future.'
The words themselves,
you see, were not emphatic enough.
'These two choices are Ted and
Stan. Though many, most, actually, don't want to leave you and follow
Ted, they see the only alternative as following Stan and they'd rather
see Ted lead the Church than Stan.
"'To reinforce this attitude in the minds of our people, Stan is doing
everything he can to present himself as next in line under you to
run the Work in a purely physical way. It is common knowledge that
Stan did not allow very much time to pass after Ted's departure from
his office before he, Stan, moved
in.
That office
is
part of the
executive suite. It is seen as a symbol -- the place for the man next
to you in authority. Stan uses the underground garage and he uses
your private elevator. It is a very common belief that very few, if
any people can get to you' (this is the irony of error), 'to talk to
you privately without going through Stan. Mr. Armstrong, I could go
on and on, but why? My point is that Stan and his prominent position
in the Work is causing many people to stumble. This causes offense.
God's Word says that we who are converted and have a godly love for
our fellow man will suffer even wrongly, unjustly' (last words under
scored, which I agree). 'The apostle Peter said: "What reward is it
when you suffer for things deserved? But one is humble, is like a
little child. He is willing and ready to suffer wrong rather than
give unnecessary cause for offense and stumbling to others.'