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PASTOR GENERAL'S
RE
Po··RT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL. l,
N0.19
PASADENA,
CALIFORNIA
SABBATICAL PROGRAM DISCONTINUED-
NEW PROGRAM INSTEAD
by Herbert W. Armstrong
DECEMBER 20,
1979
We are discontinuing the Sabbatical Program, and inaugurating an
entirely new 9rogram.
There have been many faults in the Sabbatical Program. It was very
costly to the Work to bring a group of ministers, with their families, to
Pasadena for one or two semesters--often keeping them out of the active
ministry for virtually a year. There was the cost of moving them to
Pasaden0, and also of moving other ministers to their respective locations
--then moving them back or to a new post.
Ministers came to feel that they were being called in for correction
or discipline and this only aroused resentment, and possible opposition.
This gave it a negative connotation.
I did not personally devise or
organize this 9rogram.
It was established while my son was Executive
Vice-President.
The new program, whether we shall call it a seminar or a Ministerial
Refreshing Program, or whatever, will be limited to three weeks and will
not necessitate the moving of whole families back and forth. EVERY min
ister will be brought in to Pasadena once every two or three years--which
ever yet to be decided. He will fly in on a Sunday. He will have to
miss only two Sabbaths from his pastorate, returning on a Friday. That
period--less than three weeks--is not too long to be away from his family
only once every two or three years.
The visiting ministers will be housed on campus.
as of now, to bring in about
30
ministers at a time.
It is anticipated,
Heretofore, in the Sabbatical Program, the ministers often have been
instructed in regular classes with young undergraduate students. In the
new program, it will be instruction and conferences on the ministerial
and graduate level entirely.
We are now hard at work on the details of the new program, to be
announced later.
I just thought it well to give you a glimpse into the new program
now being worked out, and I feel it will be a source of great encouragement
and satisfaction to all of God's ministers.
It will promote a real family
ONENESS. If any minister has questions they will be listened to. I am
reminded of the condition we had fifteen to twenty years ago. Often some
question would come up--whether doctrine, or what. We would assemble in
my office. Everyone was in a fine attitude.
We were all seeking GOD'S