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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.3, N0.31
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
NEWS FROM THE PASTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
Advisory Council of Elders Expanded
JULY 31, 1981
Pastor General Herbert
w.
Armstrong has announced the appointment of four
additional members to the Advisory Council of Elders.
The Advisory Council was formed in Tucson, Arizona, before Mr. Armstrong re
turned to his office in Pasadena. At the time, he named to the Council min
isters who had been very frequently going to Tucson and who at the time were
more closely in contact with him personally. It was more of a temporary
emergency council at the time. Now, however, the Advisory Council has be
come a permanent advisory body to the Pastor General, with an official sta
tus, not only as a permanent consulting Council to Christ's Apostle, but an
official body that would officially designate a successor as Pastor General
in the event of disability or death of the Pastor General.
Therefore Mr. Armstrong felt that some of the ministers of longer, loyal and
faithful service should be members of so important an official body.
Named to the Council were Herman L. Hoeh, the only pioneer student of Ambas
sador College still in the Church. Also Roderick C. Meredith, who entered
Ambassador College in its third year, 1949. (Mr. Raymond F. McNair, who en
tered the second year, 1948, already was a Council member.) Next added were
Norman A. Smith, who entered in September, 1950, and fourth, Harold L. Jack
son, a member since May 28, 1936.
These early Ambassador College graduates and longtime ministers bring addi
tional depth to the existing Council. The original advisory group consist
ing of Dibar Apartian, Dean Blackwell, Robert Fahey, Ellis LaRavia, Raymond
McNair, Leroy Neff, Joseph Tkach and Leon Walker, with Ralph Helge as Legal
Advisor was formed in early March by Mr. Armstrong. The original appoint
ment of the Council was announced March 13 in the Pastor General's Report and
in the March 16 issue of The WORLDWIDE NEWS.
The scope and magnitude of the Work in this era is very diverse and demanding
and it continues to grow as God blesses it. Christ continues to lead, guide
and direct His Work through His Apostle.
Mr. Armstrong stated, "Jesus Christ is the living HEAD of this Church and the
Work of God. I am merely an instrument in His hands. I look to Him, of
course, for guidance. But He is God's Word, and that Word in writing says:
'In multitude of counsellors there is safety.
1
I have always sought and lis
tened to counsellors."
The Advisory group provides a body of counsellors to draw on in making deci
sions regarding the operation of a large worldwide Work. Mr. Armstrong's
appointment of the Council also provides a stabilizing influence for the
Church in the future.