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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 17, 1984
**** TOBE READ IN ALL CHURCHES ****
Sick Children and Pregnant Women
Attending the Feast
Each year we find that a number of problems arise as a result of brethren
taking sick children to the Feast of Tabernacles. We also receive ques
tions about whether pregnant women should attend the Feast. Mr. Herbert
w.
Armstrong made the policy regarding both matters clear in a letter dated
September 14, 1962. This policy still stands. Therefore, to help everyone
understand what members in these situations should do, we have reprinted
the following excerpt from Mr. Armstrong's letter.
Many members have been careless and inconsiderate by bringing
sick children to the Festivals--and also to local church services
on the Sabbath.
Frequently children are brought with whooping
cough, measles, mumps, flu, chicken pox and other contagious dis
eases.
Other members' children have been exposed and come down
with these diseases because of this. If your child has even been
exposed within two weeks before coming, DON'T bring him.
If your child is sick, take care of him in a proper manner. But
DO NOT, under any circumstances, bring such a child UNTIL you can
actually see that he has been completely healed. When anointed,
have FAITH--BELIEVE--but if God does give you a test of faith, DO
NOT bring the child on the strength of that faith. Let him be
HEALED on the strength of your faith, but don't bring him to any
Church meeting or Festival until every physical symptom is gone,
and the healing is complete. Moses expelled those with communi
cable diseases from the camp of Israel. We shall have to do like
wise, in fairness to other children. If�our child i�taken ill
with such a disease while at the Feast, counsel with a minister.
Ask him whether the child must be isolated or taken home if you
are in doubt.
In past years some pregnant women have journeyed to the Festival
and had their baby delivered at the Festival. This is very DAN
GEROUS to such a woman and her unborn child.
Therefore, NO WOMAN who is to be as much as eight months along by
the end of the Feast should attend.
ALSO, any woman just a few months along in pregnancy should be
very CAUTIOUS about whether she attends the Feast at all!
The
period from two to five months pregnancy is the time when most
miscarriages occur.
The higher altitudes and colder climate at
Squaw Valley [a Feast site in 1962] might be too much for some
during this period. Big Sandy is oppressively hot, with sudden
change in temperature if a "norther" should blow in. DON'T RISK
MISCARRIAGE OF A PRECIOUS LIFE! REMEMBER, God does not lay the
same stress on attendance of women as He does men. USE WISDOM!
Check up with the doctor who is to deliver your baby.
If you have any special problem or question, check immediately with your
minister.