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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.7, N0.15
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
APRIL 11, 1985
We of the Auditorium PM congregation had a very moving and meaningful Pass
over service with Mr. Herbert Armstrong leading, and Mr. Ellis La Ravia and
me assisting him.
Then, in the afternoon of the first day of Unleavened
Bread, Mr. Armstrong gave a powerful and encouraging sermon in the Audito
rium. Audiotapes of that message will be mailed out to be played in all
churches. I'm sure the brethren will appreciate hearing from Mr. Armstrong
once again.
It seems that our rapidly advancing technological age raises new questions
on occasion. One question that many have been asking recently is whether it
would be appropriate to videotape the wedding ceremony. In discussing this
question with Mr. Armstrong, he gave the following principles:
1. The wedding ceremony should not be disturbed in any way. If video
taping is done, it must
be
done quietly and without distractions. The
same applies to taking photographs. There should be no flash photo
graphy nor other distractions during the ceremony itself. Any photo
graphy must be done quietly and without the photographer moving
around.
Of cour;se, flash photography before and after the ceremony
would be fine.
2. Audiotaping the ceremony is also fine, as long as it too is done quiet
ly and without bulky equipment, or equipment and cords located in
conspicuous places.
There should be no clicking of automatic shut
offs or ejecting and turning over of cassettes.
3.
The prayer is an especially sacred part of any ceremony and, there
fore, should not be audiotaped, videotaped or photographed at all.
4. Baptisms and funerals are not to be photographed or recorded at any
time.
However, photos before and after the baptismal ceremony or
funeral are permissible.
I might add that any photography or taping that does not have the complete
approval of the families of the bride and groom should be avoided.
That
seems rather obvious, but we recently had one situation in which a man not
related to the couple getting married wanted to videotape the wedding, con
trary to the families' wis·
hes.
I hope these guidelines answer most questions, but if any further questions
arise, please write in. As most of you realize, prior to this time the
policy had been that neither photography nor taping were permitted during
the entire wedding ceremony. Mr. Armstrong explained that the reason for
this policy was that the bulky and noisy equipment most often used in the
past was too distracting. If such problems can be avoided, he felt that the
sanctity of the ceremony can still be preserved.
Copies of the 1985 FESTIVAL PLANNER are now being shipped to church pastors
in the United States and Canada, and should arrive in time for distribution
Cl 1986 WondwideChurct'Iof God