In this issue

Conference

U.S. regional pastors and international regional directors gathered for meetings in Pasadena June 22 to 25 "I'm pleased to say that we had plenty of open and frank, yet respectful, discussion on the subject of our annual worship calendar," said Pastor General Joseph Tkach.

"From those discussions and from subsequent communication has come what I believe is a Spirit-led official position on the subject," Mr. Tkach said.

"It was agreed and decided that the Worldwide Church of God will provide increased flexibility in worship by accepting the incorporation of the traditional Christian festivals into its annual worship calendar." Pages 3 and 4.

Personal

One strength of our as a denomination has been a high regard for Scripture, and we have a biblically literate membership, Mr. Tkach writes in this month's Personal.

We have been forced to study doctrines in depth. We went back to the book time and again to see whether these things were so. We wanted to prove all things.

I don't have statistics, but I am confident that WCG members, on the whole, know a lot more of the Bible (especially the Old Testament) than the average American Christian does.

I also see that many evangelical Christians are lacking in biblical knowledge--even according to the estimates of evangelical leaders. The Christian world's lack of biblical knowledge is a serious need.

So a need in the Christian world is a strength that our church has. This is an area in which we can help the Christian community. Page 7.

Worship calendar

Liturgy has become a hot topic in the church these days.

Liturgy is simply the pattern or program of worship chosen by a church. It includes the gospel-related topics, themes, forms, symbols, styles, seasons and days that help facilitate effective worship for that particular church.

In other words, liturgy refers to the whole set of seasons, days, tools and methods we use to worship, celebrate and enjoy God.

We must learn not to condemn one another over the seasons and days on which we decide to worship.

We are all free in Christ to worship during whatever seasons and on whatever days we find fitting and appropriate.

As Paul wrote to the church in Rome: "He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God" (Romans 14:6). Pages 8 to 11.

Teen ministry

The Big Sandy youth ministry was host for a True Love Waits worship service May 23.

During the service the parents and congregation committed themselves to supporting the teens in their promise to remain sexually pure until marriage.

It began with a commitment to godly courtship the young people made at an Acquire the Fire Convention in March.

True Love Waits is an international campaign designed to challenge teens and college students to remain sexually abstinent until marriage. Page 19.

Treasurer's Report

The Pentecost offering totaled slightly more than $1 million. As with the spring offerings, the Pentecost offering came in ahead of budget and gave a welcome boost to finances, which were beginning to flag in the heat of summer.

The daily mail average for June finished at almost exactly the same level as May, at $107,700, but this was again short of the revised annual budget of $110,000 per day. Page 22.