Might Messenger Newsletter -- Summer 1997
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Site Index The Mighty Messenger Summer 1997 Issue Articles in this issue: • First Society Entertains Angels • Copyright Reversal • Gay and Lesbian Urantia Book Readers Association Now Forming • Inside the TDA: A Perspective by David Elders • Marian T. Rowley, 1901-1997 • Readers Enjoy '97 Summer Seminar in the Great Northwest by Marvin Gawryn • Letter from the President -- Janet Farrington Graham • TDA Elects New Councilors; Executive Committee Reconstituted • United Religions Initiative by Gard Jameson First Society Entertains Angels Mighty Messenger, Summer 1997 The Apostle Paul instructed the Hebrews: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." The First Society entertained angels at their annual miniconference Sunday, April 20, 1997. Northwestern University's elegant Harris Hall, Evanston, IL, was the site of a gathering of an unknown number of seraphim and of nearly 30 human Urantia Book students. Readers from several Chicago area study groups and from downstate Illinois and Wisconsin attended. The angels hailed from Salvington and beyond. Theologians no longer debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin; for nearly 200 years, since the Enlightenment, they haven't debated about angels at all. With a nod to New Age religions, and acknowledgments to authors Billy Graham, Mortimer Adler, and recent researchers for reviving interest in angels, conference leaders reviewed the history of belief in angels throughout ancient and modern times. The Zoroastrians, Mesopotamians, Greeks and Vikings all had traditions of angels. Muhammad, Joseph Smith (of Mormon fame) and Swedenborg claimed angelic contacts. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science), and all modern popes paid tribute to seraphic ministry. Poets Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton wove angel themes into their epic works. A few of the hundreds of Old and New Testament mentions of angels were cited, including angelic appearances during Jesus' and apostolic ministries. Hebrew and Christian traditions were emphasized. Of the vast host of ministering spirits described in The Urantia Book, just four groups of seraphim were selected for study during the six-hour program: guardian seraphim, transport seraphim, the master seraphim of planetary supervision (the "angels of the churches," "angels of progress," etc.), and archangels. The vital role played by the guardian angel during mortal life, at death and after survival, was the primary concern. Carolyn Kendall coordinated the presentation and Marilynn Kulieke arranged the refreshments and luncheon. READERS ENJOY '97 SUMMER SEMINAR IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST Mighty Messenger, Summer 1997 By Marvin Gawryn Approximately 310 people from all over North America and as far away as Mexico City and Hungary gathered in Vancouver for the Fellowship's 1997 Summer Seminar. Local readers worked closely with the Education Committee to develop a program of plenaries and study groups in the mornings, varied workshops and reversion activities in the afternoons, and worship and entertainment in the evenings. For the first time Fellowship and IUA members worked side by side putting on a large conference, a practice which hopefully can continue in the years ahead. Both preconference retreats were well attended. Participants in the Artist's Retreat are following up with plans for a future conference on creativity and spiritual living. The Spiritual Contemplative Retreat, ever a favorite, seems to be evolving into a regular part of our annual gatherings. The children and teen programs were well developed and continue to evolve; our children are forming deep friendships (e-mail lines are buzzing), sharing their interests in The Urantia Book, and seem eager to attend upcoming conferences. The afternoon workshops offered a rich and varied menu of choices. While every part of the conference contributed to the quality of the whole, a number of program elements sparked strong responses from participants. Rebecca Kantor's plenary talk on Religion was particularly evocative, challenging us to look closely at what factors contribute to success and failure in organized religious efforts. Sequoyah Trueblood's Native American worship service was a powerful blend of personal story, tribal lore, and participative prayer and ritual, woven throughout with themes from The Urantia Book. Sequoyah, recognized by many tribes in North America as an elder spiritual leader, is a committed reader of The Urantia Book and shares it with many in his world-wide travels. As regards fun and frolic, there was lots of it; the huge Aquatic Center pool and the Saturday night Cajun dance were highly ranked by revelers of all ages. And the many forest and beach paths offered satisfying surroundings for stretching the body, clearing the mind, and nourishing the soul. Participants all seemed to agree that Vancouver is a great location to return to for IC 99. COPYRIGHT REVERSAL On June 10, 1997 the Ninth District Appeals Court reversed a lower court ruling and affirmed the validity of Urantia Foundation's copyright in The Urantia Book. Consequently, all sales of the Uversa Press edition have been suspended. Discounted copies of Urantia Foundation's editions may be ordered by calling Good Cheer at (303) 581-0456. The Urantia Book is also available in bookstores and can be obtained directly from Urantia Foundation at (773) 525-3319. GAY & LESBIAN Urantia BOOK READERS ASSOCIATION NOW FORMING Readers from the gay and lesbian community are invited to join The Gay and Lesbian Urantia Book Readers Association (GLUBRA), announced Nick Curto, a member of the New York City study group and member of the Society of Greater New York. "It's important that my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who are readers of The Urantia Book know each other and share our unique perspectives with each other," Nick stated. "I want to develop a newsletter, with the help of volunteers, containing articles, poetry, news, music, etc., so that we can all share the beauty of the fifth revelation from our point of view," he continued. Besides new members, the group's wish list includes: writers, artists, designers, web site designers, photographers, poets, musicians, reporters, and funding. If you are interested in more information, please write to Nick Curto, PO Box 387, New York, NY 10028, or fax: 212-289-1741. INSIDE THE TDA A Perspective By David Elders Every three years elected representatives from the Fellowship's Societies gather together to elect the new class of General Councilors, that group of 36 people who function as The Fellowship's policy-making body. Typically, 12 new Councilors are elected for 9-year terms at each TDA, but often, due to resignations and the like, more are elected. The idea is to refresh the leadership with new personalities, new energy, fresh ideas, and thoughtful creativity to blend with the remaining experienced people. Although I have been involved in our organization since the early 1970s, I had never served as a Delegate or Alternate to this Assembly. During the 70's most of the members of the Council were from Chicago and had been holding those seats for some time. I suspect that when the large group of eager new readers of which I was a member descended on the midwest clamoring for a piece of the action, many of the old-timers had the sense that "there goes the neighborhood!" Sort of like the Havona natives must have felt when Grandfanda first arrived from Superuniverse One. In those days it took a lot of pre-TDA politicking to develop a plan to wrest control from those Councilors who had become rooted to their chairs on the Council. The process was characterized by late-night caucuses, lengthy phone calls (no e-mail then), power struggles between various groups, closed doors, secret conversations, etc. Looking back, while it seemed necessary at the time, it is hard to justify now—especially because it was clear that the inside group, against whom we were struggling, were up to the same activities, something we readily accused them of. While it may have looked a bit like how the U.S. government looks from time to time, it was clearly not the best expression of an open, democratic process. The fact that it worked to break the logjam of the vested interests of that time somehow doesn't seem sufficient justification. So, as the time for this TDA approached, I didn't quite know what to expect. Well, it wasn't at all like those earlier days. The people who gathered this year were serious about doing an open, honest job—and they did. The air was filled with commitment, mutual respect, and the assumption of responsibility to elect people who would contribute to helping The Fellowship achieve its planetary mission on behalf of this revelation. There was the clear sense that even though we were staffing a body that would need to deal with temporal, often material issues, our mission was higher and broader than that and deserved the very best people we could find. Finally, despite all of the seriousness of the work and dedication to the task, there was rare good humor and a spirit of cooperation. Some of us will not soon forget: 1. The inadvertent, humorous, and repeated miscounting of our ballots (which, while it did no harm, one would have considered non-habit-forming); 2.The "moved and seconded" artistry of an attending sister and brother team of Delegates coupled with a paucity of seconds for several other resolutions; and, 3. Last, but not least, the failed effort to reintroduce a proposal for direct society representation on the General Council, coupled with its proponents' friendly acceptance of its defeat. I, for one, feel blessed to have had the opportunity to serve on this TDA with the high-quality, dedicated, and caring souls who served as well. Indeed, it was an uplifting experience that bodes well for the future.