August 13, 1998

Dear Mrs. *******:

Thank you for your recent letter to me, in which you inquired regarding my letter to the Membership and the recent "changes" in the bylaws.

These most recent "changes" are better described as "clarifications." When the Council of Elders was formed in 1995, it was desired that the Council and the Board assume the oversight of doctrinal and major administrative matters, pertaining to the overall goals and mission of the Work. The approach to this kind of government within the Church-rather than an autocratic rule through just one man without any checks and balances-was clearly communicated to tens of thousands of people through our Church government booklet. Most people who joined Global, and who had read our booklet, clearly understood this approach and agreed with it.

From time to time, we heard allegations from persons outside our fellowship to the effect that we in Global did not really practice what we had preached in our government booklet, and that the booklet did not really set forth how Global should, or does, function. And more recently, questions were asked, from outside insurance firms and others, who was the ultimate authority in the Church, and in reviewing the Bylaws, it was felt that the Bylaws contained certain ambiguities in this regard.

To clarify our original intent in this matter, which intent had previously been communicated to the membership, certain provisions within the Bylaws were slightly revised. Subsequent to my letter, explaining those clarifications, we received responses from ministers and members in Global, stating that my letter only confirmed and re established what they had already known and understood, anyway.

Only in very limited cases did the letter, as you said, "prompt somewhat of a controversy." It is unfortunate that that "controversy" was prompted, at least in part, through the unethical conduct of one of our local elders, who spread his disagreements with the clarifications in the Bylaws to others, both publicly from the pulpit, as well as in private. I am sure you understand, such conduct is unbecoming to a minister of Jesus Christ.

Let me also assure you that I do agree "100% with the contents of the letter." Mr. McNair, a long-time Evangelist in God's Work, as well as Director of Editorial Operations and Vice-Chairman of our Doctrinal Study Team, assisted me in drafting the letter, as I do believe that in multitude of counsel there is safety. But this does not mean that I did not agree with the contents of the letter; otherwise, I would not have signed the same

You fear that the Council could tie my hands and force me to hire more ministers, rather than "putting money into preaching the gospel." We have all understood for a long time that Christ has given His Church a two-fold commission, of preaching the gospel and of feeding the flock. We must do both, and we pray to God that He will lead us in striking the right balance between those two tasks.

Let me also thank you very much for your confidence expressed in the Church and in me, personally.

In Christ's service

Roderick C. Meredith