Comments
on the "Unity of Purpose Initiative."
by Norm Du Val
FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO The Urantia Book READER COMMUNITY.
UNITY OF PURPOSE INITIATIVE
Undersigned Members of the 1989 General
Council of Urantia Brotherhood
May 8, 2003
Dear Urantia Book Friends:
Sometimes the future is changed by actions which ripple unexpectedly through time.
A sentence such as the above is simply unnecessary melodramatic filler, stating the obvious, imparting nothing that everyone doesn't already know. The future IS ALWAYS changed by actions (which ripple, unexpectedly or otherwise, through time). Zzzzzzzz.
The actions in the late 1980's that led to the separation of Urantia Brotherhood and Urantia Foundation, the two organizations which were the original vehicles for supporting the fifth epochal revelation on our planet, have clearly caused that kind of ripple.
The sound of self-importance. How important we all are and look at the big ripples we made. Hey, there goes one now.
The facts of the separation can be debated, yet with the benefit of time and experience the meaning of the separation has become clear.
Is that so? You mean, the "meaning" that lies and lawsuits don't pay and can wreck movements?
It has been as if a knife were thrust into our small community of readers leading to discord, dissent, and mistrust.
Imagine that! But even if true, so what? It's just more imagining of our own self importance in the world. Maybe what happened is the outworking of God's plan to separate the Urantian wheat from the Urantian chaff. It may be that now that the Revelation is finally free of Urantia Foundation's tyranny, other groups in the world unrelated to our sick, mostly English speaking movement may well carry the Revelation torch to the world where we failed miserably.
The destiny of our planet is to move ever upward toward harmony and unification.
Zzzzzzzzz. More filler. Who wrote this stuff anyway?
The energy circuits, the spirit of truth, our Thought Adjusters and many other spirit influences are all beckoning us toward unity.
Zzzzzzzzzz. Yawn.
Our souls crave unity.
Marvelous. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Yet, we can no longer hold hands together with some of our fellow Urantia Book readers because those who were once friends are now foes.
Amazing, isn't it? After years of Urantia Foundation's lies, relentless and vicious lawsuits against believers, default of Urantia Foundation's Declaration of Trust mandate to keep the text inviolate, not even footnoting the changes they made and the words they dropped, and corporate abuse and lies concerning the sacred concentric circles banner of Michael and the words "Urantia" and Urantian," we can no longer hold hands together.
Urantia Foundation lied in court when they said "...and by the way, it's not a religious book." Urantia Foundation lied to the Trademark Office when they said the word "Urantian" was a coined word, formed by, and from the name of Urantia Foundation. The word is actually a revealed word, in the Revelation some 33 times, pre-dating Urantia Foundation. Etc. All lies. How can we have unity with such an organization? It's not possible unless "peace at any price" is the operating philosophy. Urantia Foundation was unethical when it gathered all secular power to itself over the text and over the circles symbol and the words. And the chickens have long since come home to roost, events ripple through time unexpectedly some say in seeming surprise, and those who were once friends are now foes. Gee Whiz. Want more lies, fresher, up to date lies? Here's Urantia Foundation's latest. In their appeal of the appeal, concerning the Revelation they told the three judges:
"There is no plot. The book does not endeavor to tell a single story. It is exactly what it appears to be: a series of independent, self-contained writings."
Yet, in one of Urantia Foundation's pamphlets, it says:
"The first three sections of the book constitute an informing introduction, a universe backdrop, for the enthralling drama of this human divine life of Jesus on our planet. The presentation, therefore, of the picture of this matchless life in its cosmic frame is rightly the climax, the fitting conclusion of the URANTIA revelation."
What a difference!! It all depends on who Urantia Foundation is talking to, how it characterizes the Revelation.
It's so easy to catch them at their shameful lies that it's pitiful. I am beyond embarrassment for Urantia Foundation and their supporters and sympathizers.
We have followed the paths of those in earlier epochal revelations to fragmentation and sectarianism.
Imagine that. But who is this "we," Kimosabe? In actuality, it is Urantia Foundation alone that has "followed the paths of those in earlier epochal revelations to fragmentation and sectarianism." Urantia Foundation is the root cause and sole source of all the evil and dissent that has plagued our movement for the last 25 years. No one is to blame but Urantia Foundation, they have reaped what they've sown.
And when we try to tell the story of the separation to those who know nothing about it, the story is hollow.
That's right. Zzzzzzzzz. Hollow and boring. But there it is.
It is not filled with the goodness and spiritual fragrance of God-knowing individuals.
Zzzzzzzzzzz. SH, did you write most of this?
One of the saddest facts of the separation is that mistrust has been spread throughout our world community.
Yes, it's sooo sad. And so predictable.
"Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive."
Lies and lawsuits and broken Declarations of Trust are not good fruit and will not generate anything worthwhile.
And we're so important to the world. And what is Urantia Foundation going to do about it, since they're the cause? Seriously, if you don't recognize root causes, you'll never come to workable solutions. Urantia Foundation is the cause. Denial and/or avoidance will not accomplish anything except more evil. I think this "unity of purpose" business is really meant to be a superficial discussion of, and sweeping under the rug of, symptoms. It should be a discussion of, and finding a cure for, the diseases that plague the "movement."
Like a virus, the two organizations create dissent where people hunger instead for the truths and hope of the better world that we understand from The Urantia Book.
This is false. It's worse than false because it's beguilingly misleading. Only one organization created dissent, and that organization is Urantia Foundation. Even Bill Sadler saw it coming. He said:
"Unless the Foundation conducts itself with wisdom it may breed dissension between itself and the Brotherhood. In the opinion of the writer, there is no place in URANTIA Foundation for naiveté or any exhibition of proprietary feeling toward the Urantia Papers."
-William S. Sadler, Jr. - April, 1958Nevertheless, that's exactly what happened. Urantia Foundation did not conduct itself with wisdom, has not, and still is not doing so. And it's entirely up to Urantia Foundation to fix the problem, restore the balance of power between itself and the Urantia Brotherhood, restore the Brotherhood's rightful use of its name, un-trademark the circles and the words Urantia and Urantian, restore or footnote in their book the text changes they've made, promise, no more lawsuits for any reason whatsoever against anyone, apologize for the lies in court against the Revelation, etc. The signers of the "UNITY OF PURPOSE INITIATIVE" seem to be largely made up of Urantia Foundation supporters, sympathizers and Fellowship subversives, and the "Initiative" doesn't seem to contain ANYTHING of value from Urantia Foundation itself on what IT plans to do to undo all the wrong it has committed upon the believers and the Revelation.
Many individuals have played a role in creating the separation.
This is an attempt to put the problem into a vague, nebulous area where everyone is equally guilty, when in fact, it was then, and it is now, the trustees of Urantia Foundation who bear full responsibility for the sorry state of the "Urantia movement."
Most did not act out of maliciousness nor intent to harm, but out of a sense of responsibility to the Urantia revelation.
The above statement is almost certainly complete bullshit, and is probably unknowable in any case. It's more attempt to spin the problem so that no one is to blame, everyone is to blame, there is no right or wrong, and everyone acted "out of a sense of responsibility to the Urantia revelation." It's wrong, I'm certain of it. In the face of the Master's teachings to, "Forbid him not. Do you not perceive that this gospel of the kingdom shall presently be proclaimed in all the world? How can you expect that all who will believe the gospel shall be subject to your direction? Rejoice that already our teaching has begun to manifest itself beyond the bounds of our personal influence," Urantia Foundation's lawsuits against believers were simply vicious, malicious, and evil, and nothing more than attempts to get and maintain absolute control of the Revelation. Power and glory and a preferred place at the table are strong lures for mere mortal men, the sort that have been in control of Urantia Foundation for many years.
Well-intentioned people did what they believed best.
Impossible to say. Assumptive political spin and speculation, unknowable, unprovable, and irrelevant. God will have to decide such things. We only have the "fruits," the disastrous results to look at and evaluate.
But their best was just not good enough. We know that now.
We don't know if it was "their best" (Who are "they" anyway, whose "best" was not good enough? Let's name names and examine cases. We need to have a movement wide reconciliation *trial* such as they have held in South Africa and elsewhere. Crimes against believers and against the Revelation have been committed.) We simply cannot sweep all the garbage under the rug with such generality nonsense as the above, no matter how badly some folks desire it. And whoever's best was "just not good enough," we knew that in 1989, it didn't just dawn on everyone yesterday.
We have laid blame on the organizations responsible for the separation for altogether too long.
Not at all. In the first place, only Urantia Foundation deserves any of the blame for the separation. They deserve all of the blame they have ever gotten, and it's hard to see how it has been for "altogether too long" when even as late as last month Urantia Foundation was still lying in court about the Revelation and still trying to hurt people legally for spreading the Revelation in their own ways without Urantia Foundation's permission.
Blame will not allow our community to heal.
Our community cannot heal until the trustees of Urantia Foundation make a conscious, real choice to undo what they've done, change policies, apologize for their actions and for those of their misguided predecessors. They have not done that, and are still, to this very day, trying to regain absolute powe over the Revelation. It took the Pope 500 years to apologize for the Church's persecution of Galileo. Someday an enlightened group of trustees may do the same in our "movement," apologize for Urantia Foundation's persecution of Kristen and Harry and others. But another phony Public Relations campaign of the sort that the trustees tried to pull off when Mo and Gard crossed over just won't do. Here's some of (now) trustee Mo's public statements just to refresh our memories about who this man really is:
"Four issues persuaded me to remain in a Fellowship Society rather than join the new Urantia Brotherhood Association. While the Fellowship performs as an imperfect human institution, it democratically represents the vast majority of organized believers. Conversely, control of Urantia Foundation lies in the hands of five Trustees self-appointed for life."
Mo Siegel, March, 1991"Urantia Foundation's current Trustee selection raises negative speculation about conflicts of interest, self-dealing, and concerns about checks and balances. Three former college fraternity brothers control the majority of votes on Urantia Foundation Board while simultaneously dominating the Board of Urantia Brotherhood Association." ...
Mo Siegel, March, 1991"How safe can the revelation be under these management circumstances? Human history is replete with examples of the disasters which occur when a small group of isolated people obtain unlimited power. Even the best intentioned individuals usually fall when given absolute power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Mo Siegel, March, 1991"Nothing would be better than Urantia Foundation conducting its affairs in a moral, legal, and spiritually uplifting way. We all wish to see a successful Foundation that works in the deepest level of loyalty, cooperation, and dignity with the universe government and men and women dedicated to the universe government's work on Earth, the Fifth Epochal Revelation."
Mo Siegel, March, 1991"Well run non-profit boards find highly qualified candidates to serve their organizations. Board candidates need to meet diverse standards such as appropriate skill levels, time commitment, non-profit experience, integrity, community good will, financial means, and objective arm's length relationships."
Mo Siegel, March, 1991"As devoted believers in the revelation, we can only pray the Trustees have been making unintentional errors answering the authorship question. Nothing could destroy the revelation's long-term success quicker than the original publisher giving sworn court testimony that The Urantia Book was authored by human sources. Imagine how discredited the revelation would appear when church leaders gave their congregations copies of Urantia Foundation's disclosures on authorship."
Mo Siegel, March, 1991
The acceptance of responsibility by the individuals who had a part in creating and perpetuating this separation can begin the reconciliation process.
Great. When is that going to happen? I see in your "Initiative" that you not once mention the trustees of Urantia Foundation, who are still, as we speak, dreaming up ways to reverse the Appellate Court and regain their insufferable control and imperiousness. Will Mo and Gard and Georges and Rich soon be going to making statements about their "acceptance of responsibility ...in creating and perpetuating this separation" so we can begin the reconciliation process? Will they be announcing any new policy changes with regard to the copyright that they've lost, and the text that they've changed, and the lawsuits that they will forego in the future? What will change, exactly, when they accept their responsibility?, if they accept their responsibility, which remains to be seen and is in doubt based on their track record. Have you all on this "UNITY OF PURPOSE INITIATIVE" committee contacted the trustees about any of this? Are they all "on board" with you and your ideas? What have Rich and Georges said about this? Anything?
This process would not be easy and would take the efforts of many to form a common ground. And this would be only the beginning of our journey towards community.
So, when will the trustees be meeting with the Fellowship, aka Urantia Brotherhood, to start un-ringing the bell and putting Humpty Dumpty back together again? Pretty soon now? What's the timetable? Are the trustees on board? If they're not on board and if things with them are not going to change, then your "initiative" is a waste of everyone's time.
The following members of the Executive Committee and General Council of 1989 have committed to a process of rebuilding unity in our community.
What about "the following" trustees of Urantia Foundation of 1989 and of today and in between? Have they committed to a process of rebuilding unity in our community too? And if so, how are they planning to do that? Can unity be rebuilt on continuing lies? The lies simply must be acknowledged and renounced and undone in the venues where they were made. "Unity of purpose" won't work as long as Urantia Foundation policy is "Our way or the highway." "Cross us and we'll sue you." "The text is whatever we say it is, and if you don't like it, tough shit." Etc. People will never stand for that. Urantia Foundation has wasted millions of dollars of God's resources on these policies and Urantia Foundation has fallen the way the mighty and powerful fall. Now it's time for them to get back on God's track, the Master's track. "Forbid him not. Do you not perceive that this gospel of the kingdom shall presently be proclaimed in all the world? How can you expect that all who will believe the gospel shall be subject to your direction? Rejoice that already our teaching has begun to manifest itself beyond the bounds of our personal influence."
Even though we believe we made in good faith the best decisions we could in 1989, they were never intended to cause the dissolution of the formal relationship between the Brotherhood and Foundation.
What a bunch of deluded, revisionist, self serving, fawning, mealy mouthed crap. The dissolution was forced on the Urantia Brotherhood by an intransigent, imperious, power mad Urantia Foundation though and by its trustees. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely (as Mo said above before he was a trustee), and that's what happened to the trustees. There was no other choice, the split HAD TO HAPPEN, it was inevitable under the circumstances, or else the Urantia Brotherhood would have had to kneel down in front of Urantia Foundation and acknowledge subservience to Urantia Foundation's almighty and unquestionable power and righteousness from God himself. After the split, Urantia Brotherhood offered to enter into mediation by a third party but were told by Urantia Foundation that they would not enter into any mediation because mediation was a technique of conflict resolution only between equals. It's not an exact quote, but I have the tape. Are the Fellowship/Urantia Brotherhood and Urantia Foundation equals now? What do the trustees say? The trustees are the key to any "UNITY OF PURPOSE INITIATIVE" and I see ABSOLUTELY NO input from them on this or any sign that they're "on board" or even on the same page. And I suspect that they're not, unless it's all their way, meet the new boss, same as the old boss. We simply cannot go back to the days when Urantia Foundation felt that it had the right to approve or disapprove someone speaking more than 500 words aloud from Jesus. Unbelievable. Yet, if power had not been wrested away from Urantia Foundation, that's exactly where we'd still be, not to mention having to buy a one-size-fits-all big blue hardbound book with whatever text Urantia Foundation decided to print in it, and at whatever price Urantia Foundation decided to charge for it. Thank you Kristen and Harry! Before the first liberation of the text, the price of the book was $54 and rising fast, and Urantia Foundation decided all those matters, solely and alone, as they saw fit, along with the cover of the book, the text size, the columns, everything. We simply cannot go back to those days. Apologies for such micro-managing arrogance need to be made, and current imperious, proprietary policies need to be abandoned and renounced.
Thus, we accept responsibility for the role those decisions might have played in that separation.
Urantia Brotherhood made the right decisions at that time. There was no other way short of eternal fawning subservience to Urantia Foundation.
With the benefit of nearly 14 years of hindsight and experience, we regret the impact these events have had on the development of a necessary, vital, and living unity of purpose in our community reflective of the best of the revelation.
What a sickening statement of apology. Where are the trustees of today and yesterday's similar such statements? Where are their statements of responsibility acknowledgement and policy change? When are they going to restore the Fellowship/Brotherhood to its rightful, equal place and disband their cynical Brotherhood replacement, their lap dog IUA? What a pathetic organization that is.
We hereby invite all who have had a role in the creation or perpetuation of this separation to join us with prayers...
Prayers? Prayers for what exactly? What is the nature of these "prayers?" The problem issues that caused the separation will have to be revisited and resolved by humans. Are the trustees on board with this? Why is there no mention of them, not even in passing, in this document, this "unity of purpose" initiative?
...and a renewed faith that unity can and will emerge.
It's not a matter of faith or prayer. it's a matter of hard work, on the ground concessions, apologies, policy changes, attitude changes, restoration of power balances, etc. Let's hear it from the trustees. What steps are they going to take to undo the damage they've done? That's what we need to know. Are they ready to enter into mediation now? Are they ready to follow the Master when he says "Forbid him not."?
We also urge the current leaders of both organizations to meet and dialogue about recreating unity throughout our community.
Yeah man, great. Far out. "Urge" in one hand and pee in the other and see which one fills up first. What a bunch of bilge.
But someday the true believers in Jesus will not be thus spiritually divided in their attitude before unbelievers.
Yeah, someday. But not today, and not us. The Master teaches, "Forbid him not. ...How can you expect that all who will believe the gospel shall be subject to your direction?" But the trustees say over and over by their actions, "Screw you, Jesus, we'll do whatever the hell we like."
Always we may have diversity of intellectual comprehension and interpretation, even varying degrees of socialization, but lack of spiritual brotherhood is both inexcusable and reprehensible. (P. 1866.3)
Yeah, it's real reprehensible alright, but whachagonnado? The trustees answer to no one and they do as they please. And they, the trustees of yesterday and today, are the cause of all the problems in the "movement." However "inexcusable and reprehensible" situations of this sort are, the Revelators VALIDATE in their report on Abner that such things do happen and that one side can be and often is, more righteous than the other side:
P.1831 - §6 The Jews at Jerusalem had always had trouble with the Jews of Philadelphia. And after the death and resurrection of Jesus the Jerusalem church, of which James the Lord's brother was head, began to have serious difficulties with the Philadelphia congregation of believers. Abner became the head of the Philadelphia church, continuing as such until his death. And this estrangement with Jerusalem explains why nothing is heard of Abner and his work in the Gospel records of the New Testament. This feud between Jerusalem and Philadelphia lasted throughout the lifetimes of James and Abner and continued for some time after the destruction of Jerusalem.
P.1831 - §7 It was the apparent misfortune of Abner to be at variance with all of the leaders of the early Christian church. He fell out with Peter and James (Jesus' brother) over questions of administration and the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem church; he parted company with Paul over differences of philosophy and theology. Abner was more Babylonian than Hellenic in his philosophy, and he stubbornly resisted all attempts of Paul to remake the teachings of Jesus so as to present less that was objectionable, first to the Jews, then to the Greco-Roman believers in the mysteries.
P.1832 - §1 Thus was Abner compelled to live a life of isolation. He was head of a church which was without standing at Jerusalem. He had dared to defy James the Lord's brother, who was subsequently supported by Peter. Such conduct effectively separated him from all his former associates. Then he dared to withstand Paul. Although he was wholly sympathetic with Paul in his mission to the gentiles, and though he supported him in his contentions with the church at Jerusalem, he bitterly opposed the version of Jesus' teachings which Paul elected to preach. In his last years Abner denounced Paul as the "clever corrupter of the life teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of the living God."
P.1832 - §2 During the later years of Abner and for some time thereafter, the believers at Philadelphia held more strictly to the religion of Jesus, as he lived and taught, than any other group on earth.
P.1832 - §3 Abner lived to be 89 years old, dying at Philadelphia on the 21st day of November, A.D. 74. And to the very end he was a faithful believer in, and teacher of, the gospel of the heavenly kingdom.
Abner is one of the very few that the Revelators honor with the exact date of his death, and he "denounced" Paul, and properly so it seems that the Revelators imply. They certainly do not condemn him for it. And I denounce Urantia Foundation for misrepresenting Jesus before men, by their actions against believers and against the Master's clear teachings.
P.1571 - §7 "In the great day of the kingdom judgment, many will say to me, `Did we not prophesy in your name and by your name do many wonderful works?' But I will be compelled to say to them, `I never knew you; depart from me you who are false teachers.' But every one who hears this charge and sincerely executes his commission to represent me before men even as I have represented my Father to you, shall find an abundant entrance into my service and into the kingdom of the heavenly Father."
Who was Jesus talking about when he said, "I never knew you; depart from me you who are false teachers."? Just some of those at that time and place? Maybe some Christians? Other groups certainly, somebody else, but not us for sure! Maybe he was joking? How has Urantia Foundation represented Jesus before men with their lawsuits against people for spreading the Revelation in their own ways, when the Master clearly said, "Forbid him not."? How can the Executive Director of Urantia Foundation swear in court that she doesn't know who wrote the book, when the authors are listed right in it? I believe that some of us, just like some who were lost in the Lucifer Rebellion, may be in serious doo doo. I guess we'll know in due time.
Respectfully,
The undersigned 19 elected members of
the 1989 General Council of Urantia Brotherhood have chosen to be signatories
of this statement. With one vacancy, two graduations, and two who could not be
contacted, 31 members of the 1989 General Council considered this statement
(seven chose not to sign and there was no response from five).
Who were the seven brave stalwarts who refused to sign? This is important and I'd like to know. They need to be given an "Amadon" award for refusing to compromise with evil. And what of the five who did not respond? What are their names? Perhaps the unity initiative simply made them too sick to reply. Perhaps they also should be given an "Amadon" award. If anyone knows who these 12 are and what their reasoning is, I'd be happy to add their names to the Amadon Honor Roll on my website.
P.762 - §2 From Edentia up through Salvington and even on to Uversa, for seven long years the first inquiry of all subordinate celestial life regarding the Satania rebellion, ever and always, was: "What of Amadon of Urantia, does he still stand unmoved?"
There are several names below that are a disappointment to see on the list, but for the most part, looking it over, it's about what I would expect from such a list. Not many Amadons or Abners in this group, in my opinion. -Norm.
Stephen Dreier*
David N. Elders*
Anthony R. Finstad
Scott M. Forsythe
Polly Friedman
John W. Hales
Gard Jameson*
James G. Johnston*
Marilynn J. Kulieke*
Eileen Laurence
Peter Laurence*
R. Steve Law
James McNelly
Larry Mullins
David Robertson
Mo Siegel
Brent St. Denis
Paul Snider
Melissa Wells
* Executive Committee Member
Those who refused to sign or who did not respond to the initiative for whatever reasons were:
Avi Dogim
Daniel Massey
Harry McMullan III
Janice Heinberg
John Hay
John Lange
Lucile Faw
Lynne Kulieke
Michael Painter
Phillip Rolnick
Robert Bruyn
Thomas Allen