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The founders of the Urantia movement recognized the repercussions of the fifth epochal revelation required two basic organizations to assume different specific responsibilities and functions.

During the past year or two as the Foundation has presented a Confirmatory Agreement to established societies and as various individuals or groups have sought permission to use Urantia Book materials for study groups and conferences or desired to publish material involving quotes from The Urantia Book, misunderstandings and disagreements have arisen between the Foundation and a group or the person involved. Such disagreements are to be expected and often serve constructive purposes. There are times, however, when negative polarization occur which we should seek to avoid. One basic approach to achieving this end is to think through and see clearly the philosophy of Foundation and Brotherhood relationships. To stimulate your thinking and solicit your help in developing such a philosophy, the following view of Foundation-Brotherhood relationships is presented.

The Foundation's primary function is the publication of The Urantia Book, protection of copyright, trademark, and service marks. In carrying out their responsibilities the Foundation must place emphasis on purity of text, propriety of activities associated with the service marks, copyright defense, and the economic necessities which these actions require. The ultimate social-temporal requirement demanded by this basic function is to establish the authority demanded by the Declaration of Trust; and such authority in our society is finally determined by legal procedures. The Foundation's image, therefore, will take on connotations of political and legal authority.

The Brotherhood's primary function is to organize study groups and societies and generally stimulate individuals and groups to actualize the teachings of The Urantia Book in their lives. To carry out their responsibilities the Brotherhood must place emphasis on fellowship, leadership development, stimulating individual growth and creativity, spiritual enlightenment, group dynamics, and group decision-making. The ultimate social-temporal requirement demanded by this basic function is to evolve an effective brotherhood; and brotherhood is achieved through love, freedom, and loyalty. The Brotherhood image, of necessity, will take on connotations of openness, service, and freedom. In the various relationships between the Foundation and the Brotherhood individuals have sometimes unconsciously assumed the function, methods, and image of the two organizations should be the same. As a result people in both organizations have often been unable to understand each other. The Foundation may be perceived as "legalistic" and "dictatorial." Brotherhood societies, study groups, and individuals may be seen as "libertine" and "unloyal."

It is time that we recognize the distinctive functions of both the Foundation and the Brotherhood and separate their proper images in our thinking. Our objective should not be to make the Foundation over in the image of the Brotherhood nor to make the Brotherhood over in the image of the Foundation. Both of their functions are needed and proper. Because people have difficulty shifting their frames of reference, it may eventually be found that it is best not to have Brotherhood Executive Committee members serve on the Foundation or vice versa. I personally hope that we have sufficient individual flexibility so that we can always have people who serve on both the Foundation and the Brotherhood Executive Committee.

When we clearly see the functions of the Foundation and the Brotherhood as being different and that these differences are necessary and good; we will have established the basic philosophic foundations for supportive and cooperative behavior instead of antagonistic and coercive relationships. I should like to see the Brotherhood take the initiative in defusing actual and potential conflicts with the Foundation regarding copyright, trademark, service marks, and publishing literature or art related to The Urantia Book.

This could be accomplished by establishing a tradition in the Brotherhood which would not violate copyright or service mark usage and at the same time allows complete freedom for members of the Brotherhood.

We could evolve a tradition in the Brotherhood of separating the publication of The Urantia Book from the publication of study materials or art related to The Urantia Book. You may recall that the American Bible Society, in the main, publishes only the Bible. Books about the Bible and study aids are generally printed by other publishing houses. Such a separation might also be good in the Urantia movement.

If the Brotherhood encouraged a practice of putting the great truths of The Urantia Book in our own words, we could stimulate individual creativity that would be entirely open and free. Sources other than the Foundation would publish most of such literature and art and it would stand or fall on its own worth and involve only the author and publisher. Even Urantia study aids could be published in this way. Care would have to be taken not to use the term "Urantia" in any way which would violate the trademark or service mark laws. References to The Urantia Book could follow a standard nomenclature: 291:3:2-8 (page, paragraph, lines) and then comments or questions could follow. In this way these aids would stand on their own feet and not involve the Foundation.

The important thing is that both the Foundation and the Brotherhood maintain their special functions, establish their unique images, and both support the duties, functions, and image of the other.