TO: GENERAL COUNCIL OF Urantia BROTHERHOOD
FROM: DAVID N. ELDERS, CHAIRMAN--CHARTER COMMITTEE
SUBJ: COMMITTEE REPORT FOR PERIOD AUGUST, 1979-AUGUST, 1980June 14, 1980
The purpose of this report is to apprise the members of the General Council of the activities of the Charter Committee of Urantia Brotherhood during the last twelve months.
1. Guiding Philosophy: In addition to the Constitutional definition of the duties of the Charter Committee, and in conjunction with our work this past year on revising the Standards of Admissions for Urantia Societies (see below), we have developed an informal philosophy which guides the work of our committee. This philosophy is as follows:
To allow the use of the most objective tool we have at our disposal, time, to deepen the commitments of those persons requesting Society status to insure the stability of the new Society (and, as a consequence, Urantia Brotherhood).
To insure that there is a full understanding of the responsibilities of Society status in relation to Urantia Foundation and its responsibilities, and Urantia Brotherhood and its constituent parts.
To provide for the progressive comprehension of the difference between the organizational aspects of Urantia Brotherhood and its evolutionary responsibilities, and the Brotherhood of Man which exists far beyond the scope of Urantia Brotherhood and which is manifest, at least organizationally, in study group activity. Whereas there must be guidelines and assumption of material responsibilities for Society status to insure just and organized interaction, there must remain no requirements for study group interaction save for the desire to reach the Father.
Standards of Admissions for Urantia Societies: At the May meeting
of the Executive Committee, our revised Standards were presented for final approval. These Standards, a copy of which you were sent, reflect the work of our committee during the last two years, finally brought to fruition at this May meeting. Any group applying for Society status from this date onward, will fall under these new standards(see possible Society applications below).
Denver Society Installation: During February, 1980, The Rocky Mountain Urantia Society of Denver was formally installed (Charter Number 15, although the 13th. active Society) in that city. The installation was attended by all but one of our committee-Mary Lou Hales, Irene Sprunger, Ticky Harries, David Renn, and David Elders( Lucille Kulieke couldn't make it).
Possible Society Applications: Currently there are quite a number of study groups considering the pros and cons of beginning the process toward Society status. Each of these groups have been in contact with this committee, at least on an inquiry basis:
Tampa Bay area study groups Toronto, Canada study groups Fernando Valley--Ventura County study groups Orange County study groups Hawaiian study groups Paris, France and Bogota, Colombia groups have requested preliminary information
5. Future Projects: During this coming year, in addition to attending to the work of serving those groups wishing to proceed with formal application, we plan to review the written materials we currently send out to prospective groups and rewrite it if appropriate. Additionally, we will be putting together, in conjunction with other committees, the orientation program which has now become an official part of the Standards of Admissions requirements.
This then is a summary of the progress we have made during the past year. We would like to be as responsive as possible to the members of the General Council and would encourage comments and communication concerning any phase of our activities and responsibilities.
Respectfully submitted,
David Elders, Chairman---Charter Committee
On behalf of committee members: Mary Lou Hales, Ticky Harries, Lucille Kulieke, David Renn, and Irene Sprunger