Since our last report to you, the IFC has seen a great deal of activity.
One of the biggest events in our committee's history was the planning and production of International Fellowship Day at the Lake Forest Conference last year. The comments we have continued to receive have been, with one or two minor exceptions, highly complimentary and positive.
Another significant event was the meeting of the International Fellowship Committee in October, 1980 with Mr. Carlos Zapata, a representative of the Bogota, Colombia study group and our committee's further discussion of how we can best approach the international dissemination of the teachings of The Urantia Book despite the fact that there are no ready-made translations of The Urantia Book in Spanish or other languages except French-which itself is currently unavailable.
The committee confirmed the important plan of action agreed at the prior week-end's meeting between the Trustees of Urantia Foundation and Mr. Carlos Zapata, Mr. Douglas Fraser-formerly from Bogota but now of Houston, Texas--and Dick Prince, Field Representative of Urantia Brotherhood.
The consensus was that while Urantia Foundation must perforce concern itself with the technical and legal complexities and the more bothersome aspects necessarily associated with realizing translations, Urantia Brotherhood has the grand if not exhilarating opportunity of linking up with sincere truth seekers and believers the world over and of helping prepare the way for the eventual reception of the message of The Urantia Book in translated form among a readership then in place. Just as Jesus traveled to Rome and met with important truth seekers, so it seems we should begin the preparation for the reception of the Fifth Major Epochal Revelation internationally.
More specifically, our Brotherhood attentions should be directed
a) to the placement of the original revelation (which happens to be in English) in bilingual libraries throughout the world where truth seekers may find it, (much as Gonod and Ganid had the opportunity to associate themselves with Jesus, later returning to their country and people to carry new truth to them, so can these seekers do likewise when they have discovered the teachings.)
b) to encourage - especially - the link-up with readers of The Urantia Book wherever they are, in spite of the language difficulties, and to begin the development of genuine personal relationships separate and apart from a potentially adversary--and certainly an emotionally charged--situation if those relations are largely focused on translation activity, instead of the Brotherhood's larger sphere of activities.
c) to begin the translation of pamphlets and other materials already approved by Urantia Brotherhood and Urantia Foundation into French, Spanish and other languages.
d) to begin to raise the consciousness of not only the national but also the international readership (or potential readership) as to the need for funds and to begin to collect funds where possible.
At its October meeting, the IFC adopted the following motion:
"Given that the need for translations is extremely urgent and the lack of translations presents the gravest threat to harmony between Urantia Book readers of different nationalities, the IFC recommends that the rapid creation of acceptable translations be given the highest priority possible.
"However, the IFC is committed to enhancing fraternity and harmony among the peoples of the world, especially wherever The Urantia Book may find its way. Notwithstanding the serious concern for the need for translations, the IFC will do everything to promote a balanced understanding of the practical problems involved in making suitable translations available. And furthermore, the IFC will encourage the translation of pamphlets and other informational material concerning The Urantia Book, Urantia Brotherhood, Urantia Foundation and their respective activities."
Concerning the matter of translations, you will find appended to this report a flow chart originally proposed by Chick Montgomery and modified in conjunction with discussions with the International Fellowship Committee which is helpful in understanding what a translation effort involves.
As to the specific work of the International Fellowship Committee:
a) The following resolution was passed unanimously:
"The members of the IFC, in cooperation with Urantia Brotherhood Executive Committee, will begin a program of coordinating the placement of Urantia Books in libraries outside the U.S.
"Julia will coordinate placement efforts in Greece, China, West Australia, East Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. She will also prepare an information package to send to those attempting to place books in libraries.
"Martin will coordinate placement efforts in French Canada, Spanish-speaking Latin America, and in libraries in American military bases."
Book placement is now in process but we hope to do much more in the coming years. This will, however, require additional funds which, as you know, are not readily available.
b) The IFC has undertaken the preparation of a pamphlet for presenting The Urantia Book to international libraries.
c ) An International Study Group Questionnaire was discussed and approved. It has been translated into French and is in the process of being translated into Spanish.
It has more and more been the custom of the IFC to invite others to participate in its deliberations and the committee has strongly endorsed this for future meetings. This past year, we have had additional participants not only from the U.S., but also from French Canada and Colombia. The future will undoubtedly see committee members named from other countries as qualified candidates appear. In the meantime, we hope to continue to expand, within limits, participation to those from other countries and cultures who are not only sincerely interested in our work but who also have the ability to work effectively with others.
Our committee has had an important year and we look forward to further carrying out the philosophy and programs discussed above.
On the international scene at large, I am hopeful that we will continue more and more to see a coordinated and rational cooperation in meeting the many challenges that face us as a result of the entrenchment over many centuries of the repercussions of willful rebellion, and default born out of impatient unilateral action. Many of our problems simply cannot be easily or quickly solved, but the certainty of their ultimate resolution can and will definitely be enhanced over the long term by our keeping our priorities straight and our profiting more and more from the significant potentials available through the Urantia Brotherhood mechanism for group function.
I have enjoyed working with and I thank my fellow Committee Members and invited guests and believe we are not only developing an effective committee, but also are developing an oncoming leadership which can assume greater responsibility on our committee and within Urantia Brotherhood.
International Fellowship Committee of Urantia Brotherhood by Martin W. Myers- Chairman