September 30, 2001

To: Executive Committee, Urantia Book Fellowship
From: The Glenview Society
Re: Call for a Referendum

The Glenview Society opposes the General Council decision to publish a Fellowship edition of The Urantia Book. We believe this course of action moves the Fellowship away from its original purpose and places the organization onto a path of isolation and self-destruction, a thing without value or power. We believe the great majority of Fellowship members share this view. We believe there is a mounting and mountainous hunger for the politics to end.

In light of the fact that The Urantia Book is globally available and affordable, publication of a Fellowship edition will further intensify and polarize the movement. It will prolong the divisive tensions and drive us toward sectarianism. It will weaken resolve throughout the movement. We cannot even begin to do our share toward transforming the world while we are imprisoned in hostility, trapped in old paradigms that we are unable to transcend.

There is so much power stirring in the nation, the power of love and compassion, the power of a feeling of common unity, teamwork, and cooperation -- even among old enemies, even among the nations of the world. The hour has struck to refocus our priorities.

Let us work together shoulder to shoulder in the great and noble purpose we have come here to do. Let us work together to fashion a dynamic, driving, inspiring purpose and to saturate our lives with an aroma of friendliness. Let us each in our own way become the answer to Jesus' last prayer for unity among his followers. Others will then know us by that startling affection we show toward one another.

It is not too late to reverse this decision. We must not only protect the integrity of the book; we must also protect the integrity of the teachings.

A decision of the magnitude of publishing a separate edition of The Urantia Book should not be undertaken without first being tested with all societies and members at large. We must incorporate the sincere opinions of the organization.

Therefore, with all due respect, Glenview Society calls for a referendum among all Fellowship societies and members at large. Put the decision to a test. Do members support or oppose the Fellowship decision to publish a Fellowship edition of The Urantia Book?