Urantia FOUNDATION
533 Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614September 11, 1989
Mr. David N. Elders, President
Urantia Brotherhood
533 Diversey Parkway
Chicago, Illinois 60614Dear David:
The Trustees of Urantia Foundation have received your letter dated August 30, 1989.
We are pleased to hear that Urantia Brotherhood has a deepening dedication to the need for fairness, openness, honesty, and integrity in all of its deliberations.
Request for Release of Confidential Information
You request that the Foundation release the Foundation's past Trustees and resigned office staff from any restrictions on disclosure concerning their service for the Foundation, so that these individuals will feel free to discuss the reasons which lead to their resignations.
Each of those individuals has been and remains free to give his or her reasons for resigning. We assume that Frank Sgaraglino and Helena Sprague stated their reasons at the July 17, 1989, emergency meeting of the Executive Committee. They and others may possess confidential information obtained during their service to the Foundation. To the extent that such information is confidential, the Trustees intend that it remain confidential. To the extent that the information is not confidential those individuals are free to disclose it.
Invitation to Attend the General Council Session from 7:00 to 11:00 P.M. on September 16, 1989
The decisions of former employees and Trustees to resign are internal questions which pertain solely to the operations of Urantia Foundation. If the reasons for these resignations are to be examined, that is the responsibility of the Trustees and the Trustees alone. Therefore, the Trustees plan to meet with the three former Trustees and the resigned staff, either together or separately. This will give the Board the opportunity to explore the causes for the resignations of Frank Sgaraglino, Helena Sprague, Gloriann Harris, Scott Forsythe, and Mike Painter
Why do you persist in attempting to make the Trustees accountable to the Executive Committee or General Council of Urantia Brotherhood? Are there provisions in the Constitution or by‑laws of Urantia Brotherhood which entitle Urantia Brotherhood to investigate and pass judgment on Urantia Foundation's conduct of business? We do not know of any such provisions. On the other hand, we do know that the Trustees are required to uphold the integrity and independence of Urantia Foundation, as provided in the Declaration of Trust.
If Urantia Brotherhood has no authority to investigate and pass judgment on the actions of Urantia Foundation, what justification can there be for asking the Trustees to set aside the Foundation’s need for independence and privacy? Without the right to conduct Foundation 's business on a frank and confidential basis, Urantia Foundation Trustees and employees could not fulfill their independent responsibilities.
But a more direct question is this: Do the General Council proceedings contemplated for September 16 and 17 have a standing and purpose which the Trustees of Urantia Foundation can, in all good conscience, endorse? After considerable reflection, the Trustees have concluded that the answer is no. We are compelled, in view of all that has occurred to date, to consider the entire scenario invasive, intrusive, and inappropriate. The Trustees cannot participate in any manner, and we cannot lend the proceedings any dignity or sanction.
Our convictions in this regard are intensified by our knowledge of your July 10 and 12 conversations with Quin Frazer, General Legal Counsel of Urantia Foundation. Quin's memorandum summarizing those conversations is enclosed. This memorandum strips away any pretense as to the reasons for your actions, David, and it clearly reveals that you have been contemplating a lawsuit against Urantia Foundation. This casts a definite pall over the planned proceedings of the September General council meeting.
The Urantia Foundation Trustees' Continuing Desire for Open, Honest, Fair and Meaningful Communication with Urantia Brotherhood
As we mentioned in our August 24, 1989, letter, after rejecting your unsubstantiated accusations against our President, Martin W. Myers:
"A more urgent matter is your expression of the belief that Urantia Brotherhood's ability to realize its goals and purposes has been impinged upon, and that its work has been placed in jeopardy. If Urantia Brotherhood believes that it is unable to realize its goals and purposes or accomplish the work necessary thereto, it is necessary for us to know immediately how the goals, purposes, or work are not being accomplished. Failure in these respects must take precedence over other matters."
"In spite of current disagreements, the Trustees continue to regard the members of the Executive Committee and other elected officials of Urantia Brotherhood as valued colleagues engaged in a common effort. overall, we believe that the gravity of the situation makes it essential that the General Council conduct its deliberations in a cautious, thorough, and painstaking manner. We appeal to councilors to avoid taking any precipitate action which would affect the long term relationship between Urantia Foundation and Urantia Brotherhood.
"If resolutions or other proposals along such lines were put before the General Council, minimum respect for fairness would entitle the Trustees to written notice and a reasonable period during which they could comment. The Trustees would undoubtedly do so, focusing on the underlying implications and potential consequences. We believe that these comments, in turn, would be highly useful to the General Council in the next phase of its deliberations."
If you or any of the Councilors have any questions regarding the contents of this letter or our August 24 letter, please feel free to call or write any of the Trustees.
Very truly yours,
The Trustees of Urantia Foundation
cc: Members of the General Council
Trustee Emeritus
Recently Resigned Trustees
Past Presidents of Urantia Brotherhood