To:
John Hales, President of Urantia Brotherhood
Members of the Executive Committee
Thomas A. Kendall, President, Urantia Foundation
Members of the Board of Trustees and Administrative Assistants

From: Barbara Kulieke, Chairman, Publications Committee, Urantia Brotherhood

Subject: The Slide-tape Presentation," A History of the Urantia Movement"

Date : April 18, 1980

As most of you already know, a showing of the slide-tape presentation "A History of the Urantia Movement "was made to the Executive Committee at its April 12 meeting. Copies of the script have been give to Urantia Foundation and the slide-tape will be shown to Urantia Foundation sometime within the next few weeks. Due to the intense pressure to get the slide-tape ready for April 12, this has been our first opportunity to prepare essential background information and explanatory data to help you in your deliberations, This memorandum is intended to supply you with many details about the purpose, development, ar.d format of "A History of the Urantia Movement. "

At the November 11, 1979, meeting of the Executive Committee, I presented the plan to develop a slide-tape entitled "A History of fhe Urantia Movement"; the Publications Committee had discussed and approved the plan at its October meeting. The Executive Committee gave its approval to go ahead with the project. The members of the production crew (a sub-committee of the Publications Committee), as announced at both meetings, are Mark Kulieke, Marilynn and David Kulieke, and Carolyn Kendall. I have been serving as chairman and coordinator of the production crew. Members of the production crew were chosen not only because of their technical expertise, but also because they had all been involved in other historical projects. Mark had been preparing the 25th anniversary issue of Urantia Brotherhood Bulletin and David, Marilynn, and Carolyn had been working on photographic collections for First Society archives and had presented a slide presentation history of First Society for the society orientation for new members.

The Executive Committee discussed the project further at its December 1, 1979, meeting. The Executive Committee was not asked to approve the content of the presentation ahead of time. They gave approval to work on the project with the understanding that the Executive Committee to be allowed to view the presentation as it was being developed, to make suggestions, and to approve the material before any showings to a general audience.

Production was speeded up in January when the Midwest Conference Planning Committee expressed a desire to show the slide-tape at the upcoming annual conference on June 7, 1980. This seems to be an audience well-suited to viewing a pilot showing of the slide-tape as many midwesterners have considerable background knowledge of the history of the movement and appear in general to be a relatively conservative group. In order to meet the June 7 deadline, it is necessary to make showings to the Executive Committee at its Apri I and May meetings to provide for ample feedback and consideration of the production, Also, Urantia Foundation has suggested that the- --.a,.,e at least six weeks to consider publication requests.

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Harry McMullan has expressed interest in having a showing of the slide-tape as part of the Domestic Extension Committee presentation at the August Workshops in Lake Forest. However, it is our intent to request approval for one showing at a time. In this manner, we can make revisions and improvements based on audience reaction and gradually develop a highly effective presentation.

Purpose

The purpose of the slide-tape is to present our own history from our viewpoint. Other histories of the Urantia movement have been written and stil I others maybe written, both inside and outside the movement itself. In any history, there are at least two essential elements: fact and viewpoint. Facts and events may be regarded from many difference viewpoints. In the slide-tape, we have been careful to present the facts with integrity; we think we are factual in description of events, having relied on written documents and the commonly shared oral history in the movement. We have been very careful, and have not left out important events, even some of our more challenging times. Factual integrity of the slidetape should stand up well against other histories which may be written.

One advantage of an internal history is that we may present the facts from our viewpoint. This, of course, locks a certain objectivity. Outside historians tend to be regarded as more objective- in reality, they simply write from a different viewpoint. Just as much subjectivity and distortion can result. Perhaps multiple histories are desirable. In any event, having our own--perhaps in several forms--seems to be essential, for several reasons.

We doubt, for example, that other historians will always emphasize the ourpose of our activity as a movement, that is, the purpose of all revelations--the spiritual uplift and advancement of mankind. We doubt that all histories will emphasize that our programs are for the spiritual uplift of all individuals, all races, all nations, all religions. In preparing our autobiography, our responsibility is not only to include enough basic information about the beginnings (as other historians are doing), but also to place those beginnings in their proper proportion and in balance with the more important goals and activities of the movement. There has been some concern that doing a history focuses us inward,calls attention to ourselves. We think, rather, that a history presented in the proper perspective can focus us outward, toward the spiritual goals and service of the movement; such a history can serve as a safeguard against becoming too inwardly focused. The book emphasizes the health of inward activity which prepares individuals for effective service,which inspires, and gives strength. Jesus taught living a life of service which had as its basis a sound routine of inward activitiess prayer, meditation, worship, study, instruction --individual and group. This model is the one we have attempted to use in preparing the slide-tape. We intend it to be an inward activity which focuses us outward. This has been one of the guiding principles in any of the publications which our committee undertakes.

Another principle guiding our committee is to undertake only needed, truly necessary, publications. The need for the slide-tape has been evidenced primarily in the 1970's. Before that time, history of the movement was and could be shared orally, from person to person. It is no longer possible to share events and policies on such a basis--many readers cannot visit headquarters to obtain such historical background ; many feel isolated without publications to provide news and to communiccite policies and procedures. Several small histories havebeen written, and histories have been presented at several conferences since the early 1970's. These have been well received, regardless of quality, readers want

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to k ' now and should know something about the beginnings of the movement. This information has always been shared. Now we are simply adding a publication to aid in this needed sharing.

Most religious organizations recognize the need to have an official history. It eliminates confusion. It is generally the version which prevails over all others. it is probably the version most-often used when outside researchers are writing reviews, summaries, reference entries, and the like.

The slide-tape is specifically intended for audiences who already read and believe in the teachings of The Urantia Book, such as Urantia societies, regional conferences, Brotherhood workshops, and general conferences. It is not to be used to introduce people to the book or the movement. However, we have written and produced it such a way as to be mindful of non-readers, should they chance to see it.

Text

In its Dresent form, the script numbers 23 pages. Of this, a little over one page is devoted to pre-forum and forum days. Approximately two and one half pages are devoted to guidance--movement philosophy, policies, and wisdom--which has been previously reproduced and distributed, some quite widely, and which continue to qu~de the movement.

Approximately 35 lines are quoted from The Urantia Book . We are seeking permission for the use of these from Urantia Foun tion. Approximately half of Part I might be considered, in a broad sense, derivative in nature. To avoid question, we also are requesting permission for the use of this material .

In using or including information, we relied almost totally on previously printed materials

including the following- a's

1) The URANTI _ozlk, The Book mentions the Revelatory Commission (pp. 1343, 1~46) al ~he

'~tfe~sh. 1243). The Revelatory Commission is mentioned in the July, 1977

contact persona

'Some l6ei'mation Regarding the Urantia Foundation, " and in a--ffi&mo addressed paper, to Urantia Societies, November 11, 1964. This paper mentions the Indictment dates of

U u -s 1,11 , and III which are also given in The Urantia Book (pp. 3-54, 648, 1319).

Part

2) Urantia Brotherhood Bulletin, 1955 - 19PO,

3) The Urantia Book- The Question of Origin, by Meredith J Sprunger, distributed by

Urantia Brotheri-,ood. This paper gives information about the function of the Revelatory

Commission, the contact qrouo and the contact personality,

4) William S Sadler, Jr Memo of April 4, 1955. This memo provided all of the material found on page 21, Par. 4 through page 23, Martin Myers' Unity, Not Uniformitydrew upon this material . The Sadler memo was distributed to Genera Fff~u~ci I ~rs at the time; Unity, Not Uniformityhos been published and widely distributed. UrantiaN News from Urantia Foundation , July 1977, published portions of the Sadler memo,

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5) William S. Sadler, Jr. Memo of May 2, 1955. This memo provided all of the material found on page 9. Some Considerations of Criticisms of The Urantia Book by Dr. William S. Sadler drew upon this material and was distributed widely for many years.

6) Some Information regarding Urantia Foundation, dated July, 1970 included the quote, "Many strange isms, . . " etc. , and also explained the basis for the formation of Urantia Foundation and Urantia Brotherhood.

7) Various fact sheets and notices on Urantia Foundation and Urantia Brotherhood, including an undated one apparently distributed in the 1950's including a statement about forum days.

8) Declaration of Trust creating Urantia Foundation.

9) Constitution of Urantia Brotherhood.

10) Memorial service for Dr. William S. Sadler.

11) Chicago area PERVADED SPACE, Vol. 1, No. 3 which featured an article (from an interview of Christy by David Kulieke) and gives information about Forum days, and personal recollections of early events.

In using any of the above-mentioned material, we used considerably less than was available. We reemphasized the fact that all that can be known about the origin is in the book itself. We made a point of stressing what was supposed to be held in confidence by the Contact Commission and the Forum. The oath of secrecy was reiterated in the memo addressed to all Urantia Societies in 1964.

The Pictures.

I Faces and Names. Only Dr. Sadler, William M. Hales, and the presidents of Urantia Brotherhood are identified by name as their pictures are shown. The other contact commissioners, the other early trustees, the present Executive Committee, the present trustees are not mentioned by name. Other faces appear in conjunction with the activities portrayed. All individuals are shown only in the activity or function they served-. personal qualities are not extolled or emphasized.

2. 533 Diversey. It is not our intention to create a shrine. We have to show something while we talk about the early days. We didn't think it appropriate to show people, mountains, birds, or animals. They are simply mood shots while the viewer concentrates on the narration.

3. Other Publications. Out of 320 slides, approximately 100/o of the pictures came from other publications. When agreement is reached on the script, we will seek permission from those publishers for use of their pictures. If permission is denied, others wi I I be substituted, or , as in the case of the maps and drawings of primitive men, we wi I I do our own artwork.

4. Pictures - general . Wherever possible, we have used pictures from our own travel collections and the archives of First Society. We will constantly strive to improve the

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quality, replacing with better ones where needed.

Music

We have thus far chosen classical pieces which we hope will not be d istracting to listeners, but will rather reinforce the mood and subject of the narration.

Narration

A professional narrator named Ray Siewert is being used for the taping.

At the April 12th meeting, feedback was positive and helpful and our group has already made several changes and improvements as a result. We welcome your comments and criticism at any time. We want to make this History a highly effective presentation .

It is the production group's thinking that the production will evolve for some time to come. It is intended that modifications and improvements be made with each showing until we have a product that audiences respond we] I to and that we are al I happy with. This may take a few months or even a matter of a year or two.

For now, we seek approval for only one showing, on June 7. It has been my intention to show the revised presentation at the May 3rd meeting of the Executive Committee.

Thank you for your consideration of this project.