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Show N€\AJ m~l::>e.rs dJ/h& &,.0,- Wt:'r£. s~rry j)"ck:s ·/+roJnee." l1.c.o 1'1 t-es, I~n't o.n?) Rt1.'tl'nona J o.ren'f ,'", -the p,'c tu.v-e., bid"' we. '11 +ry +0 ok> be.H-er nt.:~i Hrn~ ~ f'1ESSAGE #22 December, 1976 from Father H. 8. Liebler Brother Juniper Helen H. Sturges Dick Drabble Joan E. Eskell at HAT ROCK VALLEY RETREAT CENTER P. O. Box 5, Monument Valley, Utah 84536 Tel. 801-727-3291 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Messages Nos~ 1-21 have been issued at approximately semi-annual periods since September 1966. Many of the back numbers are available to persons wanting them. Just ask. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A sign in our nearest Trading Post reads, "The hurrieder I go the behinder I get!" Well, we know how the writer feels, and we probably have him beaten in the art of getting behinder. Sorry, but we'll try to do better. Since our last MESSAGE was sent out, much has happened. Possibly the most vital, judging by the correspondence we get, is the action of our Convention in Minneapolis. Readers of our MESSAGE will have no lack of information on our stand. The mass of "fan maiF' that has come in, in response to Joan's contribution, would in itself assure us thpt we are not alone -- but such assurance comes from many sour~es~ A recent radio speaker, Mr Perry Laukhuff, President of The Fellowship of Concerned Churchmeni made the st8tement that they had more than 400,000 signed objections to the proposal to ordain women -- and that Felloluship is a group of around 15 organizations and periodicals whose membership share our deep concern. We would mention a phase of the subject that has not, so far, seen much expression~ Our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the niqht in which He was betrayed to sufferinq and death, praye& to fiis Father in Heaven that His followers wourd remain one. He mentioned only one re~son for not wantinq a divided, but a uni ted, Church, and it had nothinq to do I"i th saving money, preventing overlapping ministries, &c -- it was "that. the IJJorlr:1 may believe." He knew, even then, ' that evanCJel isat inn ltJas virtu all y imposs ible for a fr 3ctured Bo dy. "l!.lhi ch kind of Gospel am I supposed to believe?" many have asked in despair. The first sermon in the original and united Church le ri to three thousand baptisms. (Acts 2:41) Growth of the Church was phenomenal. Divisi~ns, schisms, d8nominations came; 8vanqelisation g8ve way to controversies bet :.leen Christians. The movement for reunion behleen the historic brnnches of the Church has made greajt strides just in Father Liebler's days of ministry. Now it comes to a stop - not a grinding, but an instant stop. This is what some of our bishops and deputies have done to the Lord they claim to serve, to the church they profess to love. So, what can we do about it? No legal authority among us, but we all f eel th at there must be a way of cancelling the action of ConvRntion. We feel certain that many, if not most of those who voted "Ye~r we r e thinkinq of introducing somet hing new, something really nice, somethino that would qive pleasure to many ladies who had felt discr:L19inated against. I doubt if anyone thought, lI itlhat do we care about what the Lord wants for His Go spel and His Church - we're going to make news. 1I No, we don't have that kind of bishops or deputies. All the same, it is their problem to get us, and themsel ve s , out of the mess they have brought |