WORLDWIDE NEWS, SPECIAL EDITION 
March 6, 1981, Page 1 
 
 
                    STANLEY R. RADER RESIGNS 
                 EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES -- 
           CONTINUES AICF, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ADVISER 
                     TO HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG 
 
     At a congress of ministers of the Worldwide Church of God in 
Pasadena Feb. 25, Herbert W. Armstrong, Pastor General of the 
Worldwide Church of God, made the following comments. 
 
                     By Herbert W. Armstrong 
 
     Just over two years ago, on Jan. 3, 1979, armed deputies 
from the California attorney general's office suddenly, without 
notice, invaded the Pasadena headquarters of God's Church and 
college. It was a massive lawsuit attack that threatened to 
DESTROY God's Church and His Work. 
     It was primarily through the extraordinary work of Stanley 
R. Rader that the Church, its activities, facilities for those 
activities, properties and assets were protected, preserved, kept 
in continuous operation and their destruction prevented. These 
properties and facilities, which I would conservatively value at 
more than $100 million, were saved for the Church. 
     1) Mr. Rader had the expertise to guide the installation of 
what I feel undoubtedly is the most sophisticated accounting 
system of any church in the United States, prior, of course, to 
this massive government, unconstitutional invasion. 
     During our legal defense, which he masterminded, he had the 
wisdom to hire the largest CPA firm in the United States, Arthur 
Andersen & Co., to go over all of our records, and to relate to 
this very prestigious accounting firm so as to clear the Church 
and its officers of any allegations of financial wrongdoing. 
     This was a mastermind strategical move. The attorney 
general's case was doomed from the time of the Arthur Andersen & 
Co. audit. 
     2) Mr. Rader masterminded bringing together in our defense 
highly qualified attorneys from several top legal firms to defend 
the Church in the many hearings and court appearances. 
     Mr. Rader had the ability to command the respect of these 
prestigious legal firms, and to assume overall legal leadership 
as a master general of a master legal army to defend us against 
the overwhelming legal army of the State. 
     3) Mr. Rader spent much time in Sacramento, Calif., working 
behind the scenes with other organizations that were working to 
put the Petris bill through the legislature. This the attorney 
general's office based their case against the Church. 
     4) For two years Mr. Rader was working effectively with the 
media nationally, including television, radio and the press, 
using expertise in the media field over and beyond ordinary 
lawyer services. He appeared on talk shows over the nation, on 
many interviews, press conferences, turning public opinion in the 
Church's favor. 
     5) He utilized authorship in writing articles and his book 
"Against The Gates of Hell" communicating the Church side of the 
lawsuit. 
     6) He had the extraordinary ability to coordinate all of 
this and put it together in an effective and winning spearhead. 
     These activities extended in extraordinary manner, 
completely beyond the abilities and services and efforts of even 
the best and most famous of attorneys. Yet normal attorney's 
fees, totally incomparable to these extraordinary and effective 
activities, would run into many hundreds of thousands of dollars. 
     Corporations have to pay very highly for ordinary legal 
services in corporate lawsuits. Ordinary legal services, even 
from top lawyers of national reputation, in my judgment could not 
have won the battle and kept God's Church alive and active. I 
feel that Mr. Rader's salary is grossly inadequate for these 
extraordinary services. 
     Mr. Rader had expressed a desire to retire from his official 
Church executive position prior to the Jan. 3, 1979, state 
invasion. He and I had agreed to his retirement from this 
executive position very shortly before Jan. 3, 1979, to take 
effect very soon after the beginning of the year in 1979. When 
the State attack was launched Jan. 3, it became necessary for him 
to stay on. 
     For many years now, Mr. Rader has rendered extremely 
valuable services to this Church in the fields of law, accounting 
and finance, besides invaluable services as my assistant in 
carrying Christ's Gospel message to and through kings, emperors, 
presidents, prime minister and other leaders of nations over all 
the continents of the world. 
     He has the expertise in the field of government to 
complement me in talking to as many as 70 heads of governments or 
near heads. I feel sure no man has talked in private conversation 
with as many such government heads, in their own capitals over 
the world, as have Mr. Rader and I. 
     I feel this Church would be derelict in its appreciation if 
it does not make suitable acknowledgment for such service 
rendered two years after Mr. Rader had planned to retire from 
active executive duty. 
     For the past five months or so he has said publicly, in the 
public press, and before our own congregations, that it is his 
desire to return to private law practice, and has made public 
statements of intent to resign as treasurer and board member of 
the Church by July 1. Now he has asked that this date be moved up 
to March 1. 
     To show our appreciation, it is my judgment as Pastor 
General of this Church, that we should express our gratitude and 
heartfelt appreciation by a special bonus of $250,000, net to 
him. 
     I would at this time like a voice approval from you who are 
leaders in the ministry of this Church. 
     Mr. Rader will continue on as executive vice president of 
AICF, the performing artist series in Ambassador Auditorium, and 
in time and space buying for television, radio and publication 
space, and as my chief adviser in the legal and financial areas 
and in Gospel trips abroad as I shall take, but resigning his 
executive responsibilities in the office of treasurer. Leroy 
Neff, evangelist in God's Church, will assume the executive 
responsibilities relinquished by Mr. Rader. 
                                                                               

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