JOSEPH W. TKACH

PASTOR GENERAL

17th December 1987
i2

Mr. Curtis Joseph,

Altagarcia Trace,

Siparia

Dear Mr. Joseph,

Thank you for your recent letter.

We sincerely appreciate your questions, and are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

However, we feel that we can best serve you by arranging for you to personally counsel with one of our ministers.

You may call us at 645/2807, Monday through Thursday to setup an appointment.

Thank you again for your letter. We look forward to hearing from you again.

Sincerely,

Albert A Lynch

Personal Correspondence Dept.

AAL/bl

It is.

Written

A full message telecast

December 28, 1987 jc4~ ~

Curtis Joseph v —

Altagarcia Trace,

Siparia

REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.

Dear Curtis:

Many thanks for your earnest letter, which came into our office a few days ago. I’m so happy you wrote. We want all our friends to feel that the door is always wide open for them to share anything on their heart.

Your letter brings some thoughtful questions about man and woman relationships that I believe could best be answered in my book HOW TO ESCAPE AN AFFAIR. I’m sending along a copy, hoping it will be helpful to you.

Curtis, my prayer is that the Lord will richly bless you this holiday season.

Faithfully your friend in Jesus,

George E.Vandeman BOX 0 / THOUSAND OAKS / CALIFORNIA 91360 / (805) 373 -7733

BIBLICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Genera1 Conference of

Seventh –day Adventists

CHURCH WORLD HEADQUARTERS 6840 EASIERN AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON. DC 200~2 USA120) • CABLE ADVENTIST. WASHINGTON • TELEX 89 580

November 25, 1987 /

Mr Curtis Joseph

Altagarcia Trace Ia ~yd S

Republic of Trinidad & Tobago ~

Dear Mr Joseph:

Your recent photocopied document composed of 26 questions and assertions has reached our office, to which we send this brief reply. Unfortunately our limitations of staff and work load prevent our spending long periods of time in preparing responses to you in detail, but perhaps the observations in this letter may be helpful. It seems clear you would have much greater satisfaction by making contact with Adventist ministers or professors there in Trinidad, who I am certain would be pleased to visit with you on Biblical themes.

With regard to marriage, we do not see the Bible prescribing any exact ritual to be followed in establishing a marriage. Marriage has both religious and civil aspects. It is religious because it is clearly the relationship God. established in setting up families, therefore remains a fundamental feature of His government of the world. Sexual relationships occur legitimately only within marriage. All of us are quite aware of the massive violation of God’s plan among humans, but i s violation in no way diminishes the validity of God’s law. (Texts please? )

To be specific, it is the pledging of their lives on the part of the two being married that puts into effect a marriage. This pledging is done in the presence of witnesses in order to inform the community that these two persons have made commitments and wish to be recognized as married by those around The exact format in which this is done will vary from culture to culture, but its meaning remains constant. At such an event the minister serves as one of the witnesses, acting on the part of the Christian congregation to recognize validity of what is occurring. In some countries he is also invested with

authority by government to certify for legal purposes that this marriage is in effect. In other countries this certifying power is limited to appointed officials of government alone.

Naturally these comments only begin to look at the solemn matter of marriage, something initiated by God at creation, prior to the disruption of the entry of sin into human relationships. As Jesus reminds us, in the sight of heaven the pledge made by two persons - in marriage is recognized as permanent, in one sense

making the couple a unit that is to be seen in that unitary sense by the powers of heaven itself, hence not to be lightly disregarded or discontinued on grounds other than betrayal of the most grave kind.

We wish it were possible to visit with you personally, but as I suggested, we

recommend that you make contact with Adventists in Trinidad, who should be able

to help you more specifically

Very truly yours,

George W Reid, Director

May 4, 1988

Dear Mr. Joseph,

Thank you f or your letter and all the research that you have done on the subject of marriage and divorce. Your letter was sent to this office to be answered.

We do not have much information from Brother Swaggart on the subject, but are enclosing 2 booklets which we trust will be of help to you.

We have prayed for you and your needs, trusting the Lord to minister to you and to clarify your understanding of His Word as you continue to study.