THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE FIRST TRIENNIAL DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
For the period-January 1955 to August 1964
In order that the Urantia Foundation could properly carry its duty to disseminate the teachings and
doctrines of The Urantia Book, it was inevitable that some sort of fraternal organization should come
into existence. Accordingly on January 2, 1955, a group of persons who believed the teachings of
the book and who were interested in their proclamation assembled in Chicago and completed the
organization of the Urantia Brotherhood. This group of 36 composed the charter membership of the
Urantia Brotherhood. This group of 36 founders constitutes what we know as the General Council
of the Urantia Brotherhood, which directs the affairs of the Brotherhood through the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of the officers of the Brotherhood together with
the chairmen the nine Departmental committees--a group of 14. This Committee meets monthly.
The Urantia Brotherhood is neither a church nor a sect; it is simply a social group which has a
religious objective.
There is a real place in modern civilization for a group of religious people who are willing to
completely divest themselves of all ecclesiastical authority and fully surrender all concept of spiritual
sovereignty. God alone is spiritual sovereign.
In October 1956 the Urantia Brotherhood Corporati0n was organized. This corporation is the fiscal
agent of the Brotherhood and in a general way takes care of “the financial and legal interests of the
Brotherhood. The Executive Committee may from time to time organize additional corporations, for
profit or not for profit as shall be considered necessary.”
When the Urantia Brotherhood Corporation was organized it entered into a relationship with the
Urantia Foundation whereby it serves as the active sales agency for the Urantia Book. Since the
establishment of this relationship all sales have been made through the Corporation and all profit
from which sales accrue to the Brotherhood through the Corporation.
The Urantia Brotherhood school was opened on September 19, 1956 with 71 students and has
functioned successfully since that date.
In December 1956 the Internal Revenue Department approved the tax exempt statue of the
Brotherhood, the Corporation, and the Foundation.
On January 29, 1959 a distinguished service award, the “Van Award,” was presented to Dr. William
S. Sadler by the General Council in recognition of distinguished service as provided in Article XIII,
section 13.3 of the Constitution.
On September 23, 1959 the Executive Committee granted to Miss Emma L. Christensen a citation in
recognition of many years of faithful service to the cause of the Urantia Book.
In May,1959, by resolution of the Executive Committee, the office of Field Representative was
established. William S. Sadler, Jr. was the first appointed Field Representative. As of this date we
have only one Field Representative, Meredith J. Sprunger, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is hoped that
during the current year the Executive Committee will make further appointments to this important
arm of the Brotherhood for promoting contacts with our Urantia friends throughout the country.
I must record here with deep sorrow the death of our second President, Warren F. Kulieke, on
February 23, 1962, during his second term, and the death of our first President, William S. Sadler,
Jr. on November 22, 1963. The death of these two outstanding individuals has been a great loss to
the Urantia movement.
Most assuredly the progress we have made during the past nine years is not spectacular.
No great figure has risen to champion the Urantia revelation, and at present it remains essentially
unknown in the world. Wherein have we reason, then, to be enthused and exhilarated? Let us
examine the positive side. Slowly, quietly, day by day, through personal contact the truths of the
Urantia Book are reaching scores of individuals in all walks of life. In an airplane high in the clouds,
in a cabin in the North Woods, on a bookshelf of a library, in the home of a friend,and many other
places, those searching for a religion and a philosophy are finding the truths of the Urantia
revelation. Here and there groups of interested individuals are engaged in the study of the Urantia
Book. The quarterly news letter is being sent to all interested individuals, maintaining contact
between the Executive Committee and members and friends of the Urantia Brotherhood. The
financial statement indicates we have tried to be good stewards of the Brotherhood funds. But it
seems to me that our greatest achievement has been on the negative side
A Mighty Messenger achieves his status by functioning loyally in the face of rebellion. Perhaps what
we have prevented from happening is the foremost of our accomplishments, for in spite of placing
the Urantia Book in the hands of influential persons, it has received no adverse or undesirable
publicity. Therefore it has not been cheapened by sensationalism. It is almost unbelievable that up
to now no fanatics or those with sinister motives have arisen to upset or undermine the great
message we have to bring.
Another of our accomplishments is being recognized through the work of the Urantia Brotherhood
School, which was established by the Committee on Education. This school is training teachers and
leaders for that time when the movement gains wider acceptance in the world. We regret that for
the present the school is limited to one geographical area. As the demand for an extension of the
services of this school in other parts of the world increases a more extensive program will be
undertaken; in fact, it is now being planned.
We have had unusual interest in the Urantia Book in both Australia and New Zealand. We very
much desire to send a Field Representative to those distant lands to assist these reading groups.
Mr. Jacques Weiss, who translated the Urantia Book into French, is doing a commendable job of
promoting the book in France and other French speaking countries. He reports that his Tahiti
representative has sold more then 20 sets in that little island.
Soon, very soon, we must print the Second Edition of the Urantia Book as our supply is rapidly
dwindling. This Second Edition, as well as the publication of the Index, will require the outlay of
many dollars. These two big projects loom up for action in the immediate future.
We have many problems to solve. The Constitution of the Urantia Brotherhood needs revision to
make it more workable. WE need to extend our School to areas remote from Chicago. We need to
maintain vigilance against fanatical individuals or groups who might bring us unwanted publicity or
attempt to short-circuit the evolution of any long-range plans.
It is our desire to appoint additional gifted individuals as Field Representatives so that frequent
visits may be made in individual Societies and study groups. The many study groups around the
country are beseeching us for teacher-guides.
Our goals are of long range. And while we must work fervently and zealously, we must not be
stampeded into unwise actions to promote our revelation. Those of us who have witnessed the
formulation of the Urantia Papers and the subsequent publication of the Urantia Book will zealously
guard and control the manner in which it will be presented to the world, letting the example of the
Revelatory Commission, who waited hundreds of years to make this revelation, curb our own
impatience and govern our enthusiasm.
We have much work to do, and we crave suggestions and assistance from our Societies.
All in all, the effectiveness of the Urantia Brotherhood is about what might be expected of a group of
earnest amateurs, all of whom are working without compensation and in their spare time.
E. L. Christensen,
President
Dated: August 20, 1964