I have recently returned from what I personally consider to be the
finest, the most successful, as well as the most enjoyable ACIM conference that
has taken place in my experience: the ACIM New Millennium Conference held in San
Francisco over the weekend of February 25-27 to an enthusiastic capacity crowd
of 400 ACIM students and teachers under the sponsorship of 6 ACIM organizations
and no less than 25 authoritative and talented presenters. It was one of those
rare times when everything felt right and went right. Truly a remarkable
experience.

Further reports about this conference will be coming to you
through the Course community in a variety of ways, so there is no need for
another event-by-event report from me. Just let me say that I participated fully
at the conference, both in public and behind the scenes, and found myself truly
grateful to be among such a loving and lively group of ACIM students and
teachers. In short, a pure delight.

What I want to do here is go more deeply into some of the issues
or challenges which I believe are now facing our ACIM community as a whole -
most especially now that we have entered into the new millennium, according to
the conference's primary facilitator, the Reverend Tony Ponticello of the
Community Miracles Center, "with style and grace" as well as a new
kind of "spiritual maturity." Which to me means that I am now, more
than ever before, at liberty to speak my mind in a very plain and direct way
about some the problems and controversies currently bedeviling our community.
And in doing this I realize, of course, that I will most probably be pressing
some very sensitive "buttons," and perhaps most especially among the
vested interests among us, several of whom had high or prominent profiles at the
recent San Francisco conference (whether they were present or not), and many of
whom I count among my personal friends. I speak only as a demonstration teacher
of God who feels that he can claim to be doing his very best to honestly live
the teachings of the Course for the past 20 years. And for those who confuse
perception with reality (including me), it also continues to look the way it
looks!

The copyright "controversy" all began with Marianne
Williamson.

As most people who know me, I have been saying for at least 15
years, both privately and more recently in public, that I have seen no
convincing evidence that the author of the Course (Jesus) ever
"authorized" that his course be "copyrighted"
for worldly "protection" purposes of any kind. None. I believe that is
simply a convenient myth that we have found it expedient to adhere to in a very
loose way - and, I suggest, mostly for prestige and status considerations; not
regulatory (or "gatekeeper") ones. Nor do I see how "divine
authorship" can be copyrighted in the first place - and never have.

However, I found very few people even interested in the subject.
Indeed, the vast majority in the Course community - and most particularly those
who found themselves inspired to write about or teach Course principles - were
quite happy to go along with this fiction, since everyone was able to obtain
"permission" from the Foundation of Inner Peace (the acknowledged
copyright holder) as a matter of routine. After all, we were "one big happy
family" in those days.

That is, until Marianne Williamson's book, A Return to
Love, came out in a major way as a result of Oprah Winfrey's strong
endorsation of that book before an estimated audience of 20 million people,
which in turn resulted in skyrocket sales of Marianne's book and about
50,000 additional sales of A Course in Miracles. An all-win situation for
both the Course community and the world as a whole, one would think. However,
FIP's lawyers got in touch with Marianne's lawyers in order to claim
ACIM copyright "royalties" - resulting in, I understand, something
like a $50,000 legal settlement, as well as making sure that future editions of
her book be annotated in a certain way when Course quotes and/or Course
principles were being used. It was an unprecedented claim, and Marianne did not
challenge it. Instead, she capitulated and stopped writing further books like
A Return to Love. And, in my opinion, metaphorically, the world became a
little poorer for that decision, a decision which unfortunately
"looks" like it might have been dictated primarily by fear and
self-interest considerations. Marianne, as a "successful" author, has
also publicly declared that she "believes" in copyright. It is not
clear to me whether that also includes copyrighting the Course, as opposed to
simply her own books.

But we teach by example, do we not? So I ask the question, in this
case, "What did Marianne's personal example teach our Course
community, many of whom were watching what was happening?" Was it
"love in action" - or was it "fear in action." I suggest the
latter - unfortunately - the consequences of which call out for forgiveness. But
also correction. We teach what we need to learn - without exception. So it is
fair to ask what Marianne - an outstandingly popular spiritual leader among us -
has learned from this experience? And also, what we have learned? Because there
is now a legacy which cannot be swept under the rug, or conveniently
rationalized away. The "fall out" is now all too noticeable.

Beware of ALL "sweetheart contracts" - because they
signify "corruption."

I have a 30-year background in labor-management relations, and if
there is one thing that I have been "trained" to look out for it is
behind-the-scenes-deals of any kind - and most especially, I would like to
emphasize, when they take the form of arbitrations, conciliations, and/or
mediations between or among vested interests - meaning, self-serving interests
of all kinds. And most particularly when lawyers are involved in some way,
people who have been literally trained to be "fear merchants" in a
world that believes in "sin, guilt, and fear." Not because there is
anything inherently "evil" about such professionals (I happen to like
lawyers, generally speaking), but because these kind of professionals have been
trained to be that way - and, for the most part, cannot help but function
on behalf of their clients using fear as a primary motivator. It is my
experience, therefore, that such people need to be watched - and very closely -
because they invariably work to confirm the status quo in some way (and, of
course, profit accordingly). Those are the realities I have
learned some lessons from - and most especially when some kind of
"sweetheart contract" is in the offing under the guise of a
"win-win" settlement - as opposed to an "all-win" settlement
(which is a very different thing, as we shall see later).

For the benefit of those not familiar with this labor-relations
term, a sweetheart contract is when two parties, ostensibly representing very
different interests, quietly get together behind the scenes to work out some
kind of a "special deal," a deal which is frequently achieved at the
expense of innocent third parties who have not been invited into the process,
but who are nonetheless directly affected by any outcome of what has been agreed
to. Perhaps the most blatant examples of this kind of thing happening within the
labor-relations field are when corrupt trucking companies and corrupt teamster
unions (sometimes linked to the Mafia) get together to cook up a special deal
for themselves at the public's expense.

I raise this matter because it has recently come to my attention,
via a letter by Gloria Wapnick published in the current edition of Tony
Ponticello's newsletter, "Miracles Monthly," that "you will
no doubt be interested to learn that through the initiating proposal of the
Foundation for A Course in Miracles (FACIM) and the Foundation for Inner Peace
(FIP), the process for mediation has been set into motion." And through
recent conversations with Robert Perry and others I find that a particular kind
of "professional mediator" - as yet unnamed, but one who is obviously
acceptable to FACIM - has been already chosen to help work out the differences
currently prevailing between FACIM and the Circle of Atonement (COA) - a
"decision" which sets off all kinds of intuitive alarms with me simply
because I cannot think of a worse or more unhealthy approach than that kind of
approach to bring about a true joining and healing within our fractious Course
community. Because it automatically precludes the use of the only Mediator
who can be fully trusted and relied upon; namely, the Holy Spirit.

So I very sincerely ask the question, "What are long-time
Course students and teachers doing choosing lawyers or professional mediators
over the Holy Spirit in such matters?" I mean that seriously. And I ask
this question quite apart from knowing that all professional mediators are in a
position to do in such situations is to function within a fear-based framework -
ironically, one set by the participants before they are even brought into the
picture. At best, all that kind of process will do is buy time, or solidify some
kind of a variation of the status quo. Which means, by design, that nothing
"real" will likely take place in such a situation. Because the
situation is literally set up for, and run by, the ego - leading only to another
kind of a merry-go-round.

As I assess the current situation, in very plain terms, the
primary reason FACIM and FIP have initiated this kind of proposal - and set it
"into motion" - is because their copyright policies have turned out to
be disastrous, and they are now clearly into some form of "damage
control." Which means that their approach is primarily an ego-based fear
reaction, but also one which panders to a further fear reaction on the other
side (in this case, the COA, who clearly cannot afford, and most certainly do
not want, a protracted law suit as a way of trying to resolve their current
dispute with FACIM). Also, if mediations are to "work" (even within
the dream), they necessarily must be between participants who are more or
less equals. FACIM has 9 million dollars at its disposal to play this kind of a
game. The COA has next to nothing in the way of financial resources. So how can
they in any way be seen as "equals" - even under the law? Also, this
doesn't even begin to address the issue that there is nothing at all
binding about "mediation." It is simply a variation of the game,
"He who has the most money wins." And that's all. Nothing at all
to do with fairness.

But what concerns me most is that it is also a variation of what
currently prevails in our Course community, with all kinds of organizations and
individuals currently outwardly conforming (while also complaining!) to
FACIM's expectations concerning copyright and trademark issues, diligently
putting an (R) and/or a (C) after certain words in order not to be sued!
We can joke about it - as we did at the recent San Francisco conference (with
everyone now openly laughing at the Wapnicks), but the fact is that most Course
people and organizations are still conforming to FACIM's and FIP's
expectations - obviously out of fear. And everyone knows it. And, at the same
time, we also know that there is no dignity in any of that. Sadly, in the world,
fear and cowardice often go together.

Again, all of which can be very easily and even quickly resolved
by consciously calling upon the Holy Spirit for His help - and ask for a
miracle. I am constantly amazed that such a simple and direct solution is not
immediately obvious to us. It's as though Course students and
teachers have in some way come to believe that such a solution is "too
simple," or "unrealistic," to even seriously contemplate. So
pathetic have we become in such situations, it seems to me.

In "current reality" terms, it is "game over"
for FACIM and FIP.

Like it or not, the fact is that it has become increasingly
apparent to just about everyone but the Wapnicks and the Skutch-Whitsons that a
true "shift in the wind" has now taken place within the Course world,
and that FACIM and FIP are no longer seen as important or even relevant in
today's Course world. One only had to attend the San Francisco conference
to note that. The fact is that even the dullest among us is coming to realize
that the so-called Course copyright is unenforceable, especially now with
the "Hugh Lynn Cayce version" of the Course being published all over
the Internet in thousands of copies, not to mention also appearing in printed
form all over the world. A "fact" that any court judge would quickly
note.

Which to me means that even if FACIM and FIP were to try to track
down how the Hugh Lynn Cayce version got out in the way that it did - playing
some kind of an expensive and time-consuming cat-and-mouse game with Endeavor
Academy and their cohorts, let us say, and perhaps even trying to sue EA yet
again for several more millions of dollars - as well as perhaps "other
guilty culprits" - it wouldn't result in anything meaningful to them.
Or to anyone, for that matter. Because it is literally "game over" for
these two organizations, whether they realize it or not.

In the meantime, what do you "do" with a course that has
become so flawed in its current printed form - at least 50 pages of
additional material to take into account - not to mention even further
discoveries in the way of discrepancies? Do you simply ignore that, and try to
convince a publishing house (like Penguin) that none of this really matters? And
how about all the translations? Are they now suddenly unimportant after millions
of dollars have been spent on them to date? And how about the Course theorists
and scholars among us, many of whom have written several books based on the
assumption that the Course as printed is a reliable document to work
from? Everything becomes suddenly dated now, does it not? - or at least
in need of significant and costly revisions. In short, a true publishing
nightmare situation.

And even with the Hugh Lynn Cayce version, what good is that
without some kind of credible verification that it is a truly
"accurate" version of what the author of the Course originally
intended for us? "Bootleg" material soon loses its currency after
awhile. And in this case the so-called HLC Text, which looks pretty shabby
compared to the standard Text, has no Workbook, Manual for Teachers,
Psychotherapy and Song of Prayer supplements associated with it. And no-one at
this point seems to know where the HLC version of these latter documents
currently is, as well as whether or not there were any changes made to them.


And all this quite independent of various marketing challenges
which also need to be faced, not to mention translating this whole new set of
documents into foreign languages as well, and then distributing them all
around the world.

In short, challenges abound!

Meanwhile, what about the Course itself?

I find it extremely interesting that while there is a great
thrashing about in the Course community over the copyright issue, and the
various internal struggles which seem to be taking place these days, there are
also powerful voices emerging within our community - such as with our
Jesus/Jeshua channelers - reminding us that none of this really matters;
that it is not about words in a book!
It's about living what we already know in a faithful and
devoted way. And I agree.
In short, it is about how we can apply what the Course teaches us
about forgiveness to this particular situation, is it not? For me, this
simply means how we invoke "God's plan for salvation" -
particularly as described in Lesson 71 - and bring about a true joining and
healing among us as a community.

So, what would it take to bring that about in both a loving and
effective way? Specifically, what would it take to "retire" all the
lawyers and mediators we have lined up to support our adversarial positions, and
instead call upon the Holy Spirit to help us to adopt His solution to all this?
Again, consciously ask Him to be our Mediator or Facilitator. All it
would take is a little willingness, would it not?

Ironically, I am fully aware of all the complications which might
result in taking such a simple approach. Such situations are not uncommon in the
ego's world, where we place such high values on our imagined grievances
(the ego's plan). However, at the same time, I fail to see what would
actually prevent us from following such an approach. FACIM and FIP have already
indicated that they would like to move in this general direction, so how about
using that as a beginning point - only minus lawyers and mediators, replacing
them with the Holy Spirit in our minds in support of true joining and healing?
By definition, that would call for a miracle, and no-one can tell in
advance what that might look or feel like. No-one, I suggest, would have an
inkling what solution the Holy Spirit would come up with. And most especially if
He was asked to be the Mediator or Facilitator. All we would know for sure is
that His solution would be an "all-win" solution, meaning no-one would
be left comfortless. No-one. Is that not so?

I frankly have no idea how the Holy Spirit would approach the
copyright issue, or the HLC version matter, or who would "own" what -
those kind of things. Even to attempt to find out, or to speculate in advance,
would simply be an ego ploy. We all know this. But, frankly, I don't even
care; because I know the Holy Spirit in our right minds is totally trustworthy
in every conceivable way, and that literally no-one would be left out of
His solution for us. The only thing that seems to be surfacing from my
guidance at the moment is that we - as a Course community - voluntarily get
together in some general way to resolve what seems to be bedeviling us at the
moment. And not just the scribes and vested interests among us, I would
like to stress. Because by far the greatest number among us have nothing
whatever to do with copyright issues and such. What we want most, I suggest, is
to have demonstration teachers among us who know how to apply the principles of
the Course in "real live situations." And most certainly the copyright
and Hugh Lynn Cayce text matter fits that category, and therefore might be a
very good place to begin.

In short, let us become "demonstration models" for
ourselves in all this!

In love, peace and joy,


Val
valscott@direct.ca (Val Scott)