By Dixon Cartwright

In this issue The Journal concludes its two-issue series on the festival calendar and the postponements. The Feb. 26 issue contained a report on a calendar conference in Dallas, Texas, in January and several papers written by people for and against observance of the postponements and for and against observance of the Jewish calendar.

The postponements can affect by one or two days the beginning of the year as observed by members of the Church of God. The various methods of determining intercalary, or leap, months can affect the beginning of the year by a month.

For example, this year some Churches of God are observing the spring feast days in March, although most are observing them in April. (See "Christian Churches of God Plan Spring Festival Season for March," Feb. 26, page 14.)

Many of the March observers avoid the postponements, although others who do not observe them plan to meet for the Days of Unleavened Bread in April, although not necessarily on days identical with those specified by the Jewish calendar.

UCG study paper

In February the doctrine committee of the council of elders of the United Church of God, an International Association, published a study paper, "Summary of the Hebrew Calendar." It was not sent to the general membership, but it previews information UCG members could soon see. It addresses the calendar and postponements from the perspective of whether Jesus observed them.

The full article is available in The Journal's second issue