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News at a Glance
Note: For charts and graphs mentioned, see the PDF or printed versions. U.S. Attendance ReportedFigures from pastors' monthly reports indicate that average weekly U.S. attendance in March 2007 was 11,713. The highest weekly attendance (excluding combined services and other abnormally high attendances) was 13,279. The U.S. attendance was over 13,000 for three of the first six months of 2007 (using the highest attendance for the month). There were 105 baptisms in the first six months of the year (compared to 171 for the entire year of 2005 and 181 in 2006). United currently supports 216 U.S. congregations with 94 full-time pastors. Twenty-nine of the congregations have an average attendance each Sabbath of over 100, and 42 average under 20. [ back to top ] Feast Registration Shows 35 Percent Under Age 30Clyde Kilough reviewed some encouraging Feast of Tabernacles registration statistics with the Council of Elders Aug. 5. He said that registration showed an increase of more than 400 over last year. He also pointed out that 23 percent of those registered are preteens and teens, and another 12 percent are between the ages of 20 to 30. That means that approximately 35 percent of those attending the Feast will be 30 years of age and under. While we are an "aging church," we also see encouraging numbers of young people. [ back to top ] Home Office Relocation UpdateAug. 5, President Clyde Kilough reported to the Council of Elders that due to potential environmental concerns, the pursuit of the property in Denton, Texas, has been dropped. Attention has now been turned to locating another property. Before the Council meetings Mr. Kilough and Jason Lovelady traveled to the Dallas area, where Mr. Lovelady visited 75 properties across the northern tier of the Dallas area. Mr. Kilough also saw a number of those properties, and they narrowed the field to six to 10 prime prospects. A real estate agent is gathering the details of each. Chairman Bob Dick reported that Mr. Kilough "reviewed a few of the most promising ones with the Council on Wednesday [Aug. 8] in executive session and as the search narrows will seek to have some of the properties viewed by Council members." [ back to top ] Women’s Education Task Force Developing SurveysThe major work of the Women's Education Task Force since their inaugural meeting in late April has been to develop two surveys, which are near completion. The first will be for pastors, to try to assess all of the women's activities and programs that have been instituted in various congregations and regions. The aim is to compile a "best practices" clearinghouse for good ideas of programs specific to women's education. The second survey, which will be administered after the results of the pastors' survey are compiled, is for the women in the Church to ascertain their needs. [ back to top ] Amendment Committee Members ChosenThe Council of Elders selected four elders to serve on the Amendment Committee Aug. 5. By unanimous resolution Rick Avent and Keith Wilson were selected to serve terms that will expire on June 30, 2009. In the same resolution John Miller and Mark Rorem were selected to serve terms that will expire on June 30, 2010. Ed Smith also currently serves as a committee member. Gerhard Marx is the alternate committee member. [ back to top ] GCE 2008 Plans ReviewedAug. 7 David Register, chairman of the GCE Planning Task Force, reviewed with the Council of Elders the task force's initial recommendations for next year's conference. He indicated that the Holiday Inn Eastgate in Cincinnati, Ohio, which has been the site of the last several conferences, is not available in 2008. Meeting coordinator Charles Melear reported that venues in other cities in the general area are being investigated (including the greater-Cincinnati area; Columbus, Ohio; and Louisville, Kentucky). The Council selected the general theme of "Increasing Spiritual Maturity and Wisdom." Jim Franks commented that the subject would complement the current series of regional conferences for elders. The task force will report back to the Council in the December meetings with more specifics. [ back to top ] Council Committee Members AnnouncedAt the Council of Elders meeting Aug. 8, the members and chairmen of the four Council committees were finalized: • Roles and Rules: Bob Berendt, Aaron Dean, Bill Eddington (chairman), Roy Holladay and Leon Walker. • Doctrine: Bob Berendt, Jim Franks, Richard Pinelli, Larry Salyer, Richard Thompson and Leon Walker (chairman). • Ethics: Aaron Dean, Clyde Kilough, Victor Kubik (chairman), Richard Pinelli and Richard Thompson. • Strategic Planning and Finance: Bob Berendt, Aaron Dean, Bill Eddington, Jim Franks, Roy Holladay (chairman), Victor Kubik and Larry Salyer. [ back to top ] New Council Reporter NamedThe Council of Elders approved a new Council reporter to replace Don Henson, who steps down after serving for nearly five years. John Foster will take over the responsibility starting with the December 2007 meetings. Mr. Foster is the pastor of the Princeton and Charleston, West Virginia, and Roanoke, Virginia, congregations and also serves on the Personal Correspondence team. [ back to top ] Elder Expulsion Appeal Committee AnnouncedThe GCE was recently asked to select elders to serve on the Elder Expulsion Appeal Committee. Of 466 elders, 240 cast valid ballots. All members of the committee were replaced. As per bylaw instructions, Secretary Dave Johnson determined the length of the term for each member by a random drawing. The elders elected to the committee and the length of their terms are as follows: Allan Hambleton (4 years), Vernon Hargrove (5), Darris McNeely (4), Ken Murray (5), Dan Salcedo (4), Arthur Suckling (4) and Robin Webber (5). John Cafourek and Bill Winner were selected as alternates. [ back to top ] Fragrance-Free Seating Resolutions PassAug. 5 Jim Franks led the Council of Elders through a discussion of the issue of providing fragrance-free seating when possible in local congregations and at Feast sites. Announcements are to be made prior to the Feast to inform members what steps can be taken at each individual site. Resolutions to provide fragrance-free seating when possible in local congregations and at the Feast both passed unanimously. [ back to top ] Winter Camp Coming in DecemberWinter Camp is just around the corner. Camp will be in Montello, Wisconsin, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1. Activities include basketball, broom hockey, cross-country skiing, dance class, ice skating, indoor games, team challenge, tubing, volleyball and more. The evening activities will include Christian Living, game night and the end-of-camp dance. Applications should be filled out online at www.ucg.org/youthcamps. Tuition is $195. Please make a note of the details regarding airport transportation when searching for flights. If you have any questions, contact Gary Black at (651) 769-8802 or gary_black@ucg.org. —Gary Black [ back to top ] AC/AU/ABC Alumni Chorale Members Invited to Sing in LouisvilleFormer Ambassador College/University and ABC chorale members are invited to participate in the Winter Family Alumni Chorale. This year the chorale will be singing four or five selections for special music on the Sabbath, Dec. 22, in Louisville, Kentucky. If you would like to participate, please send your name and address along with the part you sing to Michelle de Campos at michelle_decampos@ucg.org. She will be assisting in getting everyone organized and the music sent out right after the Feast. —Kenneth Shoemaker [ back to top ] Salt Lake Announces Ski WeekendOnce again, the Salt Lake City, Utah, congregation will host its annual Winter Ski Weekend over the Martin Luther King weekend, Jan. 13 to 15, 2008. The announcement invites members to "come and enjoy warm family-oriented fellowship, a beautiful bracing environment and some of the greatest snow on earth at historic Park City, Utah. The earlier we hear from you—and the more people who sign up—the better rates we can lock in." Please preregister by contacting Jon Pinelli, pastor of the Salt Lake congregation, at jon_pinelli@ucg.org. Sign up early as space is limited. After the Feast, United News will carry additional information. [ back to top ] Holy Day Offering Procedure for U.S. Members Traveling to Non-U.S. SitesFor U.S. members attending a Feast site outside the United States, you are asked to send the bulk of your Holy Day offerings to the home office either before or after the Feast. However, so as not to "appear before the L ord empty-handed," and out of courtesy to the nation hosting the Feast where you attend, please consider giving token offerings (preferably in the local currency) on the Holy Days at the international site you attend. Please Note: Only those offerings received at the home office will go on your U.S. donation receipt, for tax purposes. Any offering given at an international Feast site will be kept locally and no donation receipt will be issued for those funds. —Tom Kirkpatrick [ back to top ] Twin Cities Women’s Conference Set for Nov. 11The ladies of the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, congregations invite their sisters to join them on Nov. 10 and 11 for the 2007 Twin Cities Women's Conference. The theme this year is "Women in the Potter's Hand," based on the reference in Isaiah 64:8. A special keynote address will be delivered by Dee Kilough. Workshops will be given by Gale Black, DeLee Hargrove, Jane McConnaughey and Karen Meeker. Registration will be $40 per person. The conference will be held at the Renaissance Marriott, which is easily accessible downtown and located in the historic Minneapolis Depot. The venue is also close to the Mill City Museum and Guthrie Theatre. Special Sabbath evening activities include a potluck and service project, "Empty Bowls." Plan now to attend this uplifting weekend! More details and online registration can be found at www.ucgstp.org/womensconference. Please contact Colene Erickson if you have questions. You can reach her by e-mail at ericksoncc@comcast.net or by telephone at (651) 714-4054. —Colene Erickson [ back to top ] Calendar of EventsSept. 5: Joel Meeker leaves for Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon, Togo, Ivory Coast. Oct. 20-21: ABC continuing education classes in St. Louis, Missouri. Oct. 22-24: Camp directors' meeting. Oct. 25: Challenger II camp meeting. Oct. 27-28: ABC continuing education classes in Chicago, Illinois. Nov. 10-11: Twin Cities Women's Conference Nov. 11-13: Northwest Region ministerial conference, Portland, Oregon, area. Nov. 17-18: ABC continuing education classes in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Nov. 17-18: ABC continuing education classes in Spokane, Washington. Dec. 1-2: ABC continuing education classes in Oakland, California. Dec. 11-13: Council of Elders meeting. Dec. 21-25: Winter Family Weekend, Louisville, Kentucky (Friday evening through Tuesday late night). Dec. 23-25: ABC continuing education classes in Portland, Oregon. Dec. 24-25: ABC continuing education classes in Louisville, Kentucky. Dec. 27-Jan. 1: Winter Camp, Montello, Wisconsin (gary_black@ucg.org). Jan. 13-15, 2008: Winter Ski Weekend, Park City, Utah (jon_pinelli@ucg.org). Feb. 29-March 5, 2008: Council of Elders meeting. May 18-19: GCE annual meeting. Please send calendar items to mike_bennett@ucg.org. [ back to top ] What's New on the Web?UCG International Offices. Learn more about the United Church of God in international areas by visiting the UCG international office Web sites at www.ucg.org/about/international.htm. Bible Study Course. Access all 12 lessons of the Bible Study Course online at www.ucg.org/bsc/ . UCG Commentary. Access weekly commentaries on current world news and trends. Our archives section contains over 200 informative commentaries on various topics. Some recent ones include: "Earth, an Un-Peopled Planet?" "Financial Stability in Unstable Conditions" "Has Basic Morality Ceased to Be Important?" "Minneapolis Bridge Collapse: Why God Allows Disasters!" Featured Link Good News magazine Web site. www.gnmagazine.org
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