News From Around the World

• Canadian National Council Meets in Toronto
• Minister Hired to Serve in Australia
• Minister Makes Fourth Visit to Dominican Republic

Canadian National Council Meets in Toronto

The Canadian National Council met in the Toronto, Ontario, area from Nov. 27 to 30 with all nine council members in attendance. Jim Franks from the UCG IA home office attended the first portion of the meetings.

On Tuesday evening reports from all the Feast sites were given. Graemme Marshall gave a short update on United News–Canada and David Palmer gave a report on behalf of the Media Team. Mr. Palmer mentioned the exciting possibility of improving the airing time for the Beyond Today television program. A PowerPoint presentation showed an update on the Reader's Digest ad response rate. As a result of this ad, we have added subscribers from every province at a very good cost per response (the latest figure is $9.85 per response).

On Wednesday morning Jim Franks gave a presentation on "The Importance of Sound Doctrine." In his presentation, he gave a brief history of how and why United was started. There are only 14 couples who could write the full story about the beginning of UCG. He emphasized that United's beginning was not driven by government or rebellion, but the preservation of doctrine, as heresy was being promoted. Our documents were written in such a way as to make it very difficult to change any doctrine.

Mr. Franks said, "To have sound doctrine, you have to start with Scripture. How this should translate to us on a practical level is that our Sabbath service messages must be doctrinally sound. It is better to have no speakers than allow personal ideas and 'pet' material to be spread. It spreads like a cancer and causes difficult problems."

Mr. Franks then reviewed scriptures showing how doctrine was established in the New Testament and how ministers are warned to protect congregations from false doctrine. He showed how doctrine is formed from teaching to understanding. Doctrine, he said, is more than statements of facts. There are explanations that go along with it.

He also mentioned that about 150 of our elders were involved in writing our booklet on our fundamental beliefs. These fundamental beliefs came from what Mr. Armstrong had written in 1938 and 1946, with two additions by us—tithing and the return of Christ.

In conclusion Mr. Franks said, "We would prefer to not have a message [at church] than have one that is heretical. We must teach this to all. This is what began UCG, and if we don't protect it, shame on us. It requires our diligence."

The Council was able to get input from Mr. Franks on ministerial functions and on amending the Member Appeal policy.

On Wednesday afternoon the Council reviewed and approved the Operations Plan for 2008-2009. This will be presented to the National Conference for their approval next March. The budget was discussed and a few refinements requested before approval.

On Thursday morning, Dr. Ian Simons from the Winnipeg, Manitoba, area, shared his health concerns with the Council. He has a reoccurrence of prostrate cancer and solicited prayers. After that, most of the morning was spent in committee meetings and reports.

Acting upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Council approved a resolution allowing the National Office to purchase additional time for the Beyond Today television program by using some of our reserves. Council meeting dates for the coming year were also approved.

The Finance Committee also discussed a "crisis budget." While this has no specific numbers as yet, they looked at what and where costs could be cut in a budget crisis.

The 2008-2009 Budget was approved to be sent to the National Conference for their ratification next March. The Governance Committee made recommendations for amendments to several policies. Amendments to the Member Appeal policy were approved.

The meetings concluded on Thursday afternoon with discussion and brainstorming.

—Linda Wasilkoff, National Council Secretary

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Minister Hired to Serve in Australia

The Australian National Council has announced that Grant Chick, who is currently living in South Africa with his family, has accepted an offer of employment as an elder with the United Church of God–Australia. Grant and Kim Chick and their three sons are scheduled to arrive in Australia in January and will be located in the northern state of Queensland, where Mr. Chick will work with senior pastor Bill Bradford.

Mr. and Mrs. Chick are graduates of Ambassador College and have been heavily involved in serving the South African churches since they graduated in 1990. Mr. Chick is originally from New Zealand, while Mrs. Chick is South African. They were married in South Africa in September of 1990. His ordination as an elder took place last Feast of Trumpets in South Africa.

The opportunity to serve in Australia came about as a result of André van Belkum raising the matter with Australian National Council Chairman Bill Eddington at the 2007 General Conference of Elders in Cincinnati, explaining that he had been working with the Chicks in the hope that they would be able to accept greater responsibility in South Africa, but did not have the resources to employ him.

Further discussions with Mr. van Belkum and Jim Franks, operation manager for Ministerial Services, as to the immediate need for additional elders in Australia opened the way for the appointment to be made.

When Mr. Chick takes up his employment, Australia will have five salaried elders serving 20 congregations spread throughout the continent, supported by 11 nonsalaried elders.

—Bill Eddington

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Minister Makes Fourth Visit to Dominican Republic

For the fourth time since the founding of the United Church of God, a minister visited a group of members and prospective members in the Dominican Republic. From Dec. 5 to 12, 2007, Ralph Levy, an elder who teaches at Ambassador Bible Center and who speaks Spanish, was in this Caribbean island nation to visit.

The Dominican Republic is the Spanish-speaking southern and eastern part of Hispaniola, an island shared with French-speaking Haiti. In comparison with poverty-stricken Haiti, the Dominican Republic is doing well, with its tourism-dominated economy and productive farms.

Dr. Levy held Bible studies in Santo Domingo, the capital, on Thursday (Dec. 6), Friday and Sabbath. The first two studies covered the subject of the law and its applicability to New Testament Christians, and some of the writings of the apostle Paul on the law, justification and salvation. The Sabbath study was on the third and fourth of the Ten Commandments and their application. Included in the group was member Zoraya Diaz de Gabriel, as well as several others. Numbers ranged from six to 11 present.

Sunday, Dec. 9, the group invited Dr. Levy to join them in a visit to Isla Catalina, a lovely uninhabited island off the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, where they swam, enjoyed the warm sun and a barbecue lunch.

On Monday, Dec. 10, Dr. Levy traveled northward by bus to Puerto Plata to visit Reynaldo Enrique Roman, a young Dominican-American man who has just returned from Florida to the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Roman pulled out a thick, impressive binder carefully loaded with all of the Church's literature (in English). He had read it all and was left with one big question: "When can I be baptized?" He was encouraged to continue to study, with a view to preparation for baptism.

Dr. Levy returned to Cincinnati on Wednesday, Dec.12, leaving the Dominican Republic as the nation suffered some very heavy rains and storms. Plans call for another visit some time in 2008. UN

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