Council of Elders Meeting in Cincinnati Ohio
United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report
Monday/Tuesday December 16-17, 2002‚ Cincinnati, Ohio
The Council of Elders spent Monday in executive session, dealing with various personnel situations and member appeals from around the world. On Tuesday, they wrapped up work on matters from the Ethics, Roles, and Rules Committee and the Doctrine Committee. They also heard a report from the task force on Committee Standards and Practices, an update from the Media/Communications Committee, and finished other miscellaneous matters of business in completing this round of meetings.
Committees of the Council
Gary Antion brought material to the Council today to complete the work of the Ethics, Roles and Rules Committee for these December meetings:
The Council gave its consent without resolution to a finished version of guidelines for guests at Council meetings. Messrs. Antion, Dean, Dick, Horchak, Jewell, Kilough, Kubik, McCullough, Seiglie, Thompson, and Walker voted in favor of the proposed version; Mr. Franks abstained, not having had any chance to review the material due to his absence from Sunday’s meeting (as previously reported), when the material was introduced.
A job description for the position of Council Parliamentarian was approved by a motion of the Council, Messrs. Antion, Dean, Dick, Horchak, Jewell, Kilough, Kubik, Seiglie, and Thompson in favor; Mr. McCullough and Mr. Walker opposed; and Mr. Franks abstaining due to his absence from Sunday’s meeting when the description was introduced.
- The Council discussed what recommendations and/or action to take in fulfilling its responsibilities in forwarding and/or dealing with suggested amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws in preparation for the 2003 General Conference of Elders. No further details can be given at this time, in order to allow the members of the General Conference to address the issues based on official correspondence from the Secretary of the United Church of God, an International Association.
Robert Dick addressed the Council, presenting its members with a working paper of the study by the task force appointed at the August 2002 Council meetings (see the report for August 7, 2002) to study committee standards and practices. The report addresses the history of the Council’s committees and their function, an examination of the original intent for Council committee work, and a description of the typical “evolution” of the work of boards of directors in non-profit organizations in general. Future focus includes discussion of how governance (the Council) and management (the Administration) are defined and function, and a questionnaire that needs input from task force members in anticipation of further progress. The committee is composed of Administration members Peter Eddington, Roy Holladay, Tom Kirkpatrick, and Richard Pinelli; and Council members Gary Antion, Aaron Dean, Robert Dick (chairman), Jim Franks, Victor Kubik, and Richard Thompson.
Jim Franks brought edited versions of letters the Council approved Friday, December 13 for use by the Personal Correspondence Department. The letter regarding the operation of Church member-owned businesses and the Sabbath required a minor rewording, which the Council unanimously approved.
Victor Kubik updated the Council on the ongoing work of the Integrated Media/Evangelism Oversight Committee. The annual meeting of the team, held the last two years in January, will be delayed until there is further definition about the ministry’s role in the evangelism process spoken of in the plan approved by the Council on May 4, 2001. A smaller focus group will meet to discuss content, balance, style, and impact of the Church’s media and evangelism. Then work will proceed further with the Council-approved Media/Evangelism Oversight Plan. A plan for shorter booklets called “First Contact Literature” developed by pastor Randy Stiver was also given to the Council. Further work with young adults and other interested parties will be done to produce shorter, easy-to-read booklets.
Miscellaneous Business
Mr. Holladay addressed the Council on two items of business, at the Chairman’s request.
What is the United Church of God’s official affiliation with LifeNets, the Indianapolis-based humanitarian organization directed by Victor Kubik? The Council asked this question at its August 2002 meetings. Mr. Holladay asked the Council for time for the Administration to discuss this further with LifeNets officials, and suggested interfacing with a committee of the Council. Mr. Kilough asked the Council which committee should handle the work, and after considering both the Education/Ministerial Services Committee and the Strategic Planning/Finance Committee, opted for the latter. It was noted that the Church has set a precedent for a relationship with an outside non-profit organization as it is affiliated with the American Camping Association of Martinsville, Indiana (in the operation of the United Youth Camp program).
Mr. Holladay then asked the Council to consider a matter raised by legal counsel Larry Darden regarding the use of privately owned aircraft by Church employees, elders or other agents for Church business. After some discussion, the Council unanimously adopted the following by resolution:
WHEREAS the Church is at risk for liability arising from the actions of its employees or other agents and could be held liable for any crash of a plane flown by an employee or other agents on Church business, as well as the risk of loss of life to such employees and the loss of their services to the Church (which would also include the Church’s obligation under its workers’ compensation and employee benefits programs to pay significant death benefits to employees killed on the job),
and
WHEREAS the Church currently has no liability insurance coverage (over and above any limited liability insurance for which the Church may be added as an additional insured by employees or elders who own or rent such aircraft), nor any policy regarding who, and under what conditions, such employees or other agents may be permitted to fly on Church business.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that Ministerial Services shall prepare a cost/risk versus benefits analysis (including input from the Church’s attorney and insurance agent) regarding the use of privately owned or rented aircraft for Church business along with a proposed policy under which employees or others would be allowed to do such flying, and present the same to the Council for its consideration.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that until such time as the Council has approved employees or other agents of the Church to fly privately owned or rented aircraft on Church business, and the terms and conditions under which they may do so, there shall be a moratorium on all flying by any employee, elder or other agent of the Church on their privately owned or rented (noncommercial) aircraft on Church business.
Mr. Kilough announced further plans for Council meetings for 2003. The next scheduled meetings are February 26-March 4; May 7-9; and August 11-14, 2003, all at the home office in Cincinnati.
On a final and personal note, following discussions with Mr. Kilough, Council Chairman, and Mr. Kubik, Media/Communications Committee Chairman, I informed the Council at today’s meeting that I have asked them to take steps to appoint my replacement as Council Reporter, beginning with the February/March 2003 meetings. I have appreciated the opportunity of serving in this capacity since May 1999, but believe it is time to step aside to allow a fresh perspective and renewed vigor for the task to maintain the flow of information regarding the Council’s meetings that all reading these reports should expect.
Doug Johnson
