United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report

 Tuesday, May 8, 2001 - Cincinnati, Ohio
   

                Following the conclusion of a successful General Conference of Elders, the Council of Elders began an abbreviated three-day set of meetings today. They heard reports from the president, treasurer, and Media and Communications operation manager. They then covered business generated by the recently completed GCE, discussed plans for relating to the Remnant Church of God, and approved a new Human Resource manual for church employees. 

Administration Reports 

                President Les McCullough spoke first, pointing out that areas he would generally report to the Council had already been given at the General Conference. He talked about a handful of manpower situations in the ministry, both international and domestic. Resultant changes will be announced when plans are completely worked out with the individuals involved, who are already participating in the discussions.               

                Plans for construction of the new home office facility are moving along well, and  the contract can be signed once the final guaranteed maximum price is presented. Groundbreaking is envisioned in late May.               

                Mr. McCullough led a short discussion regarding progress in the relationships the United Church of God already has with the Remnant Church of God (RCG) and the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship (CGCF). The ãprovisional manner of approving official relationships with other religious fellowshipsä gives some relevant guidance, but lags behind ground already covered in both situations. Since the Remnant Church of God has clearly expressed its desire to become part of the United Church of God, the question of mergers arose. Matt Fenchel, chairman of the task force that drew up the document just passed, expressed his opinion that what the General Conference has already approved does touch on the situation in Ghana with the RCG. But he also stated that he believes further work is needed on a separate document dealing with mergers (which his task force has been asked to produce). Several of the Council members expressed their desire for further informing and involving the General Conference of Elders in some manner. Each of the current relationships is unique.  

                Treasurer Tom Kirkpatrick gave a similarly truncated report. His report to the Council in March was thorough (see the Council report for March 15, 2001), and in his words, ãsince that time virtually nothing has changed.ä He asked that Council members be aware of one minor correction to his report at the General Conference. The annual budget ($505,000) for the fiscal year 2000-2001 403(b) Thrift Plan was inadvertently included in the ãAccounts Payableä line of the report, rather than in the ãPayrollä line, where it should be placed. The ãbottom lineä of the report is unaffected. Mr. Kirkpatrick reiterated his belief that the fiscal year will end June 30 virtually on target for expense at $15.7 million, and should come in at approximately $16.6 million on the income side of the ledger, 9% over the previous yearâs actual income (which was $15.2 million). His plans call for continuing to retain the services of the local firm Clark, Schaefer, Hackett and Company as the Churchâs auditors, which the Council approved.  

                Media and Communication Services operation manager Peter Eddington reiterated basic areas of his General Conference report. Two new booklets are envisioned for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2001. One more title may yet be produced before June 30, dealing with the subject of Satan the devil. The booklet area of the operation is over budget for the current fiscal year due largely to heavy requests by our readers for literature, which necessitated numerous reprinting of existing titles. The Good News radio program, once seen as a three-month test program, has been extended into a yearlong operation, also impacting the operation budget. Tapes from the radio broadcast are doing ãdouble dutyä and more. They are being sent to those whoâve completed the 12-lesson Bible study course, and as the basis for articles in the Good News.  

                Church seals may soon be available to be ordered from the home office; several expressed their approval of the seal used on the lectern during the General Conference. Other operational plans include confirmation of the goal of 425,000 print run for the Good News by June 2002 and testing a promotional package offering the magazine on 200 college campuses.  

                Mr. Eddington stated that several pastors had already spoken to him of their enthusiasm for the presentations by Darris McNeely and Robin Webber on sending sermon tape offers to the local Good News subscription list in their areas. Victor Kubik, as chairman of the Council committee involved, stated that he believed many church areas would want to join the program, but that the numbers will come gradually, not all at once. Mr. Eddington agreed, pointing out that subscription lists must first be developed and expanded in an area before offering tapes to readers could be successful. 

                Gary Antion asked a question about diversifying our advertising avenues, specifically inquiring about TV Guide. Mr. Eddington said that this is regularly evaluated, but that advertising rates are sometimes higher than we wish to pay. Other publications such as Saturday Evening Post have solicited our advertising business, and all are considered in planning. Mr. Antion then asked about the success of the latest round of TV spot ads. Due partly to a synergy from multiple efforts to offer literature (ads in Readerâs Digest, brochure display programs, waiting rooms), results were better than from any earlier efforts. 

Business Generated by the General Conference 

                Chairman Roy Holladay opened discussion on business generated from the General Conference. First, he asked for suggestions for improvement, noting that heâd already had one suggestion for one less presentation on Monday. So much material was helpful, but hard to absorb. He suggested putting together a survey to be sent to all GCE members who attended this yearâs annual meeting, asking their input. Council agreed, and further deliberated on several minor adjustments possible for the next General Conference, set for May 5-6, 2002 in Cincinnati. 

                Mr. Holladay then asked for any input that Council members received during the General Conference that ought to be covered in these meetings. A number of items were raised:

•       What about the idea of annual cost of living adjustments for church employees? Mr. McCullough acknowledged that salary bases must be gradually raised as time goes by, but stated that he would prefer to work more with occasional modest bonuses since these impact budgeting less. Mr. Antion said he believed that some adjustments needed to be made at least every two or three years in base wages. 
   
•       Are there any plans for church hymnal expansion? GCE member Wil Berg has submitted doctrinal input on the more expansive arena of music in the church. Elder Steve Myers, Council members understood, has also done research on the topic. Administration task forces are currently at work on each of these two areas, with the underlying doctrinal concerns needing to be addressed first. Mr. Kubik agreed, saying that work should go beyond hymnal development.
   
•       Is it possible to have more Council member contact with international areas? One suggestion was to videotape messages from each of the Council members for distribution. Mr. Eddington pointed out that in any given year, audio taped sermons of most if not all of the Council members are sent out from Cincinnati. The messages are recorded as the Council members give sermons in local congregations when they come to Cincinnati to attend regular Council meetings. 
   
•       Could there be a newsletter from the Council? Mr. Kubik said he believed this to be redundant. Church members already have access to a letter from the president twice a month, supplemented by a home office update, also generally sent twice a month. Mr. Eddington suggested inserting a letter from the Council chairman into the current pattern of communication. Council members could give input for the letter (which might appear once every four to six weeks within the rotation). 
•       Is it possible to determine why elders ballot against various amendments? Would that knowledge help in rewording those amendments to aid passage in future annual meetings? Burk McNair suggested some type of tear-off portion of the ballot. Leon Walker agreed with the concept of feedback, but wasnât sure if this was the appropriate way to ask for it; Richard Thompson concurred and was concerned that this could slow the whole process of balloting. Robert Dick expressed the difficulty of maintaining any privacy in the balloting process should this approach be taken, and proposed an alternate one. What about an exit poll approach to solicit the input? Aaron Dean agreed, and stressed the importance of obtaining the feedback on the spot, before it is forgotten. Mr. Walker stated that he would just like to know some of the reasons elders voted against certain amendments. 
   
•       Some elders expressed to Council members the difficulty they had in fully comprehending the issues involved in the amendment proposals. Would taking time for explanation Sunday morning before the balloting help, asked Mr. Holladay? Mr. Walker pointed out that several elders would have already balloted by Sunday morning. Mr. Dick stated that he didnât want to see a Q & A session prior to the voting, expressing the concern that such a scenario could end up being a debate just before a ballot was taken. No satisfactory solution was found today for this difficulty.

Report on the Remnant Church of God

                 Joel  Meeker reported to the General Conference this year on the relationship with the Remnant Church of God. He moderated a further discussion today with the Council of Elders.

                 As reported to the General Conference, the Remnant Church of God proposes to dissolve itself in June and restructure as the United Church of GodöGhana. They would accept the oversight of a senior pastor appointed by the United Church of God, an International Association. Theyâve acted on all suggestions we have asked them to implement. They have agreed to ordination of their pastors, in lieu of credentialing. The ministerial task force (seven UCG pastors) and a newly appointed senior pastor will bring ordination recommendations forward later this year. As pastors are ordained, according to Bylaws 2.2.2, the congregations they serve will automatically become congregations of the United Church of God, IA. 

                Further discussion and questions centered on three main areas:

• Has the ministerial task force had the opportunity to become well acquainted with all 13 of the Remnant pastors?
• What is the reason for recommending ordination as opposed to credentialing?
• In what manner should the General Conference have a voice in this process?

Seven pastors from the United Church of God have visited the Remnant pastors and congregations. While not all of the seven UCG pastors have had extensive contact with each of the 13 pastors of the Remnant Church of God, each one of the 13 is well known by at least two UCG ministers. Their conclusion is unanimous that these people are our spiritual brethren.  

                Task force member Jim Franks explained the logic behind recommending ordination instead of credentialing. In the short history of the United Church of God, all elders who have been credentialed as elders have had a history in, and ordination by, branches of the Church of God (most frequently with a background in the Worldwide Church of God). That is not the case with all of the pastors of the Remnant Church of God. In order to simplify the process, the task force suggested ordination by the United Church of God. The Remnant pastors have agreed. Valid questions arose about re-ordaining men we have come to consider are already true ministers of Jesus Christ. But as more than one person stated, our own heritage contains a history of doing just that (in cases of raises in rank in Worldwide Church of God). Considerable discussion ensued, but by the end of the Council meetings the recommendation stood. 

                How should the General Conference be involved? Task force manager Matt Fenchel gave his opinion earlier in the day that the ãprovisional manner of approving official relationships with other religious fellowshipsä encompassed the situation with the Remnant Church of God. Several Council members and members of the task force agreed. The General Conference has just passed that document. Don Ward strongly urged a separate approach to the GCE for its approval regarding the Remnant Church of God, since this particular relationship was already so far advanced by the time the GCE could consider an official procedure. Mr. Holladay and Mr. Kubik agreed. The question, as articulated by Mr. Walker, was ãexactly what do we send to the General Conference, if theyâve already approved the procedure?ä Mr. Holladay suggested crafting a statement outlining the plans the Council and Administration have for proceeding in Ghana. That statement, with a letter of explanation, could be sent to the elders of the Church, asking them whether they support those plans. A two-thirds approval by the General Conference would fulfill the requirements of the Churchâs governing documents for this specific relationship, and make moot any doubt as to whether or not the provisional document just passed covered the situation. Task force members Joel Meeker and Jim Franks, assisted by legal counsel Larry Darden, were asked to draw up the needed forms. Then the Council would revisit the issue, later in this round of its meetings.

Miscellaneous

                 Mr. Kirkpatrick brought a completed Human Resource manual to the Council for its approval. A task force consisting of Tom Kirkpatrick (chairman), Larry Darden, Peter Eddington, Dave Evans, Matt Fenchel, Steve McNeely, and Gerald Seelig has devoted over 18 months of work to drawing up guidelines. The Council requested one minor change regarding the listing of paid days off, then unanimously approved the document.  

                Earlier in the day, the Council finalized the following dates and locations for its upcoming meetings:

• August 6-9, 2001 in Cincinnati (committee meetings begin August 2)
• December 5-12, 2001 in Tampa, FL (committee meetings begin December 4)
• February 27-March 5, 2002 in Cincinnati (committee meetings begin February 26)
• May 7-9, 2002 in Cincinnati (no committee meetings).

The General Conference of Elders for 2002 will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 5 & 6.

-Doug Johnson

© 2001 United Church of God, an International Association