Council of Elders Meeting in Cincinnati Ohio
United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report
Thursday, March 15, 2001 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Thursday the Council focused on three main areas: examination of the Administrationâs budget proposal for 2001-2002, discussion of a study paper on governance, and a report from the task force on Christ-centered servant leadership. A number of ABC students sat in on various sessions as visitors during the day.
Budget Proposal
Treasurer Tom Kirkpatrick presented a detailed explanation of the Administration budget proposal for the fiscal year 2001-2002. The Council must present a budget to the General Conference for its approval at the annual meeting May 6, and the Council meetings prior to the GCE always devote substantial time to this project. This year is no exception ö the Council and the treasurer worked together for over two hours on details of the proposed budget.
The budget as proposed envisions an increase from the current $15.7 million to a $17.0 million budget for 2001-2002. In addition to many other facets of the budget discussion, Mr. Kirkpatrick explained details in these areas of increase:
á The average print run of the Good News is projected at 390,000 per issue, up from 325,000.
á Up to 17 booklets of our current title list will need to be reprinted due to heavy literature demand.
á Home office expenses will increase if the Council approves plans to construct a new home office facility. Any duplication of costs can be covered under the proposed budget, even if there is a delay in subletting our current leased office space.
á Local church subsidy requests for United States congregations (used to pay local costs) are higher that last year.
After some discussion of personnel issues in a brief executive session, the Council unanimously approved the proposed budget, and will present it to the General Conference on May 6, 2001.
Godly Governance
Leon Walker moderated the next major session of Thursdayâs meeting, dealing with a study paper on godly governance. This paper explores several facets of the subject, including:
á Godâs intent for man ö govern and be governed
á Is structure the key to righteousness?
á Serving vs. lording
á Does the Church need government?
á Is there a biblical blueprint for governmental organization?
á Early biblical examples of governmental systems
á The elders and judges
á Kings, prophets, governors and others
á Great lessons from Old Testament examples
á The added dimension of the Holy Spirit
á God-ordained offices and responsibilities
á What is a minister?
á The ministerial ãjob descriptionä
á Accountability is heavy
á Various definitions of ministers
á Do ministers have authority over other ministers?
á Does the ministry have authority in the Church?
á What is a godly attitude toward authority?
á What are the limits to authority?
á Models for minister/member relationships and cooperation
á King Hezekiahâs rare example ö a role model for Acts 6
á Lessons from Acts 15
á Was Peter in charge of the early Church?
á What about submission?
á Living with leadersâ flaws
Aaron Dean and Don Ward asked if certain wording in the document could be clarified to make it clear that we are referring to Godâs government as He works with humans on this earth (not His heavenly operations). A small number of other minor edits were also suggested, and the manuscript was relabeled a ãstudy paperä rather than a ãdoctrinal study paper.ä This writing reflects our understanding of how God has worked with humans throughout the pages of His Word, rather than setting forth a doctrinal presentation such as tithing or Holy Day observance. This paper accurately describes our belief and practice, according to Mr. Walker.
Mr. Walker then asked the Council for its guidance on how to share this material. The Council unanimously resolved (Gary Antion absent) to distribute the study paper to the General Conference, and request that any editorial suggestions be sent to the Doctrine Committee within the next 30 days. If no substantial changes are suggested, the manuscript will be published with no further Council approval required.
Christ-centered Servant Leadership
Dr. Ward introduced Clyde Kilough for the next presentation. Mr. Kilough and a task force also consisting of Todd Carey, Steve McNeely, Richard Thompson and Mark Winner have been working since December 2000 to bring together material on this important subject. The Council, at its meetings in Tyler, Texas, had named the task force, and requested its work through its Education Committee, of which Dr. Ward is chairman.
Mr. Kilough distributed five handouts summarizing various aspects of the work done so far. The basis of the material is centered in biblical instruction, and it quickly becomes clear that Jesus Christ is our example in this area of human relations, as in all areas. The Word of God is replete with examples, both good and bad. Christ demonstrates how authority is to be handled ö as a servant. This is the focus of the task forceâs report, showing the mindset God expects of His people.
Mr. Kilough addressed the key are of why the Church should focus on Christ-centered leadership. Godâs Word makes clear that it is a core issue for being in the Kingdom of God and a core issue for having an effective ministry. It is equally central to building spiritually healthy members and congregations, and for healing hurts of the past.
Strategies for advancing the concept include developing a study paper to establish the biblical basis for it, incorporating some material into the May 2001 General Conference of Elders, spending half a day covering Christ-centered servant leadership at the 2001 U.S. regional conferences, and developing discussion guides for workshops. Articles in the United News and Ministerial Quarterly, sermon and Bible study outlines, and inclusion in the Ambassador Bible Center curriculum would also advance awareness of the need to pursue the goal throughout the Church.
Mr. Kilough rounded out his presentation by distributing a handout to the Council of a partial commentary (biblical references and comments) on foundational scriptures concerning leadership developed by the task force, along with a chart contrasting self-centered and Christ-centered leadership approaches.
Following Mr. Kiloughâs presentation, Dr. Ward asked for comments. His main question was, Do we want to proceed with this, in general? A sampling of responses follows:
á ãI certainly want to proceed with it. I think itâs one of the most needed things we have ö pursuing Christian idealsä (Aaron Dean).
á ãI would agree with that· it doesnât matter where weâre strong or where weâre weak·This is not [just] a Îbuzz word.â Itâs a concept, a way of being, a way of thinking, a way of behaving that comes from within· Itâs interesting that this has come up just before Passover and the Days of Unleavened Breadä (John Jewell).
á ãThe word Îministerâ means servant, and I support this a thousand percent·ä (Victor Kubik).
á ãI want to briefly share an interesting anecdote·[a member who has recently returned to services] said ÎWeâve been floaters, and I canât even tell you how much we need to hear this.â I canât think of a more touching example of how many people might be drawn back to us when they see love and that warmth and humble serviceä (visiting elder Larry Walker).
á ãI think we have a window here, an opportunity to really move forward in a way the Church never has in the past, by really concentrating on this. It was brought out, nobodyâs been doing it 100%, and nobodyâs · zero. Weâre all somewhere in between, and we have to continue to grow. I think weâve got to move. We must more forwardä (Roy Holladay).
á ãI think itâs timely that the godly governance paper came out at this time·I think it fits in with thisä (Burk McNair).
á ãI guess this is a view from Îthe other side of the fenceâ·if you can convey that to [people]· I think there will be a learning curve· to really believe that itâs going to happen. But once it does, I canât help but feel that youâll see incredible healing take placeä (ABC student Ted Wilson).
á ãOne thing we wanted to make sure on the task force. That this was not perceived by anyone as being something that the world has been doing in business, and itâs being brought into the Church. Thatâs the reason we started with the biblical base ö that this is ÎChrist-centered.â Everything thatâs going to succeed with the Church and with the world is going to be that which is based on what God says, and what Christ did. To us that was a very important concept and foundational to how we wanted this to be not only perceived, but also administered. That is, we can always grow to have a greater relationship with God and with each other if we can have the same kind of an attitude that Christ has shown towards us. The whole thing is really, we hope, going to be driven by a profound relationship with Christ. Because all this is, is a deeper relationship with God and with each other·this is Christ, understood and appreciated at a deeper levelä (Richard Thompson).
á ãIf the brethren perceive that theyâre in the trenches, theyâd better perceive that weâre in there with them. This is how we show it. There is no other way that I know of· itâs critical that they know weâll do anything we can to show we love them. Thatâs essentially what it is·ä (task force member Mark Winner).
á ãI would just say that I certainly second what Dick [Thompson] said. My concerns over the subject in the past have been this thing of Îhereâs a business projection ·you bring that in and itâs going to resolve all the problems.â Thatâs not it at all. I agree entirely with whatâs been put forward. I donât have any problem with it in any wayä (Les McCullough).
The discussion made it clear that the entire Council favored having the task force continue its work. Dr. Ward then addressed the issues of how to describe the concept, vision and mission statements, and how it might be possible to work material on the concept into the agenda for the General Conference of Elders.
The name as proposed by the task force, ãChrist-centered Servant Leadership,ä seemed to best describe the idea and was chosen by show of hands of Council members over ãChrist-centered Leadershipä or ãServant Leadershipä or ãGodly Leadership.ä
The vision statement and mission statement, discussed and slightly modified, both reflect the goals and purposes of having the Council and the Church pursue this approach of service.
Discussion on how to present this material at the GCE focused on having a plenary session with follow-up material in the 3-day U.S. regional conferences that can be videotaped for international use as well.
Miscellaneous
Two other items of importance occurred earlier in the day. Larry Salyer, president of the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship, spoke briefly to the Council before leaving Cincinnati. Following the Monday, March 12 meeting of the Executive Council of the CGCF with the UCG Council of Elders, elders and wives of the CGCF held a two-day ministerial conference at the Holiday Inn Eastgate (the location for this yearâs GCE in May). Mr. Salyer was invited to inform the Council of the response to the weekâs initiatives. He stressed that the response to the warmth and hospitality of the United Church of God toward CGCF elders, especially the fellowship and brotherly love shown, was one of great appreciation.
Relative to the UCG, Mr. Salyer said that the most important accomplishment of their conference was the crafting of a resolution giving the CGCF the opportunity to move forward toward closer cooperation with the UCG. Their Executive Council will work to define what obstacles might exist (in their eyes) to that closer cooperation. As he stated, doctrine is so important to many, and it must be demonstrated to all that we share a common approach. The Executive Council of the CGCF also wishes to define and work to implement areas for initially moving toward closer cooperation with the United Church of God. And as he had done in Tyler, Mr. Salyer thanked the Council for the chance to speak to so many friends from so many years in the faith.
Early in the dayâs agenda, Gary Antion presented a proposal for a Council resolution on not balloting for oneâs self in issues requiring a vote (whether in Council or GCE matters). Leon Walker voiced his strong opposition to passing such a resolution, noting that this was a matter of honor and was generally upheld in practice in any case. But he stated that he felt strongly that there might be, for various reasons, some unusual circumstance, especially in Council ballots (with only 12 men balloting, as opposed to GCE matters involving hundreds of ballots), where such an unorthodox move might be preferred. Robert Dick explained how the mathematical aspects could be changed by effectively removing votes from the total (agreeing with Mr. Walker). After discussion, the Council balloted on the proposal. The measure was defeated, with Gary Antion and Victor Kubik voting in favor; Messrs. Dick, Jewell, McCullough, McNair, Seiglie, Thompson, and Walker opposed; and Messrs. Dean, Holladay, and Ward abstaining.
-Doug Johnson
