Council of Elders Meeting in Cincinnati Ohio
United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report
Friday, December 3, 1999 — Cincinnati, Ohio
On the third day of its current round of meetings, the Council briefly finalized a policy on Member Appeal to the Council of Elders. It then spent most of its time discussing doctrine and dealing with a resolution to offer restoration of full salaries to the 29 ministers who have been on partial salary since July 1998.
Doctrine
Doctrine Committee chairman Leon Walker moderated discussion of both specifics and general direction on doctrinal issues facing the church.
The Council reiterated its support as a body and as individuals for the doctrinal process the United Church of God has had since its inception in 1995. The churchâs formation was due in no small measure to doctrinal turmoil and change unsupportable by Godâs Word. Partly as a result of that history, certain safeguards were built into the governing documents approved initially in Cincinnati at the General Conference of Elders in December 1995. A key provision in that system of protection is the provision that doctrinal change can only be effected by a ² majority ballot of the entire General Conference as constituted at the time of the vote. That has not changed, and is seen by the Council as an important part of the structure of the church. As a result, any discussion of specifics, all agreed, is based on the understanding that whenever any doctrinal change is contemplated or perceived to be needed, the General Conference must continue to be the body that approves it.
With that understanding, the Council discussed a number of specific doctrinal projects currently underway, which are at various stages of completion.
These specifics include work on literature dealing with the book of Revelation, the identity of modern Israel, and a study paper on the covenants. Two of these, the material on Revelation and modern Israel, have already been advertised to the public; both have work remaining to be done (although the material on Israel is close to completion). Council members agreed that in future, the public should only be offered new literature when requests for it can actually be met.
The Council recognizes that much of the churchâs audience has always had an interest in prophecy. That will be one of the first areas of study undertaken by a new subcommittee created by resolution on Friday. Houston pastor and Ministerial Services regional assistant Jim Franks will chair that subcommittee, which will assist the Doctrine Committee. Other prospective subcommittee members have been proposed by Mr. Franks and will be contacted, asking for their help. Individual areas of study will be identified and researchers assigned. Clearly a project of this magnitude will take some time to complete. If research into individual subjects reveals no new understanding, the material can be published without consulting the General Conference, as provided for in the churchâs governing documents. If a change is contemplated or thought necessary, the required ² majority will be sought, after the material is sent to all elders for their study and input.
Salary Restoration
Roy Holladay brought a resolution to the Council for its revision as needed, and its vote. This followed earlier discussion on the topic after he had raised the issue in his presentation on strategic planning.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, the Council believes that the financial crisis experienced by the Church has eased, and
Whereas, the immediate cause of the placing of twenty-nine (29) pastors at that time on partial salary was the financial crisis,
Now therefore, it is hereby resolved, that the Council directs that each of these twenty-nine (29) elders now be given the option of returning to full salary, effective with the payroll of December 17, 1999, subject to the following clarifications:
á None of these twenty-nine (29) elders will be required to return to full salary
á Elders who do return to full salary will be subject to the same policies and conditions of employment that apply to all full-time pastors in the Church
á They will be notified of this decision by Ministerial Services who will give those affected further details on the ramifications of this resolution
á They will be eligible for full salary with the December 17, 1999, payroll if they have made plans to cease other employment
á For those who desire a longer period of time to make a decision, they will be responsible for notifying Ministerial Services of the date when their employment ceases, and will then be eligible to receive full salary from the Church on the next payroll following that date of notification
á The Council of Elders will consider the report of the Task Force on Ministerial Workload and Remuneration at its meetings in February 2000 and, after consideration of the recommendations contained therein, will adopt policies dealing with those issues.
Les McCullough moved that the resolution be adopted, Aaron Dean seconded the motion, and the vote was ten (10) in favor ö Messrs. Antion, Dean, Holladay, Jewell, Kubik, Luker, McCullough, McNair, Thompson, Walker. Mr. Dick abstained. Dr. Ward was not present.
The Council sent news of the resolution, and asked that it be read in all U.S. churches on the Sabbath of December 4. The cover letter, with all 12 names appended, follows:
Dear Fellow ministers,
We want to express our gratitude to the ministry and their families ö especially those who were placed on reduced salary ö the employees, and the entire membership for the sacrifices made to restore the Church to a sound financial footing. Please know that we deeply appreciate the emotional and financial difficulties many suffered to help the Church survive this financial crisis.
As a result of the easing of the financial crisis we are now able to offer the restoration of full salaries to those 29 elders whose salaries were reduced during this period.
We thank God for providing the financial resources, which make this decision possible. Let us all continue to faithfully serve Him and work together in doing His Work.
With love and appreciation,
(Names of all 12 Council members)
Miscellaneous
Gary Antion presented an edited version of a policy for member appeal to the Council of Elders, which was unanimously approved by the eleven Council members present (Don Ward being absent).
Two items reported earlier need to be clarified:
1. The current trip to West Africa by ministers of the United Church of God includes Joel Meeker, Jim Franks and Doug Horchak
2. The trial radio broadcast being presented by Don Ward currently airs on four stations in Louisiana and east Texas (not just KCBL in Shreveport).
-Doug Johnson
