Council of Elders Meeting in Tyler, Texas
United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report
Monday, December 11, Tyler, Texas
Monday, the Council of Elders dealt with a variety of items as they moved to complete the list of business before them for this session. Topics discussed included Feast video review and planning, the contents of a specific article under consideration for the Good News, servant leadership, administration job descriptions and evaluations, proposed amendments to the bylaws, further deliberation on a home office facility, and a report on contact with a group of Sabbath-keepers in India.
Media and Communications
Operation manager Peter Eddington asked the Council for reaction to the Feast video production from this past Feast of Tabernacles, which had the theme of Education Now and in the Millennium. Council members Robert Dick, Victor Kubik, Burk McNair, and Roy Holladay all related positive comments from the international areas they attended (New Zealand, Australia, Estonia, Canada, and the British Isles).
Mr. Eddington also asked for thoughts for the Festival video in 2001. Suggestions included focusing on the example and contribution of the elderly in the United Church of God, spotlighting international areas (as has been done frequently in the past), or striving for a sense of urgency in these pre-millennial times. Richard Thompson suggested tying in Lukeâs warning (Luke:21:34-36) to a sense of personal accountability and responsibility (so different from prevailing societal trends around us). Treasurer Tom Kirkpatrick noted that the Feast always has a theme to it (the millennium), but appreciated the direction of choosing a theme for the Festival video production. The group kept returning to the overall concept of a sense of urgency about our lives and the times in which we live. Further planning will take some of these concepts and begin to build on them as well as considering other possibilities.
Service and Leadership
The above heading would better describe the Councilâs description of the material presented by Don Ward. As Dr. Ward pointed out, the Education Committee feels strongly that work needs to continue to progress on this topic.
Dr. Ward outlined a five-point plan:
- Formalize a name.
- Develop a mission statement.
- List goals and objectives.
- Develop a program outline.
- Encourage ministers to implement the program through:
-Statements of support from Council and Administration
-Formal program instruction
-Publishing articles on leadership in the United News and the Ministerial Quarterly
-The example of members of the Council, the Administration, and the ministry as a whole.
The Education Committee recommended and the Council approved the appointment of a five-man task force consisting of Todd Carey, Steve McNeely, Richard Thompson, Mark Winner, and Clyde Kilough (chairman). This task force will continue work on the concept.
The word "continue" is crucial in understanding the topic. Robert Dick made the point by stressing that any presentation of this material to the ministry or the United Church of God as a whole must not be presented as if it is something "new" in our understanding or teaching. "We would do ourselves harm to portray it as if it were new," he stressed. The Constitution of the United Church of God states in Section 3.2.1: "The purpose for the various functions established within Godâs Church is to equip each member to perform the work of service·" The New American Standard Versionâs translation of Ephesians:4:12 (to which the Church Constitution alludes) is that Christians are to be equipped for "work of service." This has always been our approach for all within the Body of Christ, ministers and laity alike.
Gary Antion pointed out the two-fold nature of the material ö service and leadership. Both are required. As he observed, God asks His ministers to be shepherds of the sheep for the good of both. Attitudes of service are combined with sound and godly leadership. In his words, "the Bible never says thereâs no authority. Thereâs certainly authority in the home, thereâs authority in nations, thereâs authority in the Church. I know we all· understand that. The Bible deals with how authority is used. How should we administer authority? How [do] we deal when weâre in authority. The use is not whether there is authority. So, I think that part has to be a part of this program too."
The task force will start work on the concept immediately and report to the Education Committee, which hopes to bring a proposal to the Council at its March 2001 meeting.
India
Matt Fenchel (administrative staff) and Dave Baker (upstate New York pastor) joined the Council by teleconference to provide updated information on contact with a Sabbath-keeping group from India that has approached us for guidance.
The group in question evidences good knowledge of our basic teachings and practices. They keep the Sabbath and Holy Days. The format of their services is virtually identical to ours. They have had previous contact with our parent body, the Worldwide Church of God, in years past.
Questions arose regarding the number of elders and members in their fellowship, in relation to past contact. We are unsure of the nature of possible contact with other fellowships in their desire for contact and instruction. Confusing the matter even further is evidence of other groups in India who actually use the name "United Church of God" when identifying themselves.
In the end, Council decided to ask Mr. Fenchel and Mr. Baker to plan a trip to India at some point in the near future. They could take the opportunity to visit United Church of God members along the way, and establish contact personally in India, striving for greater understanding of the group and its desires and needs.
Miscellaneous
Several smaller items of business rounded out the dayâs activities.
Mr. Antion, as chairman of the Ethical Review, Roles and Process Committee, handed out a suggested form for evaluating the job performance of the president (this is an annual duty of the Council). Forms are due back to him by January 19, 2001.
Two Possible Building Designs
He also received Council approval of a survey form to be sent to all members of the General Conference of Elders. The survey is an attempt to determine why large percentages of the General Conference do not participate in the balloting on matters of church business each year. The intent is for information purposes only.
Three proposed amendments to the bylaws were discussed ö amendments to sections 8.2.1, 8.7.5, and 12.2. The Council adopted a proposal to amend section 8.7.5, delayed approval on 8.2.1 pending some rewriting of the proposal, and tabled action on 12.2 to seek clarification of the suggested change.
Finally, Mr. Holladay led the Council through a proposed letter to the General Conference to give more information on the purchase of property for construction of a new home office facility. Approval has been given by the Council for purchasing the land (subject to satisfactory resolution of discovery and remediation efforts dealing with the construction materials found to have been dumped on the site). Council has also expressed its preference for one of the two building designs submitted by local Cincinnati contractors. It is the Councilâs desire to pass on this and more detailed information on the whole process to the General Conference.
-Doug Johnson
