United Church of God, an International Association
General Conference of Elders Meeting Report

Sunday, May 4, 2003—Cincinnati, Ohio

Sunday was a very full day for the General Conference of Elders, including six international reports, a special tribute to deceased elders and wives, the official business session with balloting and reports from the administration, three keynote addresses and a Q&A session with the Council of Elders.

Balloting Results

At the end of the afternoon session, Clyde Kilough announced the results of balloting:
• The 2003-04 Strategic Plan passed 305 to 4.
• The 2003-04 Operation Plan passed 301 to 8.
• The 2003-04 budget passed 297 to 14.
• Joel Meeker was ratified to continue in the Council seat he filled in January.
• Amendment to Bylaw 7.1 clarifying the annual general meeting and Council nomination process passed 293 to 9.
• Amendment to Bylaw 8.3.1 seeking to redefine the requirements to be eligible for international Council member seats failed 121 to 183.
• Amendment to Bylaw 8.7.4.1 a and b regarding notice for Council meetings passed 298 to 8.

Four Council seats are filled each year. The four men selected for three-year terms are:
• Anthony Wasilkoff as an international member of the Council.
• Robert Dick.
• Mario Seiglie.
• Richard Thompson.

International Reports

Clyde Kilough opened the meeting at 9 calling on Walter Tannert for the opening prayer. Mr. Kilough drew attention to the theme of this conference, “Maximizing Your Ministry,” and quoted the preamble of the UCGIA Constitution and the mission statement to show the purpose behind the GCE annual meetings.

Mr. Kilough then introduced the six international reports scheduled for this year.

Canada

Rainer Salomaa, chairman of the Canadian National Council, presented some statistics about the country and UCG in Canada:
• About 30 million people live in Canada.
• 24 UCG groups meet across Canada.
• 683 record attendance.
• 503 took the Passover.
• 421 members on file.
• About 22,000 names on file.
• Last year 10,082 items mailed out from the office per month.
• 20 credentialed elders (six salaried, one half salary).
• Average age of salaried elders is 63.

Mr. Salomaa showed slides of the elders and office employees. He also talked about the efforts to preach the gospel in Canada. Currently the Canadian office is receiving responses to an ad that appeared in Alive, a health magazine. He explained that the most cost-effective area of media is through the Internet.

Caribbean

Arnold Hampton described his relationship with the Caribbean area, which he serves along with Kingsley Mather. In 1982 Mr. Hampton and his family moved to Barbados where they served for several years. Since United started, there has been growth throughout the area, usually starting with just one or two on an island. Now there are an average of 35 attending in Barbados, about 15 in St. Lucia. In St. Vincent there is still only one, but the seed is planted.

Mr. Hampton is personally responsible for four countries (along with his two congregations in Maryland). He visits his two Caribbean congregations every other month, and the other islands less often.

One of the big needs in the area is for manpower, so they started the Caribbean Leadership Training (CLT) program. Now they need to carry it to next level, to a mentoring program. The CLT is bearing fruit already. Mr. Hampton was asked to perform a funeral, but the plane ticket was too expensive, so he asked a CLT attendee to do it. Things went well, thankfully, since the prime minister of that island was at the funeral.

Mr. Hampton also mentioned the first summer camp held in Jamaica last year, and the plans for it this summer.

Mr. Hampton and Mr. Mather also serve Guyana, an English-speaking country on the Caribbean coast of South America. Mr. Hampton described the experience of baptizing people in a river he later found had piranha in it!

Italy

Carmelo Anastasi brought greetings from the 36 members, 14 children and 21 prospective members in Italy. Though small in number, that’s actually more than a 400 percent increase!

Mr. Anastasi told about a new member who was on a police force and tried to get permission to not carry gun. His superiors wouldn’t let him until he threatened to go to the press. Now he has been given early retirement and a pension.

The Church has invited subscribers from various areas of Italy for Bible studies. In one city 11 attended, a 5 percent response. However in Rome only 3 responded.

Mr. Anastasi pointed out the need to increase the preaching of the gospel in Italy. Currently they send out about 5,000 copies of the Italian Good News every two months, and they want to increase to 15,000.

They have also been doing leadership training, and training a man in editorial work to “replace me someday,” Mr. Anastasi said.

Mr. Anastasi mentioned that they will have 150 or more at the Feast—but that there’s still room for transfers!

Far East

Dave Baker explained that although he doesn’t look or sound Asian, he was baptized in Asia, engaged in Asia, ordained in Asia and thought he would die there.

Mr. Baker serves as senior pastor to the Philippines, which he was told is the third largest English-speaking nation in the world. There are 450 to 500 members, three Feast sites and six elders in the Philippines. There are 6,000 Good News subscribers and 2,700 newsstand copies are distributed. The most requested booklet is Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Some of the challenges faced by brethren in the Philippines include the fact that many of them are scattered and can only attend once or twice a month. Many of them are underemployed or face problems because of not working on the Sabbath.

Mr. Baker also serves other areas of Asia, and mentioned interesting letters from Myanmar such as this one:

“I was most inspired by all of your Bible Study Courses dealing with the basic teaching of true Christianity. I read every bit of all of your literature as soon as I get it. I save each issue and compile and teach and preach messages based on them in my fellowship. As I was a part-time lecturer at my brother’s Bible seminary for this year, my students were also blessed through all your literature.”

There are a number of subscribers in India, even though we have never advertised there. One reason is that apparently a Tamil-language religious magazine spoke positively of our free literature. Mr. Baker pointed out that since it can cost half a day’s wage or more just to write to us, they aren’t just requesting it because it is free. In fact, one reader traveled more than a day in monsoon rains to meet him in southern India, and gave a donation to the Church before he left.

Mr. Baker also mentioned his visit with a group that he met in northeast India that wants to be affiliated with UCG. Their beliefs are very similar to ours, and they wouldn’t let him pay for his expenses. They have four services each Sabbath! They keep Passover on the 15th of the first month instead of the 14th, and Mr. Baker told them this would be a roadblock. They wrote back with a beautiful attitude of desiring God’s truth.

Mr. Baker said he is often humbled by those he hears from in Asia. They just want things that we take for granted, such as to meet a minister and to go to a Sabbath service.

Currently we are only sending one GN for every half million people in Asia. Doing God’s work in Asia is truly an impossible task without God’s help.

Ghana

Melvin Rhodes briefly recounted the history of our association with the Remnant Church of God in Ghana, which led to 11 full-time pastors being ordained in Ghana last year, and another being added more recently.

Since then they have been working with 21 non-salaried elders who are being prepared for credentialing.

Mr. Rhodes mentioned that they can take up to 40 visitors for the Feast of Tabernacles this year. He explained that Ghana is a lot safer than walking around in Detroit (he said he realizes that’s not saying much, but said that it really is safe).

Most of the brethren are very poor. One man feeds his family on roughly $230 a year. But a number of members are better off and two even own their own cars. Mr. Rhodes pointed out that the Western tendency is to think that giving money will solve every problem. But it is better to help them build an infrastructure and give them tools, rather than a handout. Mr. Rhodes explained that you can destroy a community if you give too much to some—throwing money around can create resentment. In Ghana they do have enough to eat.

United Kingdom

Peter Hawkins gave a PowerPoint presentation about UCG–British Isles, highlighting their desire for “Peace and Progress.”

As “CEO” (“Conductor of the English Orchestra,” as he expressed it), Mr. Hawkins sees his role as conductor of an effective team forming there. He said the Church will be striving to follow its constitution, which contains collaborative, supportive and self-evaluating elements. UCG–British Isles will be seeking a worldwide view, using UCGIA videos at services every three weeks, and welcoming international visitors coming to the United Kingdom as speakers during the year and the Feast.

Currently there are five ministers and various volunteers helping in many areas serving more than 80 members in six congregations. Attendance for Unleavened Bread was up 16 percent.

The GN circulation is 2,600, including magazines sent to English-speaking Europe. They have asked readers in the “British and European Supplement” to the GN if they are interested in meeting with us. Around 20 requests have been received so far.

Just prior to leaving for the GCE there were five additional calls from those with no previous association with the Church of God wishing to attend services.

Mr. Hawkins pointed out some of the strengths and weaknesses experienced by the Church. The strengths include a dedicated membership and ministry; but the weaknesses include the small number and scattered nature of members and ministers and the aging of the non-salaried ministry.

Britain today has overall prosperity and a reading public, but a general lack of biblical knowledge.

A Special Tribute to Deceased Elders and Wives

After a break, Mr. Kilough introduced a moving ceremony that will be continued in future years: a tribute to deceased elders and wives. Since this was the first time, 28 elders and wives who have died since United started in 1995 were honored. (One who was inadvertently overlooked will be honored next year.) Mr. Kilough thanked Carl Falzone for printing a beautiful 36-page, full-color brochure in tribute to these men and women. Then he introduced Ken Giese to present the tribute.

Mr. Giese then showed slides and read touching tributes and memories from many family, friends and colleagues of these faithful, dedicated servants who had such an important influence on so many members.

Those honored were:

Garland Gay Gould Berg (2002):

Richard (Dick) Case (2001)

Kenneth William Christopher (2000)

Oswald George (Ozzie) Engelbart (2000)

Kenneth A. Graham Sr. (2002)

Tolu Ha’angana (2002)

Larna Jeanne Hammer (1995)

E. Charles Hanson (1998)

Iris Hegvold (1996)

Selmer Hegvold (2002)

David House (1997)

Marvin Hush (2000)

James Earl Jenkins (2003)

Glen William Keeley Sr. (2000)

Duane Franklin Ledy (1996)

Jerald J. McLaughlin (2000)

Florence Amelia Mischnick (1996)

Wiley Thomas Morgan (1995)

Eugene A. Noel (2002)

Chalmer Pifer (1999)

Thelma Pifer (2002)

Bernard Francis Schnippert (1998)

Sidney Earl Smith (2002)

Anne Teitgen (2002)

Charles Wagerle (1995)

Gerald D. Waterhouse (2002)

Valden White (1997)

Christian Diedrik Zernichow (1997)

Later it was learned that Patricia Arritt (2001) had not been included. Mr. Kilough announced that she would be included in the tribute next year.

Business Session

After a lunch break, Clyde Kilough called the meeting to order and called on John Miller, an elder from Ohio, to give the opening prayer. After the approval of the minutes, the balloting took place (see the results at the beginning of this report).

President’s Address

Roy Holladay welcomed everyone, and mentioned that this GCE also provided an opportunity for a 40th reunion of the Ambassador College class of 1963. They got together with their mates for dinner Friday night.

Mr. Holladay announced that the large offering given on Pentecost 1995 just after United started has finally been surpassed during Unleavened Bread this year. He also ran down some encouraging statistics:

• Individual subscriptions to The Good News continue to increase. Now only 4 percent of GNs go to waiting rooms, compared to half a few years ago.
• 2.51 million booklets have been printed since United started.
• 165,000 copies of the top booklet (What Is Your Destiny?) have been printed.
• The redesigned Web site has attracted increased numbers of visitors and the time they spend on the site has also increased.
• There has been a steady increase in church attendance.
• 14 percent of the Church’s income has come from those who don’t yet consider themselves part of United.
• 4,593 donors are on file.
• 2,022 coworkers are on file.

Mr. Holladay asked the elders to convey his appreciation to the members for their support. He said that winning the war in Iraq means to him that perhaps God is giving us a little more time to do a work.

He encouraged everyone to get involved with the two cable access television programs, which have both improved in quality. He said if we could go on more stations, we could get 30,000 or 40,000 responses a year (up from about 4,000 now) with little additional cost.

Mr. Holladay also highlighted the commentary that is now being put on the Web site each week, and which we hope to do daily in the future. We also hope to have short video snippets on the Web site, perhaps 1, 2 or 3 minutes long. He explained that TV and the Internet are merging, and we hope to take advantage of the trend. The E-learning program also seems to have unlimited potential.

God has had a very clear picture of what He is planning to do, and He has been calling people to help. “Bringing many sons to glory” is the vision in the Strategic Plan. Outside the Church of God community they don’t understand the meaning of life, Mr. Holladay said. We have a responsibility to prepare a people to be the sons and daughters of God.

United has been a leader in reaching out to other groups and promoting unity, Mr. Holladay said, giving examples such as CGCF and the Remnant Church of God. He said he hopes we can continue with that. He asked for everyone’s prayers that God will continue to guide us.

Treasurer’s Report

Tom Kirkpatrick pointed out that the last set of audited financial statements was printed in the September-October 2002 United News. To report on the current situation, he passed out a summary cash flow statement through May 4, or 83 percent of the fiscal period. Actual category one income was about 2 percent above budget, but Dr. Kirkpatrick projected that we’ll likely end the fiscal year slightly below budget in category one, and over in category two (Holy Day offerings). This would put us close to the budgeted $18,240,000 amount.

Lest we feel that is a large budget, he pointed out that four NBA players have higher incomes than the entire Church budget!

Dr. Kirkpatrick also looked at the income compared with the previous 12 months, which showed a 2.7 percent increase. (He said this measure shows “how fast the train has been moving.”) Considering these trends, he feels it is only prudent to go no more than the 4.2 percent increase projected in the budget. He pointed out that God can make the money He does give us go farther than we think possible by multiplying the seed (2 Corinthians:9:10).

Dr. Kirkpatrick reported that the salary ranges are unchanged from last year’s report.

Ministerial Services Report: “A Work in Progress”

Richard Pinelli, Ministerial Services operation manager, said that in the eight years since United started, things have been settling. Now there is a feeling of peace and settlement and no longer the “rock and roll” of earlier years. Now it’s like a sign he once saw entering a small town in Texas: “Home of 10,000 happy people, with the exception of a few old grouches.”

Watching the attendance and offerings increase is a beautiful thing, Mr. Pinelli said. There are now 447 elders worldwide, and we again have over 19,000 for the Feast of Tabernacles. Attendance for Holy Days in the United States is over 13,000, and there are about 10,500 attending on regular Sabbaths. He received only four letters of complaint after the Feast—95 percent of problems we’ve had are gone, he said. Things are not perfect, but they are a whole lot better than eight years ago, he said.

Mr. Pinelli reported that 896 people with a Sabbatarian background contacted the ministry in the last year (a decrease of 25 percent). Another 832 new people without a Sabbatarian background have become interested in contacting a minister because of our literature (a 1 percent increase). There have been 47 baptisms of brand-new people not of Sabbatarian background.

Mr. Pinelli reported that the Church has hired four of the men who attended the ministerial candidate program last August, and another is yet to be hired this fiscal year, Three more are in the budget for next year.

Altogether pastors have recorded driving more than 16 million miles since United started, and if you add the miles other elders turned in, it would be 21 million miles or more than 800 times around the earth!

What makes United special? Mr. Pinelli said it’s the multi-tasking ministry who have taken on many of the support functions of the Church. They do much more than pastoring: writing articles, PCD, teaching at ABC, Feast, review teams, camp, managing editors, education programs and much more. The wives have given incredible support. It’s inspiring to be around this group, Mr. Pinelli said.

Media and Communications Services Report

Peter Eddington, Media and Communications Services operation manager, reported that there have been many accomplishments over past 12 months, such as the rise in number of individual subscribers to The Good News.

Another very positive area is the redesigned Web site. Two new features have been added to encourage Web visitors to use our site to follow Christ’s instruction to watch—and to help make sense of all that’s happening. Commentaries by our writers are posted each week and “Current World News and Trends” provides links to other news and commentaries.

Mr. Eddington reported that unfortunately we are not going to reach our target of 500,000 for the GN circulation this fiscal year. The 11 percent decrease in GN is partly because of lower than expected renewal of our waiting rooms. He mentioned that for the coming year it will be a challenge to get back up to half a million.

However, having 77 percent of our circulation as individual subscribers is a healthy figure, he said. Individual subscribers have increased from 88,983 in 1999 to 354,590 today.

The Bible Study Course is going into 11,130 non-member households, and 3,738 graduates of the BSC are receiving tapes. Beyond that, 1,098 graduates of the tape program responded to an offer for more information from the Church. There have been a total of 914,000 lessons printed to date.

Mr. Eddington also reported:

• World News and Prophecy is being offered to coworkers; the print run is now 19,400, up 15 percent
• 5.75 million card pack promotions have been sent, bringing in 36,146 subscriptions at a cost per response of $2.33.
• 21,840 brochures were distributed in 2002. This promotion has a very cost effective $1.49 cost per response.
• 742,900 newsstand copies have been distributed total, 420,100 last year alone.
• Total mail processed is down 11 percent because of decreased number of promotions.
• Literature requests through the Web site are up 73 percent.
• Donation mail is up 7 percent.
• Non-member donations are up 21.1 percent.
• 24 percent increase in donors and coworkers.
• 167 new donors per month.
• Total number of members, youth and associated is up 4 percent.
• 42 percent increase in data transfer on the ucg.org Web site.
• Near 170,000 visitors to the site in April.
• GN radio has brought in over 7,000 calls; is currently on 16 stations.
• Radio and TV log is in the May/June GN.
• Mr. Eddington encouraged pastors to arrange for one or both cable-access television programs to be aired in their city.

Keynote Addresses: “Maximizing Your Ministry”

Mr. Kilough thanked the GCE planning task force, saying they’ve done a tremendous job. Then he introduced the first of three keynote addresses. Paul Luecke pastors four scattered congregations in North Dakota and Manitoba.

“Serving the Small and Scattered Flocks” (Paul Luecke)

The Church has been compared to a household, and Mr. Luecke said a “new household” was given to pastors eight years ago (Matthew:24:45). The square footage has increased. There are fewer people, fewer young people, fewer helpers, but the household has the same needs.

Mr. Luecke encouraged the elders to exploit the advantages of having smaller congregations to develop local leadership and make full use of the Sabbath.

The pastor is better able to get acquainted with the brethren in a smaller congregation, and so he is better able to identify and develop the local leadership.

To maximize the use of the Sabbath, Mr. Luecke gave the following points:
1. Members today still need to assemble with their brethren (Hebrews:10:24-25). He quoted a young person who feels that larger congregations lead to selectivity (cliques). Young people have more opportunities to serve in smaller congregations.
2. Members still need to hear from the ministry. Perhaps the ministers can have more effect by tailoring messages specifically to the members, preparing them to teach others in the Kingdom of God. Ministers can also use phone hookups to expand the reach of the message.
3. The Sabbath allows us to get to know everyone by spending more time. Because of the distances involved, he can only go to one congregation each Sabbath, so he spends the whole day.
4. A small congregation benefits from dignity as much as a large one does. Winnipeg sets up flowers, etc., even though only 25 instead of 1,000.

“The Pastor as a Friend” (Jim Chapman)

After spending hours together with the troops in Iraq, even hardened embedded reporters were impressed with the troops they were with. Mr. Chapman used this as a springboard to talk about the privilege of having and being a friend. He said we have a spiritual mandate to become very close friends and to take care of each other as well. John:15:15 shows that Jesus calls us friends. We are a handpicked group (John:15:16). We are to get along with everyone. We are even to love our enemies. Christ prayed for our unity (John:17:11). We are working as a team with God and Christ toward our destiny. If we wouldn’t really lay down our life for each other, how will we convince others of the genuineness of our Christianity (John:13:35)? God will bless our friendships.

The ministerial family is a very special entity—God expects things of them. Mr. Chapman explained that ministers can share with each other. Other ministers provide a safe house where an elder can admit faults, not get preached at or get “the look.” Working together on the front lines is a great place to develop friendships, and we have lots of front lines now, Mr. Chapman said.

In 1 Samuel 18 it describes the close friendship of Jonathan and David. What a reunion that will be in the resurrection!

Mr. Chapman encouraged the elders and wives to take advantage of opportunities like the GCE to strengthen their friendships with other elders and wives. Let’s try harder to be the best friends we can be with the help of God, he said.

“If I Had to Do It Over Again” (Dale Schurter)

Mr. Schurter thanked everyone for the support and prayers through his most recent trials. He said his most recent near-death experience helped him to know he loves God and Christ at the third level, and that God loves him at the infinite level. He described level one as the knowledge of the great commandment to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Level two is a deeper level of affirmation, “I love God with all my heart, soul and mind.” Level three is much deeper yet, telling God regularly, at least once a day, “I love You with all my heart, soul and mind.”

In a 24-hour period, he went from being active to being broken. At first he thought he was just tired, but his wife had to revive him a couple of times. The function of his adrenal gland was as close to being dead as it can be. He asked for anointing and examined the Scriptures (including Matthew:7:7; Exodus:15:6; 23:25; and 20:8-9) in addition to seeking advice from health care providers. He learned that the cause of his health problem was that he always pushed through his tiredness, again and again. He did not want to be an unprofitable servant. When it comes time to rest, he had to learn to do that with all his might as well.

He said if he had to do it over again, he would keep the whole Fourth Commandment better. Since, like the priests, God’s servants today are blameless for doing God’s work on the Sabbath, ministers too often neglect getting rest (taking a personal day a week, taking vacation). He said it has actually been a blessing that he has only been able to visit one congregation a Sabbath because of his health.

Mr. Schurter said if you find yourself going in the direction of an adrenal crash, take time to rest. Relax for 10 minutes instead of taking a coffee or Coke break. Confirm to God, “I love You with all my heart, soul and mind, and love my neighbor as myself.” Practice the health principles you already know, Mr. Schurter said.

In the evening the Council of Elders answered a variety of questions and comments from elders and wives.

Mike Bennett

© 2003 United Church of God, an International Association