Council of Elders Holds Quarterly Meeting
The Council of Elders held meetings in Milford, Ohio, Feb. 24–27. Full reports will be available soon.
Letter from the Chairman…
Dear brethren,
As a follow-up to my video message to you on Friday, I’m writing to share an update from our February meeting of the Council of Elders related to our process for reaffirming a president.
As you know, the president is appointed by the Council to serve the Church for three years and this term is ending. It is now time to determine whether to reaffirm our president or select a new president, a process required by our governing documents.
Some might ask, what goes into the decision to reaffirm the president of the United Church of God, an International Association? To be clear, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. After seeking God’s direction, past Councils have chosen seven men to serve as president during our 30-year history, each with different approaches and talents.
The process of reaffirmation allows for either planned continuation of current talents or a transition to another set of talents to further God’s Work. Through this model, we benefit from having emeritus presidents who continue to contribute their skills on an ongoing basis in different capacities.
After seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting, through thoughtful deliberations, and in accordance with processes outlined in our Bylaws, the Council has decided to transition to a new president. With this decision, we now turn our attention to beginning the selection process for the next president. I will share more information about this in the coming weeks.
We are deeply appreciative of Rick Shabi’s service as president. He traveled extensively to international areas, bringing to light important needs outside of the United States. He also brought a fresh approach to preaching the gospel with the Biblical Worldview video program. Having worked with him since May, I know he put in many hours and late nights fulfilling his duties. He previously served in many other ways, including as a pastor and treasurer.
Thank you for your prayers and support of this process and please join me in thanking Mr. Shabi for his service over the past three years. We look forward to his continued service.
In Christ’s service,
Tim Pebworth
From Ministerial and Member Services...
Ordination of Stephen Tuck
Stephen Tuck was ordained an elder on Feb. 15. Stephen and his wife, Melanie, will serve the Phoenix East, Arizona congregation. They have three boys, Joseph, Allen and George.
Changes in Congregation Pastoral Assignments
Ministerial and Member Services is pleased to announce the following changes that will take place over the next few months:
David Fitch will be hired into the employed ministry and he, along with his wife, Sharon, will pastor the Elkhart, Indiana; Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing, Michigan congregations.
Devin Schulz and his wife, Tiffany, will be transferring from Michigan to pastor the Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa congregations.
We greatly appreciate your prayers for these men, their families, and the congregations they serve.
Retirement of Nelson Arnold
On the Sabbath of Feb. 15, Nelson Arnold “O'Fishally” retired from the pastoral ministry. Nelson and his wife, Grace, took on the mantle of serving the Terre Haute, Indiana congregation when Victor Kubik moved to Cincinnati to serve as operation manager of Ministerial and Member Services under President Dennis Luker.
The Arnolds have graciously, tirelessly and humbly served the brethren and been amazing examples of perseverance through trials.
The day was made special by having former pastor and friend, Mr. Kubik, give the sermon. Mr. Kubik also presented a crystal globe to Mr. Arnold on behalf of the home office in recognition of his service to the brethren.
The recognition was followed by a potluck, fellowship and reminiscing spurred by a memory album put together by the congregation. Nelson and Grace will be staying in the area and are looking forward to having more time together and continuing to watch their soon-to-be fifth generation of family join God's Church.
—Steve Myers, Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services
Phoenix, Arizona Dinner Dance
You are invited! The Phoenix Spring Holy Day Dinner Dance is an opportunity to worship God on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread together, and enjoy extended fellowship with a Dinner and Dance in a beautiful setting with your brothers and sisters in Christ. What a wonderful way to complete the Days of Unleavened Bread. We hope to see you here!
Please see the following link for details and registration: https://ucg.regfox.com/phoenix-spring-holy-day-dance-.
NEW: Young Adult Activity Playbook
If you’re looking for young adult activities in your area, but find your social calendar is empty, we have an exciting opportunity for you!
What better way to build meaningful relationships, grow spiritually and make the most of your talents than by hosting an event for others your age? Don’t despair if the nearest event is hundreds of miles away! We invite you to create your very own young adult weekend, and we walk you through the process step-by-step.
This new guide, “A Playbook for Young Adult Weekends,” includes best practices from others who have hosted a weekend, helpful charts to keep your planning on target and resources for finding the support you need.
Job Opening: Food Service Lead
The United Church of God is announcing a job opening for a Food Service Lead.
The Food Service Lead supports the Food Service Manager in handling the daily affairs of the cafeteria for Ambassador Bible College (ABC), including the kitchen and general dining area. He or she supports the manager for all dining activities at the home office of the United Church of God during normal business hours and for special events. He or she, helps ensure the kitchen operates to department standards and health regulations.
A ServSafe certification and two years of experience with cooking and commercial kitchen operations is preferred. The candidate must be able to stand for long periods, frequently lift and/or move up to 35 pounds, be well organized and able to pay attention to detail and accuracy.
Potential employees must be baptized members of the United Church of God. This is a full-time position scheduled throughout the 9-month ABC academic year.
