Home Office Weekly Update: November 20, 2025
Updates on last week's Council of Elders and Church administration meetings, announcements, and events to add to your calendar.
From the Chairman...
As a follow-up to my earlier video, I wanted to share a short update about the Council of Elders and Church administration meetings held last week in Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of our meetings was to begin a refresh of the Church’s Strategic Plan for the years 2026–2029.
Our specific purpose in gathering was simple but vital: to clearly define our goals, objectives and strategies so we can continue fulfilling the mission Christ has given His Church. While our mission remains unwavering—to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, and to prepare a people to serve in God’s Kingdom—the world around us continues to change. Therefore, every three years, we take a fresh look at how to best carry out that mission in a shifting landscape of new technologies, evolving societal norms and emerging opportunities.
One of the highlights for me personally was meeting and working with our facilitator, Michael Wilkinson, who is the founder of Leadership Strategies based in Atlanta. Seventeen years ago he facilitated an earlier planning meeting with the Council. Only two of our current Council members, Victor Kubik and Aaron Dean, were part of that original session, yet Michael remembered the experience well.
Michael began our meetings with training on understanding the dynamics of working together to form long-term plans. We discussed how disagreements arise and the three levels at which they tend to occur: differences in information, differences in values, and conflicts rooted in unrelated issues. Exploring how to resolve each type was eye-opening and deeply beneficial.
We then spent most of our time doing the actual work of developing the Strategic Plan. We reviewed the distinctions between goals and objectives, and we examined the critical success factors and barriers that can influence our ability to achieve what we’ve set out to do.
Over the course of three days, we made great progress and will continue the momentum with follow-up meetings in December. From there, the president and administration will develop action plans and monitoring systems to ensure our strategies are carried out effectively. Ultimately the Plan will be sent to the General Conference of Elders for review and approval in May.
The meetings themselves were productive and energizing. Meals served in the adjacent room kept us moving efficiently, and a warm invitation from Jonathan and Bridgette (Sexton) Beam to dine at their home nearby added a much-appreciated personal touch. A few Council members who remained in the area through the Sabbath were also able to visit and speak in nearby congregations before heading home.
Overall, these days together were deeply encouraging. I’m grateful for the unity, dedication and thoughtful collaboration shown by everyone involved. With God’s guidance, I believe the plans we’re shaping will strengthen our efforts to carry the gospel forward and continue caring for those He calls.
In Christ’s service,
Tim Pebworth, Chairman
From Ministerial and Member Services...
Death of Homer Moore
Homer Moore, (84) a longtime elder in the Orange County, California congregation, died peacefully on Nov. 15. He had a servant’s heart and will be greatly missed. He faithfully served the Church along with his wife, Anna, who is also a deaconess.
Cards or notes can be sent to: Anna Moore, 11541 Weatherby Rd., Los Alamitos, CA 90720
—Steve Myers, Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services
From Financial Services…
Year-End Donations
As we approach the end of 2025, we encourage anyone considering a year-end contribution to mail their donation by Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 to help ensure it is received and recorded before year-end. Due to the holiday season and increased mail volume, postal delays are common.
For a faster and more efficient option, you may make your donation online at ucg.org/give. Online donations are processed almost immediately; however, please note that ACH transactions may take a couple of days to clear.
Stock and Non-Cash Donations
If you are planning to make an end-of-year stock or non-cash donation and would like it reflected on your 2025 tax statement, please complete the transaction by Thursday, Dec. 18. This timeframe allows our broker sufficient time to process the transfer and ensures the gift is received by the home office in time to be recorded as a 2025 contribution.
When making a stock donation, we kindly ask that you also send a brief email to financial_services@ucg.org. This notification helps us coordinate with our broker and ensures your gift is processed as efficiently as possible during this busy season.
Year-End Receipts
Whether you choose to give by check, online contribution, stock or other non-cash method, please note that all year-end receipts or acknowledgment letters will be mailed out on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
Thank you for your thoughtful support and consideration. Your generosity is sincerely appreciated.
—Linda Api, Operation Manager, Financial Services
Save the Date: Women’s Enrichment Weekend
Fairmont Hot Springs, BC Canada Apr. 17–19
Come join your spiritual sisters in God’s majestic Southeastern British Columbia mountains for an enriching weekend of fellowship, learning and fun discussing God’s way of life.
More details will be provided at a later date on the Women of Valor website: https://www.ucg.org/women-of-valor.
Consider Attending Ambassador Bible College 2026-2027
This is the perfect time for young adults to consider plans for the next academic year—and Ambassador Bible College (ABC) is an option worth careful attention.
ABC is not only a year away from other pursuits. Rather, it is a year invested in building a better life! It includes learning God’s Word and having unique, enjoyable experiences. Students at Ambassador are able to interact with the home office staff and the Cincinnati congregations while they do a thorough study of all the books of the Bible. There are also many opportunities for social activities and developing friendships. Many graduates have said that it was (thus far) the best year of their lives!
ABC is something that you can do! It is something that you will enjoy doing; and it is something that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Applying early (as in, right now) is the best way to ensure that you can arrange housing and employment. To learn more, visit abc.ucg.org, or contact us directly at (513) 576-9796 or frank_dunkle@ucg.org.
Scholarships for ABC
Ambassador Bible College (ABC) has received donations for awarding scholarships to support young adults attending ABC. Scholarships will provide $5,000 each to seven students: four men and three women. (This is in addition to the Rick Beam Scholarship that LifeNets continues to make available. Information about that program is available by contacting Vic Kubik at vkubik@gmail.com).
Students may apply for a scholarship at the same time they apply to attend ABC. A letter of recommendation from a pastor will comprise a significant part of each application.
To receive scholarship funds, an applicant must be accepted to attend ABC. For more information and/or to request an application form, please contact Ambassador Bible College (abc_admissions@ucg.org). The deadline for applications is March 16, 2026.
