United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report
Feb. 2, 2011—Cincinnati, Ohio

The day after the special ministerial conference, the Council took advantage of the opportunity for this face-to-face meeting since all 10 members of the current Council were together: Scott Ashley, Bob Berendt (from Canada), Aaron Dean (also UCG treasurer), Bill Eddington (from Australia), Roy Holladay, Victor Kubik (also Ministerial and Member Services operation manager), Darris McNeely, Melvin Rhodes (chairman), Mario Seiglie and Robin Webber. Also present were the Council secretary Gerald Seelig, UCG President Dennis Luker and Media and Communications Services operation manager Peter Eddington.

This meeting also afforded between 40 and 50 elders, wives and others the opportunity to watch the Council in action during the morning session before they had to begin their journeys home from the ministerial conference. In the course of discussions Council Chairman Rhodes asked several times for input from these visitors.

Ministerial Conference Assessment

At approximately 9 a.m. Council Chairman Rhodes called the meeting to order. After the opening prayer he introduced the main agenda item—a review of the conference just ended.

The overwhelming response from Council members and the audience was that it was our best conference ever. Robin Webber considered it a “tremendous step forward,” not just another series of meetings, but a clear demonstration that UCG is biblically based—not merely an organization of governing documents.

Victor Kubik said that “the world was watching this conference,” that we had a new beginning in 1995 but could never follow-up on our aspirations. He said that it is critical that we strive to prevent the divisive problems that subsequently developed since that time, and that we “truly be ministers who live what we teach.”

Roy Holladay spoke of the new leadership opportunities that have arisen in the wake of the recent schism and how many men have stepped up and stood in the gap to serve our various congregations. He and others commented about how we must stay very close to God and maintain the forward momentum that Christ has blessed us with.

Mario Seiglie commented that this has also been a conference to which we all came grieving, and how good it was to meet together person-to-person. He stressed that what we have gone through was a test of whether we would be respecters of persons or respecters of principle. We need both truth and love—it’s possible to speak the truth without love, but we must make sure that we speak the truth with love. He stated that a great key to the conference’s success was to reintroduce Christ-centered servant leadership into the United culture—that it must never be merely platitude, but be our practice.

Aaron Dean explained that the Church has always had good rhetoric, but bad culture. So we need to change our culture. Through events Christ has given us the chance to use all our people—which is preparing the Bride—and that we are turning a corner with this conference.

Darris McNeely commented that this was the first conference since 1995 where you could go up to anybody and have a warm conversation. He said that we are all astonished by what has swept through the Church. He stressed that if we can keep that love we’ve been given, we can retain that humility—but our days of fasting are not over.

Church President Dennis Luker described it as fantastic conference—the one with the greatest peace and oneness that United has yet had, that you could feel God’s Spirit within the group.

Christ-Centered Servant Leadership

Chairman Rhodes then steered the discussion onto what we should call our Christ-centered servant leadership program or Church culture. For most of the next two hours Council members and members of the audience analyzed and suggested various titles for the concept in the process of finding the clearest and best suited label for how we will lead, follow and function in all our processes in United.

The clear and unanimous focus was all about following our Lord’s example to faithfully serve God and man. Finally, the three most preferred titles for the concept were balloted on in two stages with some additional discussion, and the final selection was: Christlike Service.

Update on the Louisville Winter Family Weekend (WFW)

Chairman Rhodes asked Roy Holladay for an update on the Winter Family Weekend. Mr. Holladay explained that the breakaway organization secured a contract with the Galt House immediately after the recent WFW.

UCG conference planner Charles Melear reported that the Galt House failed to honor the universally accepted convention industry principle of “first right of refusal”—meaning that UCG should have been given the opportunity to renew or refuse to renew our annual contract at Galt House before contracting with anyone else for those dates.

Charles Melear has contacted the owner, general manager and director of sales at the Galt House via e-mail. The situation is pending their response.

Update on the UYC Camp Program

Next, Chairman Rhodes asked Roy Holladay for a report on the progress of rebuilding the United Youth Camp program.

Mr. Holladay reported that we are planning for five summer camps and one winter camp. The summer camps we have confirmed are set for Alabama (Camp Woodmen), Ohio (location under negotiation), Oregon, California (Camp Hye Sierra), Missouri and Wisconsin (Winter Camp). There are a number of preteen camps being planned as well.

He explained that we lost the use of the camp in Missouri and the winter camp in Wisconsin and will have to locate new facilities. He pointed out that the camp situation in those two instances is like that with the Galt House Hotel for the WFW where the accepted practice is the first right of refusal for each new camp year. If the organization that has rented the facility for past years declines to rent it for the next year, then it is acceptable that the facility will be available for others. Unfortunately, those leaving us did not tell the camps’ operators that UCG did want the camp, and then used their friendships and their version of events to sign up the facilities for their use.

The concerns were underscored by reports from the audience about how the same sort of problems were narrowly averted for the teen camp in California and a preteen camp in Minnesota. One elder then publically thanked the Council of Elders and administration for yielding to God to help put United “back on track” ethically and other ways.

International Council Members

Chairman Rhodes then initiated a discussion about the present difficulty of finding enough international Council members to fill out the three members (25 percent) of the full Council required by our governing documents. Several discussed the difficulty for elders to travel freely to the United States since 9-11, plus the language challenges and time commitment.

The question was asked if U.S. pastors who serve as senior pastors to various international regions of the Church could qualify as international Council members. Bill Eddington, chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee, explained that it would require an amendment to the Bylaws by the General Conference of Elders (GCE).

Budget and Strategic Plan

After the lunch break and an opening prayer by Scott Ashley, Chairman Rhodes introduce Strategic Planning and Finance Committee Chairman Robin Webber to report on the progress and plans for finalizing the 2011-2012 budget, Strategic Plan and Operation Plan for the GCE to ballot on in May.

Mr. Webber outlined the planning challenges we face. Quoting a previous comment by Aaron Dean, he commented that we need to focus on being “people-oriented” rather than program-oriented in our planning discussions to perform the work of God. United is in a “new reality” size-wise and financially. We have fewer funds, which are offset by a smaller payroll, lower ministerial expenses and legacy costs, but nonetheless, cautious planning is still needed. We need to take advantage of this transitional moment and fully analyze how we wisely spend the faithful donations of our membership to preach the gospel and prepare a people.

He stressed the need to analyze the other “new reality” of integrating our salaried pastors, actively serving elders and wonderfully motivated members. In essence, how can we maximize our ability to sustain our total membership’s enthusiasm to do God’s work?

Church treasurer and Council member Aaron Dean commented that obviously the Council will have to ask the GCE to approve a budget with leeway to adjust as we go based on income, and that we may need to tap our reserves to some degree.

Mr. Webber explained plans for teleconferences for the committee in March, after the next regular Council meeting, to work on the detailed planning necessary. He stressed the need to maintain the momentum that God has given us. Mr. Dean responded with conviction, “If God wants it done, we have to do it.”

The whole Council indicated their approval for the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee to proceed with their duties.

Chairman Rhodes reminded the Council members to submit their agenda items by the next week in anticipation of the regular quarterly meeting beginning in late February. He then thanked those visitors who had sat in on the open session and explained that the Council must next go into executive session to discuss personnel matters. The audience left the room and the Council worked in executive session until adjournment at approximately 3 p.m.

-end-

Randy Stiver
Council Reporter

© 2011 United Church of God, an International Association