Council of Elders Meeting Report

United Church of God, an International Association

Milford, Ohio - Wednesday July 9, 2014

The videoconference of the Council of Elders (CoE) was called to order by chairman Robin Webber at 4 p.m., and Don Ward opened in prayer. There were 11 CoE members present, missing Bill Bradford.

General Update, Victor Kubik

Church president Victor Kubik updated the Council on various current issues:

• Melvin Rhodes is in a very serious health condition. A critical operation this Monday appears to have been successful and he is currently resting.
• Aaron Dean was appointed as dean of students for Ambassador Bible Center (ABC) and is busy moving his office downstairs nearer to the ABC lecture hall for better access to the students.
• We completed the fiscal year with more than 6.4 million unique visitors to our main website at ucg.org. This is an increase of 24% over 2012-2013.
• We currently have the highest number of co-workers ever registered on our files.
• It is sobering that so many in the ministry are coming to retirement age, but we have plans in motion to develop future ministry and to fill pastorates.
• We are developing a planned-giving program.
• There is a public appearance program being planned for September 10 in Cincinnati as an extension and follow-up to the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars. It will be titled “Why Were You Born?” Gary Petty will be the host speaker at this initial event. The media team has been working on promotional videos for the campaign.

ABC Curriculum Task Force Update, Rex Sexton

Rex Sexton updated the Council on the ABC Curriculum Task Force progress. He said that an ABC curriculum assessment is to be done. The task force is currently reviewing the ABC mission statement and developing survey questions to be sent to all alumni.

The Council then proceeded into an executive session.

Administrative Resolutions

After the executive session the Council accepted the changes to the Registered Agent representative of UCG for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. This is a unique requirement for that State. Subsequently the Council accepted the update to UCG officers and agents authorized to sign Motor Vehicle Leases with Enterprise Fleet Management.

Errata From the Reporter

Council reporter Randy Stiver issued the following statement to the Council regarding his Council meeting reports of May 28 2014, with apologies: “Ed Dowd has not requested to be replaced as an Elders Forum moderator (as inadvertently stated by this reporter), but rather, Darris McNeely in fact requested to be replaced as an EF moderator. My apologies for this error.”

The report as per errata should read:

“Next on the list was a discussion about a new moderator for the Elders Forum. Darris McNeely first requested replacement more than two years ago because he did not feel then, nor now, that a sitting Council member should be an EF moderator. Since he was currently exiting the CoE he felt this was a good time for a new moderator to be selected. Mr. Webber suggested that Roc Corbett request of the General Conference of Elders Responsibilities Advisory Committee (GRAC) a list of possible elders to consider for the forum moderator. Mr. Corbett explained that the Council would need to empower the GRAC to make such suggestions since it is an “advisory” committee with specific terms of reference and focus in other areas. The chairman remanded the matter to Mario Seiglie, chair of the Ethics Committee (who currently maintains oversight of the Elder’s Forum) and Roc Corbett (who as chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee currently serves as the liaison to the GRAC) to make initial inquiries into the process involving the GRAC in the selection of a forum moderator.”

Procedural Question

Mr. Seiglie questioned the process to appoint senior management of the Church, such as the recent appointment of the coordinator of ABC. Currently the Council approves operation managers. Mr. Kubik requested the Council to consider if need be how far into the administration the Council desires oversight, and to advise the administration.

Mr. Webber concluded with organizational matters in preparation for the upcoming August and December meetings.

The Council adjourned at 6:30 p.m. with a closing prayer by Rainer Salomaa.

-end-

Interim Council Reporter

Jorge de Campos

© 2014 United Church of God, an International Association