United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Quarterly Meeting Report
Big Sandy, Texas
Monday, February 25, 2019
Chairman Don Ward called the morning session to order at 9:00 a.m. Central, and the meeting was opened with prayer. Eleven Council of Elders (Council) members were present. Scott Ashley joined about 30 minutes later by videoconference from the home office because he was teaching at ABC.
Chairman Ward welcomed everyone and commented on the very sobering times we are living in. The news and condition of this world will hopefully continue to sharpen our focus in preaching the gospel message that God has given us. We must be seeking God’s will in all things and looking to preach the gospel message more effectively.
The last Council meeting minutes and agenda for the week were discussed and approved.
President’s Report—Victor Kubik [video done]
President Victor Kubik greeted everyone and commented on some of the following major activities since the last meetings in December from his perspective as the President:
President Kubik concluded his remarks agreeing with Dr. Ward that we are living in troubling times in the world. We see a world that doesn’t want to hear the gospel message, but it still must be preached. The book of Jeremiah is a good example that even when it isn’t popular, we must continue to give the message that God has for us to preach to this world. The time of Jacob’s trouble is approaching and we must be spiritually ready to face those days. We must be doing the work God has called us to do. We have so much to accomplish and it should excite us.
Operation Manager Reports:
Ministerial and Member Services (MMS)—Mark Welch [video done]
Mark Welch summarized some manpower changes since the last meetings in December:
Current statistics include:
Media and Communications Services—Peter Eddington [video done]
Peter Eddington went through some of the following statistics as of January 31 this year:
Some other items Mr. Eddington talked about were:
So, we are continuing to do well—an average of 29,413 ads running per day and 711 videos being watched per day. Please note, these views and channel installs are only for Roku. We are also running BT television programming on Apple iOS devices, Android devices, Amazon Fire TV and Samsung TVs. The channel installs for these are as follows: Samsung TVs – 4,633 (26% increase since last February), Amazon Fire TV – 3,557 (53% increase since last February), iOS devices – 773 (800% increase since last February), Android devices (too soon to measure).
Treasurer and Financial Services Report—Rick Shabi [video done]
Rick Shabi updated the Council on the financial condition of the Church and the results of operations since the December Council meetings. As he handed out several financial reports and schedules for the seven months of the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, 2019, he reminded the Council of income “trends” that were noted in the December meetings.
Mr. Shabi reported that income for the last two months had met budget, then led the Council through an income projection for the rest of this fiscal year. He stressed that cash balances and the overall financial condition of the Church is strong, and that no services or programs have been cut back or curtailed.
An update on the Video Recording Studio construction was provided. The cost of the Studio and equipment slightly exceeded $1 million. To date, $922,000 has been contributed to the Video Recording Studio Restricted Fund.
After presenting additional pertinent financial information and statistics, Mr. Shabi concluded his presentation. He thanked God for His continual blessing upon the Church, and the members and other donors who support the Work through their tithes and offerings.
Chairman Ward thanked Mr. Shabi for the great reporting and for all the work on the financial statements.
Committee Chairman Reports: [video done]
Strategic Planning and Finance Committee—Bob Dick
The Strategic Planning and Finance Committee (SPFC) has been pleased with the cooperation and the interaction with the administration over the past year and a half as the transition has been made for a sharper focus on outcomes-based strategic planning. In the previous December meetings the Council gave input for areas to improve. The administration will present to the Council their input for the strategic plan later today.
Members on the SPFC: Aaron Dean, Bob Dick (chair), Dan Dowd, Len Martin and Rex Sexton.
Roles and Rules Committee—Rainer Salomaa
The Roles and Rules Committee (RRC) has been working on the following items since our last meetings:
Members on the RRC: Jorge de Campos, Dan Dowd, Len Martin and Rainer Salomaa (chair).
Ethics Committee—John Elliott
The Ethics Committee (EC) is a standing committee of the Council. The scope of the EC’s work is directed by the Council of Elders and extends to all matters of ethics and ethical conduct within the church organization as described by official documentation. Last December the Council remanded a matter to the Ethics Committee for its review. That matter is now concluded, and the EC is prepared to report the conclusion to the Council this week.
Members on the EC: Bob Dick, John Elliott (chair), Mario Seiglie and Tony Wasilkoff.
Doctrine Committee—Mario Seiglie
Since the December Council meetings, the Doctrine Committee (DC) has completed the following tasks:
Mr. Seiglie also mentioned that the DC is reviewing a number of papers as part of its ongoing duties. The Project on reviewing the PCD letters is also continuing.
Members on the DC: Scott Ashley, Jorge de Campos, Len Martin, Mario Seiglie (chair) and Rex Sexton.
Media and Communications Committee—Scott Ashley
The Media and Communications Committee (MCC) met last Thursday, Feb. 21 to review the president’s and media operation manager reports. The meeting also included several discussions on topics such as the current social and media environment, which is increasingly hostile to God’s truth. Major media companies are censoring conservative messages. Also discussed were ways to get more international perspective and participation in the BT magazine and the possibility of doing shorter 10-15 minute video topics. The MCC also went over the media budget for the next fiscal year.
Members on the MCC: Scott Ashley (chair), Jorge de Campos, John Elliott, Rex Sexton and Tony Wasilkoff.
Education Committee—Aaron Dean
The Education Committee (EC) has not been assigned any new duties. A new set of regional ministerial conferences has started, and each of the members of the EC will eventually attend the regional conference in their areas. The EC was sent the agenda and schedule for this next round of regional conferences for input.
We are continuing our education in foreign areas. The goal is self-sufficiency, both in manpower and finances.
We thank God for the opportunity to help educate those who are teaching and will teach God’s way of life in the future.
Members on the EC: Aaron Dean (chair), Dan Dowd, Rainer Salomaa and Tony Wasilkoff.
Chairman Ward thanked everyone for their reports. The Council broke for lunch.
The Council went into scheduled executive session at 1 p.m. for an administration question by President Kubik.
The Council came into open session at 1:38 p.m.
Review of Strategic Plan and Operation Plan—Peter Eddington
Peter Eddington led the discussion to review the updated Strategic Plan and Operation Plan. The Council reviewed all areas of the strategic plan and operation plan. There were various edits that were suggested throughout the document.
Approved church formats were brought up in the discussion. There are six approved formats that may be used. Chairman Ward mentioned that we have to be careful to not try to change our church format to try and keep people in the church. Some church areas have tried other formats besides those approved. It was suggested that the current formats would be reviewed and pastors would be reminded of those approved formats by MMS.
Rex Sexton said there may be an occasional different format, but agreed with Dr. Ward and read Galatians:1:10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ., warning that we are not to be seeking to please men. We are to be seeking to please God in our services and that should be our focus.
Len Martin mentioned the unity through the years of going to other congregations and knowing the same format is done wherever you go. The importance of substance over form should be considered.
The Council then went into scheduled executive session at 4:08 p.m. to discuss the proposed budget.
The Council adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Chairman Don Ward called the morning session to order at 9:00 a.m. Central, and the meeting was opened with prayer. All 12 Council of Elders (Council) members were present. Scott Ashley joined by videoconference from the home office.
Finalize GCE Agenda—Charles Melear
Charles Melear, as the chair of the GCE planning task force, led the discussion of the agenda for the upcoming May GCE meetings. The Council had discussed most of the plans in the December meetings. Mr. Melear presented those plans and received input to finalize the schedule. Sabbath services on May 4 will be at 2 p.m. Eastern with Mark Welch giving the first split sermon and Len Martin giving the second split sermon. The rest of the schedule was discussed and finalized.
The Council went into scheduled executive session at 9:24 a.m.
The Council came into open session at 1:12 p.m.
Manner of Approving Official Relationships with Other Religious Organizations—Rainer Salomaa
As the chair of the Roles and Rules Committee (RRC), Rainer Salomaa presented a document titled “Manner of Approving Official Relationships with Other Religious Organizations.” Once this document is eventually approved by the General Conference of Elders, it will replace the “Provisional Manner of Approving Official Relationships with Other Religious Organizations,” which was approved by the GCE on May 6, 2001. The updated document has gone through eight drafts. The Council discussed it for about 90 minutes, suggesting a few more edits. They decided to present it to the GCE for their input and it will go out with the call and notice packet. In due course, once the input is received and discussed, the COE will ballot to send it to the GCE for their approval.
Roles and Rules Update—Rainer Salomaa
A task force consisting of Rainer Salomaa as chair with members Bob Dick, Gerald Seelig, Larry Darden and Chris Rowland had been asked by Dr. Ward to review the policy “Process and Procedure for Suspension or Expulsion from the General Conference of Elders.” The recommendation of the task force was to submit an amendment to Article 4.7 of the Constitution before the policy was edited. The proposed amendment was presented to the Council. It was discussed and will be submitted to the Amendment Committee for balloting by the GCE in 2020.
Review of the Sexual Misconduct Policy—Dan Dowd
In the December 2018 meetings, in one of the executive sessions, the Roles and Rules Committee (RRC) was asked by the chairman to review the “Sexual Misconduct Policy for the Ordained Ministry” to see if it needed to be updated and edited. The RRC recommended that the policy was sufficient and no updates were necessary.
The Council went into scheduled executive session at 3:53 p.m. to go through the legal update.
The Council adjourned at 4:29 p.m.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Chairman Don Ward called the morning session to order at 9:00 a.m. Central, and the meeting was opened with prayer. Eleven Council of Elders (Council) members were present. Scott Ashley joined about 30 minutes later by videoconference from the home office because he was teaching at ABC.
The Council began in scheduled executive session.
The Council came into open session at 1:03 p.m.
Doctrine Committee Update on Various Projects—Mario Seiglie
Mario Seiglie, chair of the Doctrine Committee (DC), presented four doctrinal projects to the Council. None of these projects received any support from the DC or their sub-committees. Presenting these projects follows the guidelines for the DC to inform the Council of their completion and the authors were informed there was no support. Those four projects were: #3 on Ochlos “multitude” in Rev:19:1And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:, #55 on born again, #61 on leavening products, and #57 on foot washing.
Part of the ongoing review of the Personal Correspondence Department (PCD) letters included editing two more with four more remaining. The two completed were on the topics of the “Fate of the Unborn” and “John:19:14And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! and the meaning of the 6th hour.” Both were reviewed, edited and approved by the Council. They will be posted on the Ministerial Resource Site. When new PCD letters are written, they will now go to the DC for approval before being posted.
The Council went into executive session at 1:27 p.m.
The Council came into opens session at 2:15 p.m.
Approval of Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan for 2019-20 was approved by the Council to go on to the GCE in May by a vote of 9 for; 2 against (Dan Dowd and Len Martin); 1 abstain (Bob Dick).
Approval of Operation Plan
The Operation Plan for 2019-20 was approved by the Council to go on to the GCE in May by a vote of 9 for; 3 against (Bob Dick, Dan Dowd and Len Martin).
Approval of Budget
The Budget for 2019-20 was approved by the Council to go on to the GCE in May by a vote of 7 for; 3 against (Bob Dick, Dan Dowd and Len Martin); 2 abstain (John Elliott and Don Ward).
The Council went into executive session at 2:22 p.m.
The Council had the assessment of the President. The Council reaffirmed President Kubik for three more years.
The Council adjourned the February meetings at 5:03 p.m.
-end-
Council Reporter
Shawn Cortelyou
[These are not the official minutes from the Council meeting. Elders can find those at the Home Office with the Council Secretary.] [Videos posted can be found at: http://coe.ucg.org/videos [3] ]
© 2019 United Church of God, an International Association
Links:
[1] http://www.youtube.com/user/BeyondTodayTV
[2] http://www.youtube.com/user/UCGsermons
[3] http://coe.ucg.org/videos