United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report

Tuesday, August 6, 2002 ‚ Cincinnati, Ohio

The Council of Elders spent the bulk of the second day of meetings in executive session, dealing with numerous personnel issues. They briefly addressed three doctrinal topics to close the day's proceedings.

Doctrine Committee

Leon Walker, as the outgoing chairman of the Doctrine Committee (as reported on August 5, Jim Franks has been selected as the new chairman of the committee), moderated a discussion of three doctrinal issues.

The Council gave its unanimous approval (all twelve members present) to a study paper on the covenants of God. Further work is needed along minor editorial lines, as the paper is a result of the work of several authors. Mr. Walker will send the paper to Mike Bennett in Media and Communications Services for editorial improvements before it is submitted to the ministry in its final form.

Unanimous approval was also given to a study paper on John:7:37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. and the subject of the Last Great Day. This paper deals with technical concerns of the text, and involves no change in our practice of Holy Day observance or our understanding of the meaning of the day. It will be available shortly for distribution.

Lastly, Mr. Walker presented three separate requests from Church members for the Council's opinion regarding specific circumstances of Sabbath conduct and/or observance. Since each of these requires an answer to the individual concern, no particulars can be reported here until Ministerial Services operation manager Richard Pinelli has had time to relay the Council's answers back to those parties involved. The Doctrine committee of the Council will also address some wider issues tied to the questions that have been raised.

-Doug Johnson

© 2002 United Church of God, an International Association