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

Thursday, December 12, 2002 ­ Cincinnati, Ohio

        The Council began its day discussing personnel and editorial issues in executive session, then focused on planning and related topics in preparation for the 2003 Feast of Tabernacles. 

Editorial Resolution 

            Following its executive session, the Council unanimously passed the following resolution: 

Whereas, the Council of Elders desires to edit the review policy for The Good News to address certain sensitivities and cultural concerns in areas outside the United States, and 

Whereas, questions have arisen as to how to handle editorial concerns from areas outside the United States, 

Now therefore, it is hereby resolved that, national offices, or their designees, outside the United States that distribute the English language version of The Good News will be included in the editorial review process for all articles and that each office, or its designee, will have the opportunity to voice concerns either of a doctrinal or cultural nature prior to publication of the magazine consistent with the established review process of the United Church of God, an International Association, and  

It is further resolved that, any difficulties that cannot be resolved by the normal review process will be brought to the president of the United Church of God, an International Association, and the operation manager for media for resolution, which decision will be final, and 

It is further resolved that, since the national offices, or their designees, will be included in the review process, it is the expectation of the United Church of God, an International Association, that all magazines of each issue will be distributed upon receipt by said national offices, or their designees.  

2003 Feast of Tabernacles 

            Roy Holladay introduced the topic of planning the Feast video for 2003, and asked Peter Eddington to outline some of the possibilities the management team has considered for this yearâs production. Responses to the 2002 production ranged from very supportive and appreciative to those who perceived it as being simply instruction for the ministry (since the material was derived from the May 2002 General Conference of Elders), and therefore not all that appropriate for the Feast. Mr. Eddington reviewed the past five yearsâ productions. He then set out preliminary thoughts for 2003, including requests for updates on areas of the Churchâs work outside the United States, a specially prepared Feast sermon, aspects of the inner workings of the operations of the Church, or some combination of any or all of these choices.  Some of the response from those present included: 

á        ãIt seems to me that at the 2001 GCE, we thought ÎThis is really great, letâs use it on the Feast film,â and then last year, we said ãBecause that was so good, whatever comes up in the GCE, letâs use that in the Feast filmâ·It seems to me thatâs how it developed, and I would like to see us back off, and first of all determine Îwhat does the Church need at the Feast·âä(Clyde Kilough)

á        ãI think itâs a great opportunity to get people excited and encouraged about the work, the Kingdom, about what God is doing.ä (Richard Thompson)

á        ãIt was in December, two years ago, that we decided we would use your [Richard Thompsonâs] presentation as a basis for the Feast video, before you gave it. We saw what was coming, what was approved at the December [Council] meetings for the General Conference of Elders theme·we knew a few months ahead of time what was happening.ä (Peter Eddington)

á        ãTwo things Iâd like to say. Number One, we have to realize this message is heard by everyone. It ought to be elevated to a very high priority· I think that whatever we do ought to promote what we are about· preaching the gospel and preparing a people. My second point is a Îthink tankâ is something right after the Feast is over·[that can be used] to think creatively, see what we can do, excite the brethren about whatâs going on in the work, moving in that direction to fulfill our Îpreach the gospelâ tradition.ä (Gary Antion)

á        ãI personally would like to try to focus on one international office to begin with· show people how these other offices are operating·Iâd like to try to start working those in.ä (Peter Eddington)

á        ãI think itâs good to have a message. It is the only time in the year when the whole Church is watching the same message at the same time· we ought to have a message that is Feast-oriented. The work of the Church can very easily be linked to that.ä (Doug Horchak)

á        ãWhat about bringing forward that message of Îwhy are people being prepared?â And the size of the job· and for what purpose?ä (John Jewell)

á        ãMost of the feedback asks for some kind of a message; that it would be combined with what weâre doing. I think it would be important, that as we present what weâre doing, that it actually be something that perhaps is new, something that everybodyâs not totally familiar with·if you use the same illustration each year, like ÎGood News [magazines] coming off the printing pressâ·if you see how a booklet is developed, if you see a different aspect of whatâs being done, and thatâs all worked into the overall scope of what weâre doing, then I think that would hold everybodyâs interest.ä (Roy Holladay)

á        ãI look at the Feast· and I think of where we are in our progression· Iâd like to see something that validates that we are doing what weâre supposed to be doing. That there is evidence, or fruit, that exemplifies that we are getting something done. To me, when I come to the Council meetings, for instance, one of the most encouraging things that I see is that constant line of donor and coworker growth that goes up that tells me that the pool from which those increased baptisms will come is getting larger·Those things that look outside of us, rather than looking inside us· I guess Iâm concerned that we not use a disproportionate amount of time just looking at ourselves. It gets rather self-serving if all we feature is the same internal components of who we are and what we do. I want to see a Church grow. I want to see people from the outside, and I want to see evidence that that is happening, or is going to happen. I find that extremely inspiring.ä (Robert Dick) 

Mr. Eddington thanked the Council members and others present for their comments, stating that he would take the elements of the suggestions and craft a direction for the video production that could be presented to the Council at its February/March meetings. 

Feast of Tabernacles Applause Policy 

            Jim Franks brought to the Council the recurring issue of whether or not it is appropriate to applaud for special music at the Feast of Tabernacles. When this topic was posted on the agenda for the current round of Council meetings, Mr. Franks received ten messages regarding it. 

            Those ten messages contained strong opinions ö but not identical ones. Opinions are strongly held on both sides ö which perhaps explains why the issue has never been completely resolved in the Church. Mr. Franks stated what he perceives as three options the Council has:

á        Leave the current policy (discouraging applause for messages or music) in place, accompanied by explanations as to why we have the policy and an encouragement to follow it.

á        Rescind the policy and let the members choose.

á        Establish a new policy to allow for applause.

The work of the Music Doctrine Committee (chaired by Mr. Franks) does not deal directly with the issue, but its findings confirm that biblically, music at services fulfills three primary purposes:

á        To worship God.

á        To praise God.

á        To inspire the members. 

The committee agrees that music at services is not for the purpose of entertainment, but for worship, praise, and inspiration. They have not discussed the appropriateness of applause, but ask the question ö why do people do it? Is it because they are inspired? Is it because they want to participate in worshipping God? Is it because they are praising God? Or is it done out of a sense of duty ö ãyou must applaud after a performance?ä Do we as a people consider special music as a performance that is to please and entertain us?  

            Clearly, how we answer these questions is critical to understanding applause at services.  

            Comments followed. Mr. Horchak stated his preference to have the Committeeâs final report filed first, before the Council made any statement on the topic. Mr. Antion expressed a common response ö that he can understand both sides, and has felt both himself at times. He said that he believed people spontaneously applauded many times because they did feel inspired, and asked for consideration to be given to giving guidelines (that normally we donât applaud) without a policy. Several Council members agreed that further education as to the reasons behind the current policy (passed by the Council in September 1997) is needed.  

            No conclusive decision was reached in the limited time available for discussion today. Mr. Franks had earlier said he believed the Music Doctrine Committee should be able to finish its task by early in 2003.  

Doug Johnson

© 2002 United Church of God, an International Association