United Church of God, an International Association

Council of Elders Quarterly Meeting

Milford, Ohio

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

At 9:00 a.m. chairman Robin Webber called the meeting to order and asked Council secretary Gerald Seelig to open with prayer. He then gave the floor to Roc Corbett, chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee, to lead a discussion of the ongoing governing documents review.

Governing Documents Review Project—Roc Corbett

The purpose of the project is to review the Constitution and Bylaws and identify those areas of the documents that are obscure, unclear and ambiguous or in conflict with other parts of the governing documents. He estimates that the team (comprised of the Roles and Rules Committee members plus several others with governing document experience) has spent over 500 man-hours on the project. At this point, the team has completed its review of the Constitution and will soon commence its review of the Bylaws.

Very importantly, the committee from the onset of this project did not alter or consider altering any of the Fundamental Statements of Belief contained in Article 2 of the Constitution. The purpose of the project was not doctrinal at all, but to clarify and harmonize the wording in any ambiguous portions of the Constitution and Bylaws.

Mr. Corbett opened the discussion for the whole Council to review the committee's proposed edits. He pointed out that a major addition proposed by the committee was new Article 2.0 Definitions, which would define and thus clarify key terms used throughout the governing documents.

Discussion centered on the addition of the new Article 2.0 Definitions, which would change the subsequent numbering of all following articles in the Constitution. Various remedies were considered, but Mr. Corbett stressed on behalf of the committee that it is imperative to make sure the definitions section is included somewhere in the Constitution. The committee saw the need for better coordinated numbering, so they will redraft the numbers of their definitions section and alter Article 1.0 to be "Mission Statement and Definitions" rather than just "Mission Statement." That way the rest of the Constitution will retain its current numbering system.

A key point was raised by Council secretary Gerald Seelig. One of the committee's many proposed changes is to require the Council secretary to be an ordained minister of the General Conference of Elders. Mr. Seelig and Mark Mickelson pointed out that this was more of a substantive, rather than a mere harmonizing, edit. They argued, therefore, that it should be addressed on its own through the regular amendment process. All agreed, and that part of the committee's list of proposals was deleted.

Several of the other harmonizing edits were discussed and suggestions made. The committee will bring its updated list of proposed amendments to the Council at the February meeting for final discussion so it can be balloted on by the GCE next May.

Proposed Mission Statement Amendment Discussion—John Elliott

Mr. Elliott distributed a proposed amended Mission Statement for the Council's review. He went through its wording, citing the scriptures it is based on. As typical of amendment discussions, certain aspects of wording were considered and critiqued by the Council members.

One particular point in the proposed wording, "to preach Jesus Christ's gospel of the Kingdom of God," drew much discussion about the New Testament references to the "gospel" and the role of Christ in our lives and in the promulgation of the true gospel. Also mentioned was the historic nature and resonance (to and with us in UCGIA) of our current Mission Statement as worded. Every Council member and several from the administration commented insightfully or passionately during the discussion that lasted for nearly an hour. Mario Seiglie offered one of the last comments for the educational benefit of the half a dozen Ambassador Bible Center (ABC) students observing the session. He explained that the Church's Mission Statement is not unlike the river down which all our efforts in doing God's work flows.

Throughout the discussion, all the Council members were constantly stressed the fact that God the Father is absolutely supreme over all things, and that Jesus Christ is absolutely central to our lives and all our efforts in the proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the care of the Church.

Finally, Mr. Elliott, recognizing the reticence of support on the part of the Council to accept his proposed amendment's wording, stated that in spite of this particular amendment exercise GCE members should not be dissuaded from proposing amendments. With that, he officially and cheerfully withdrew his proposed amendment.

Management Team Nomination Process—Roc Corbett, Roles and Rules Committee Chairman

The Roles and Rules Committee sought the Council's interpretation of a phrase in Bylaw Article 9.2 Management Team, which addresses how balloting for Council for approval will take place when the president nominates someone for a position on the management team. Due to needing a copy of the exact wording and the proximity of lunch, the proposal was tabled until the afternoon.

After dining with the Ambassador Bible Center students the Council spent an hour-long question-and-answer session with them. All the Council members participated in answering the students' interesting array of questions:

• How can you know where we are in prophecy?
• How were church buildings dealt with back during the split in 2011?
• Why would the Council consider removing the word "care" from the Mission Statement?
• How hard is it to keep peace and harmony in the Council meetings?
• How does the Church prevent a ministerial dynasty take over from occurring in United?
• How do we try as a Church to make peace with other splinter groups?
• Will we someday be able to have a social weekend or even a Feast site together with other Church of God groups who believe the same as we do?

When the Council reconvened in the conference room, chairman Webber asked Roc Corbett to conclude the unfinished business of the morning.

Management Team Nomination Process (Continued)—Roc Corbett, Roles and Rules Committee Chairman

Mr. Corbett read the finished proposal for the process of the president seeking Council approval of management team nominees. After discussion the resolution read:

The president may have more than one individual in mind for a management team position, but may nominate only one individual for consideration at any one time. Only one secret ballot may be taken during a meeting for a nominee. There can be no subsequent rounds of balloting during the meeting for a nominee who has been balloted upon and not approved by a two-thirds (2/3) ballot. The president may during the meeting sequentially nominate another individual or individuals and a ballot be taken. The president may, at a later date, nominate any individual again.

Mr. Webber conducted the ballot which was unanimous in its approval. At that point the chairman convened an executive session for the rest of the afternoon.

-end-

Randy Stiver

Council Reporter

© 2013 United Church of God, an International Association