United Church of God, an International Association
Council of Elders Meeting Report
Thursday, March 3, 2005 —San Antonio, Texas

The Council concluded its San Antonio meetings today, beginning the last day with an executive session and moving to open session to discuss media philosophy and a 1997 resolution regarding Council members expressing personal opinions on issues and resolutions discussed in Council meetings. Lastly, they set the dates for the 2006 General Conference of Elders and the next year's Council meetings.

Media Philosophy

Following an executive session to open the day's proceedings, Robert Dick moderated a discussion of the Church's media philosophy. At a recent meeting, the Church's managing editors discussed edits they propose be made to the statement of Media Philosophy. The Media and Communications Committee of the Council reviewed those suggestions, and brought some minor modifications of their own to the Council as a whole. Group consensus favored tabling the proposals and revisiting them in May or August after more time could be given to carefully evaluating the proposed changes, given that this document guides all Church media productions.

Resolution on Statements by Council Members  

Leon Walker asked the Council to revisit a January 1997 resolution allowing Council members to express their personal opinions on issues and resolutions discussed in Council meetings. However, the resolution prohibits Council members from expressing those personal opinions in public debate in open forums (such as the Elders Forum). This resolution, he pointed out, was passed during a time in the Church's history when the most pressing issue before it was that of home office relocation (balloted in March 1997, with the home office subsequently moving in 1998 from Arcadia, California to its present location in Cincinnati, Ohio). The issue at the time was a potentially divisive one, and the intent was to avoid having any statements by Council members polarize the GCE before it balloted on the issue. Mr. Walker explained that he brought the matter up at this time because some Council members have expressed a desire to comment on issues such as proposed amendments.

Mr. Walker stated his opinion that while the proposal is not pressing, it does need to be revisited. He suggests crafting a new resolution to reword and replace the old one, allowing for some form of public expression of Council members' opinions, then rescinding the 1997 measure and replacing it with the agreed-upon new one. The ten Council members present (Victor Kubik and Tony Wasilkoff absent—see March 2 Council Report) agreed with the concept, but decided that it should not be rushed through at the end of this session, nor should the old resolution be rescinded until a new one is ready to replace it. The issue was tabled.

Dates for 2006 GCE and Council Meetings  

Chairman Clyde Kilough, after consultation with the Council members present, announced the following dates for future Council meetings:

• May 17-19, 2005 (following 2005 GCE, previously announced)
• August 26-31, 2005 (committee meetings August 24 & 25)
• December 11-15, 2005 (committee meetings December 8 & 9)
• February 2006 (TBA)
• May 9-11, 2006.

The location for all of these Council meetings will be at the home office.

The General Conference of Elders for 2006 will be held in Cincinnati May 7 & 8.

Mr. Kilough expressed the Council's appreciation to Charles Melear, Church convention planner, for all his work in making these meetings in San Antonio run smoothly. The meeting concluded with prayer, and dismissed at 12:00 noon.

- Doug Johnson

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© 2005 United Church of God, an International Association