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

Thursday, November 9, 2000 - Teleconference

               The Council of Elders met today by teleconference to discuss a proposed amendment to Fundamental Belief 2.1.18 (tithing) and further information on the possibility of purchasing land for construction of church-owned Home Office facilities. A quorum of ten Council members (Gary Antion and Don Ward absent) was present for the meeting.  

Fundamental Belief on Tithing 

                Although the Council will meet face-to-face early next month in Tyler, Texas, one item of business was time sensitive, making a teleconference necessary. An amendment to the Fundamental Belief on Tithing (Constitution, 2.1.18) has been proposed by Paul Kieffer, an elder serving in Germany, with Council response needed by November 27, 2000. 

                Section 2.1.18 of the United Church of God Constitution currently reads: ãWe believe in tithing as a way of honoring God with our substance and as a means of serving Him in the preaching of the gospel, the care of the Church, attending the festivals, and helping the needy.ä 

                Mr. Kieffer proposes changing the statement to ãWe believe God ordained tithing as a way of honoring Him with our substance and as a means of serving Him in the preaching of the gospel, the care of the Church, attending the festivals, and helping the needy.ä 

                The change would more directly call attention to the fact that we, as a Church, believe God commands His people to tithe. All Council members who were present supported the change. As Leon Walker noted, this amendment would bring our stated belief into conformity with our actual teaching and practice. Richard Thompson agreed, pointing out that we have never believed that the Bible teaches tithing is optional, but have always taught that God commands His servants to tithe. 

                With agreement of the quorum unanimous, Chairman Roy Holladay asked Mr. Walker to write the Councilâs statement of support for the proposed amendment. Input on this provisional process for amending the fundamental beliefs was also sought, with further deliberation on that separate matter proposed for the December 6-12, 2000 meetings in Tyler. 

Home Office

                 President Les McCullough then asked the Council for its input regarding the next step in moving to either construct or purchase a facility for the Home Office. Readers of this report will recall that Council gave its approval in principle for this direction in the August, 2000 meetings.

                 Mr. McCullough, assisted by Treasurer Tom Kirkpatrick, updated the Council on progress since August. Several parcels of land are available in the vicinity of the current Home Office. Two area contractors have presented very preliminary ideas (with no charge to the Church at this point) of possible designs for building on the most likely site choice. Mr. McCulloughâs question was: does the Council wish the Administration to proceed with a conditional offer to purchase, in order to ãtake the property off the real estate marketä at this time?

                 All present continued to stress the desirability of owning our own facility. Questions arose regarding the nature of any proposed purchase offer. In what way would the Church be obligated financially (with the understanding that the total purchase price for the property will be in the neighborhood of $225,000)? Should the land be purchased outright, or a small down payment made, with final sale conditional upon engineering and other needed surveys of the property?

                 Answers were readily at hand. The Church will not be financially obligated until the Council approves building designs, based on results of all needed surveys. The annual cost of owning either of the two proposed buildings is estimated to be no more than roughly $50,000 more than the cost of leasing our present facilities. The consensus of the Council was to authorize the Administration to enter into a conditional purchase contract with the current owners of the property. Any required deposits by the Church according to the terms of this contract would be refundable if the decision is later made by the Council not to go forward with the project. The Council will further consider this proposal at its December meeting in Tyler.

                 Mario Seiglie asked that information be conveyed as soon as possible to the membership regarding these developments, and Mr. McCullough offered to immediately write a brief explanation in this weekâs Home Office Update, to be posted electronically on the Church Web page later the same day.

                 Mr. Walker put forward the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Thompson, and unanimously approved by the quorum present: 

WHEREAS the Church is desirous of purchasing certain property consisting of approximately eight (8) acres in the Cincinnati area for the construction of a Home Office facility, subject to final Council approval of such a sale at its December, 2000 meeting in Tyler, Texas, 

      NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Church may enter into a sales contract for the above described real property conditioned on Council approval of such a purchase at its next meeting in Tyler, Texas in December, 2000. 

      IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that Les McCullough and/or Tom Kirkpatrick, with Gerald Seelig to attest, are empowered to enter into such a conditional sales contract for approximately two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars ($225,000) under such other terms and conditions as they shall deem prudent.

-Doug Johnson

© 2000 United Church of God, an International Association

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