General Council to Deal with Significant Agenda
Orlando, FL–When the General Council of the Church of God convenes next Tuesday, July 29 at 8:30 am, there will be over 50 items for the group of ordained bishops to consider, debate, and ultimately bring before the general assembly, which meets on Friday August 1 at the Orange County Convention Center. The General Council will be gathered for the 75th International General Assembly of the Church of God.
Following a motion from the 2012 General Council authorizing the Executive Council to call for a constitutional convention and bring back recommendations, the International General Assembly passed that this item be referred to the Executive Council for study and recommendations. After extensive study, the Executive Council is recommending to not have a constitutional but in lieu of a constitutional convention to initiate a process of organizational transformation. The focus is upon initiating a process for organizational transformation to be accomplished in two steps: STEP 1—Reclaiming Our Center, and STEP 2—Organizational Transformation.
“Reclaiming Our Center” is a conscious initiative that places the purpose of the Church of God International General Assembly back at the center of the General Council and General Assembly Agenda. The “Organizational Transformation” recommendation process engaged several subcommittees with broad church representation to identify nonnegotiable characteristics of the Church of God and suggestions to align the structure and polity of the church to advance the mission, vision, and commitments of the Church of God. The 75th International General Council Agenda is predicated on the process with recommendations that can justifiably enhance the purpose of the International General Assembly. As a result, the Agenda presents a total of 59 items of business.
For the first time in modern history, the first order of business for the General Council will not be the nomination of the International Executive Committee. Due to a change ratified at GA2010, the leaders elected in 2012 will be in their posts until 2016. The General Council will, however, nominate the director and assistant director of Youth and Discipleship, as well as director and assistant director of World Missions. The General Council will complete selection of leaders with the election of the Council of Eighteen.
Before debate on the agenda is opened, General Overseer Mark Williams, who will be serving as moderator, will offer his ‘State of the Church’ presentation. This will be followed by the Reclaiming the Center/Constitutional Convention Report.
The following summarizes the highlights of the 2014 Agenda:
The 2014 agenda contains key issues, beginning with additions to the denomination’s Commitments To Our Mission and Vision. The Council will hear rationale for items one, two, and three seeking to add Communications, Discipleship, and Education as three new commitments bringing the total number to ten.
Several housekeeping items seek to clarify and update terminology, some of which has not been contemporized for decades. At least two items deal with changing the method of dissemination of materials from “mail” to the “most efficient method for cost efficiency.” Items 25 and 26 deal with updating the terminology and methods for raising missions funds, while item 28 recommends a more succinct editorial policy for publications.
Item 29 introduces the concept that would modify the MINUTES into two sections. First, the Minutes of the General Assembly including doctrinal statements, church teachings, mission and vision, and Church Government; and second, placing the managerial and operational sections into a Ministry Operations Manual. Items 30-33 deal with adding clarifying requirements and qualifications applying for ministry. Subsequent items deal with restoration, sexual misconduct, and selection of trial boards among others.
The State Overseer’s term of office, as well as other items, is addressed in items 45-50. At the 2012 General Assembly, a motion concerning a specific qualification of an overseer prompted a move to refer the item to a committee of study. The result was the document, “The Changing Role of the State Overseer/Administrative Bishop.” The document will be considered as part of the Council agenda.
The final seven items of the agenda, beginning with item 53, introduces a proposal of alternating every two years between a General Assembly Business and General Assembly Celebration. Subsequent items address elections and tenure of leaders should the measure be adopted.
After four days of General Council sessions (July 29-August 1), the nominations, deliberations, and decisions of the general council, comprised of ordained bishops, then heads to a Friday afternoon session of the General Assembly, which is made up of all registered delegates age 16 years and older, who will then further discuss, modify or ratify the council’s actions.
The complete agenda, first presented to the ordained bishops earlier this year, is available at www.ga14.org, or the Church of God website, www.churchofgod.org. For those unable to attend the General Assembly, livestreaming of the general council and worship services will be held at the above sites.
