International Executive Council Concludes April Session

Cleveland, TN—The Church of God International Executive Council concluded their April 2015 session on April 28 at the International Offices in Cleveland, Tennessee.

The gathering was one of three regularly-scheduled annual meetings of the elected body that debates current issues and business of the denomination.

General Overseer Mark L. Williams opened the meeting with a call to prayer following a scripture passage from Psalm 46 and 91 offered by Secretary General M. Thomas Propes.
The council knelt for a time of prayer for current national and world events.

“There are those facing imminent threats of persecution in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Nigeria, and other parts of the world,” Williams stated. “Our hearts were moved with compassion as we prayed for those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. We prayed earnestly for the safety and security of the city of Baltimore, recognizing, in the words of Dr. King, ‘Peace is not just the absence of tension, but also the presence of social justice.’ We received a prophetic word from Pastor Niko Njotorahardjo, who spoke of revival coming to America.”

Business conducted during the session included a vote to accept the financial report, which included the 2015-2016 budget as presented by the Budget Review Committee. An actuarial valuation for the Aged Ministers Pension plan was received, as well as a report on loan underwriting.

In other business, an important discussion took place concerning multi-site campuses for local churches. An appointed committee will give continued study to this matter, which defines protocols to assist Administrative Bishops in supporting pastors whom God is leading to plant multisite campuses. It was announced that an appointed committee is studying the role of women in ministry including credentialing, and will be bringing their initial report to the September session of the Council. The Council also voted to return the report from the Committee on Regional Elders to the International Executive Committee and legal counsel for disposition as deemed appropriate.

As one of its closing actions, the International Executive Council gave a standing ovation for member Dwight E. Allen in recognition of his induction into the Pentecostal Theological Seminary Hall of Prophets which takes place on Thursday, April 30.

“This session of the Executive Council was filled with a sense of hope and a sense of God’s direction,” Williams concluded. “Having completed the re-allocation of funding the Council began the process of re-prioritizing budget appropriations to more directly align with the mission, vision and core values of the Church of God. I believe God is desiring to bring the Church of God to a place of unprecedented unity, uncommon generosity, and empowered testimony for these last days.”

Several members of the International Executive Council offered statements, which are posted on www.churchofgod.org. Click on the Executive Council graphic to view.

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