Important Leadership Decisions Coming During General Assembly
Every general assembly of the Church of God includes vital decisions, but the upcoming 76th International General Assembly (GA16) will carry with it some momentous decisions about future leadership.
Next month when delegates gather in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the first orders of business for the General Council of Ordained Bishops, starting Tuesday morning, July 19, will be to nominate a new general overseer (presiding bishop). Mark L. Williams, general overseer for the past four years, is set to step down as the denomination’s top leader due to tenure limitations. Williams was first elected to the Executive Committee in 2008 when his ministerial colleagues nominated him for the position of second assistant general overseer. He served until the General Assembly of 2012 when he was elected general overseer. Church of God polity states that persons elected to the executive committee are eligible to serve a total of eight years.
Also elected in 2008 were David M. Griffis and Wallace J. Sibley. Griffis first came on as third assistant general overseer, served four years, and was elevated to first assistant in 2012. Sibley was elected secretary general and in 2012 became third assistant general overseer. Like Williams, tenure limitation policies affect both Griffis and Sibley at the upcoming GA16 and they will step aside after eight years of service on the executive committee.
In addition, two other elected positions of ministry leadership in the Church of God will be coming open due to the completion of tenures. In Youth and Discipleship, Gary Lewis will step aside after four years as director and the four previous years as assistant director. Then, in World Missions, Timothy M. Hill will complete his tenure as director after four years of service, having been elected in 2012. Also open will be the assistant director positions in both of these offices.
Finally, in action that takes place with the General Council, the body will elect the Council of Eighteen. This group combines with the five members of the Executive Committee to form the Executive Council, along with one representative each from Indonesia and the Full Gospel Church of South Africa. Of the 18 positions, 11 will be completing the second of two, two-year tenures. Completing their service on the Council of Eighteen will be Kevin Wallace, David Ramirez, Bryan Cutshall, Victor Pagan, Thomas Madden, Oliver McMahan, William Isaacs, Dwight Allen, Niko Njotorahardjo, Chris Moody and David Cooper
