International Council and Executive Council in Session This Week
CLEVELAND, TN–An important gathering of elected and appointed Church of God leaders is taking place this week at the International Offices as members of the International Council are gathering to discuss issues of vital importance to the future of global ministry in the Church of God. They will be joined by the International Executive Council later this week. The meetings are taking place at the Leadership and Communications Center on the International Offices campus.
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Members of the International Executive Committee meet with the International Council on September 24, 2007. |
According to General Assembly guidelines, the purpose of the International Council is “to give greater involvement in order to support continued development of an international perspective in fulfilling the mission of the Church of God and to ensure the sponsorship of ministries that meet the needs of persons of different cultural settings, the church must embrace a posture that includes both participation and representation in its general functions. This posture should include specialized training programs and materials, opportunities for leadership experience, and open channels for new ideas. It should also provide a forum to discuss International General Council agenda items of concern to the international community and give opportunity for raising international issues for discussion.”
The International Council meets every two years, on the off years of the International General Assembly. Items discussed during the International Council are considered for inclusion on the General Assembly agenda. Following the two days of meetings, the 18-member International Executive Council is scheduled to meet in their regular September meeting. The scheduled sessions began on September 23 and are to conclude on Tuesday, September 25. On Tuesday 25, the two bodies will meet jointly.
Representation on the International Council includes the following: International Executive Committee, director and assistant director of World Missions; moderator of South Africa; overseer of Indonesia: two members from the USA representing the African-American and Hispanic communities; and one elected representative (other than field directors) from each of the following eight areas: Africa: West, Central and Eastern; Asia-Pacific; Canada: Caribbean; Central America-Mexico-Brazil: Europe: Central-Eastern-CIS; Europe: Western-Mediterranean-Middle East; and South America.
