Cleveland, TN—The International Council and International Executive Council (IEC) of the Church of God gathered in Cleveland this week for separate and joint sessions.
The International Council meets biennially to discuss and bring forth action items related to international concerns of the church. The group consists of the five members of the Executive Committee, World Missions Director and Assistant Director, field directors and one representative from the five global regions, and representatives from the Hispanic and African American constituency. While normally meeting during the off-year of the International General Assembly, a global surge in the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the gathering from last fall to this week and was conducted in a hybrid format with several members joining through Zoom technology.
The International Council began their meeting with an opening session on Sunday evening where General Overseer Tim Hill delivered an address entitled, “Interrupting a Pandemic Paradigm with Prophetic Proclamation, Persuasion, and Performance.” On Monday the International Council received reports from the various field directors, as well as an address from General Director of World Missions Dr. David Griffis. There was a session where various motions were brought forth for consideration by the IEC prior to a joint session which was held on Tuesday morning.
The International Council met with the IEC as they came together for their regularly-scheduled January meeting, also conducted in a hybrid format. On Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday the IEC deliberated potential items, including motions and resolutions, brought to them by the General Council Agenda Committee (GCAC).
A final slate of agenda items will be presented to the IEC at their April session, after which the official agenda will be released to the General Council for review prior to the International General Assembly, set for July 25-29, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.