Executive Council, Committee of Action Adopt Report
The Reallocation of Resources Committee of Action, authorized by the 2008 International General Assembly, has adopted a schedule of reduction of the funds local churches send to the International Offices and the State/Regional offices, effective September 1, 2010.
The Executive Council presented its report to the Committee of Action on April 30 during a special session at the Lee University Dixon Center. The Committee of Action was made up of the members of the Executive Committee, the Council of Eighteen, the World Missions director and assistant director, the World Missions Board, all state and regional administrative bishops and the first elected member of the state or regional councils.
“We are here to perfect the model of reallocation and to fulfill the action mandated at the last General Assembly,” stated General Overseer Dr. Raymond Culpepper as he outlined the reasons for the gathering. “We are also here to fulfill the trust which has been given to this body in an unprecedented way. There will be no ‘tricks’…we will be loyal to the Minutes of the General Assembly.”
Culpepper continued with his opening remarks by calling attention to unity by stating, “The General Assembly and General Council have given us the responsibility to move beyond any impasses that have taken place in the past. We are representatives of this unity.”
Finally, Culpepper emphasized, perhaps most importantly, that, “the Church of God must never take her eye off the ball of the mission of the church.”
The 21-page document, which was passed unanimously by the Executive Council, was read in the session by Dr. R. Lamar Vest.
The Committee of Action voted to accept the following items:
1) That, beginning September 1, 2010, local church treasurers shall send monthly an amount equal to 7% of all tithes paid into the local church to the secretary general, (4.75% designated for the International Offices and 2.25% designated for World Missions). Further that this amount be decreased by 1/2 % annually (the reduction shared equally by the International Offices and World Missions) until September 1, 2014, after which World Missions will be funded by not less than one-fourth of the 5% received by the International Offices. Any increase beyond this amount must be approved by the Executive Council.
Proposed Reduction Scale to the International Offices:
September 1, 2010 – 7% ; September 1, 2011 – 6½%; September 1, 2012 – 6%; September 1, 2013 – 5½%; September 1, 2014 – 5%
2) That, beginning September 1, 2010, local church treasurers shall send monthly an amount equal to 7% of all tithes paid into the local church to the state/regional office. Further that this amount be decreased by 1/2 % annually until September 1, 2014.
Proposed Reduction Scale to the State/Regional Offices:
September 1, 2010 – 7%; September 1, 2011 – 6½%; September 1, 2012 – 6%; September 1, 2013 – 5½%; September 1, 2014 – 5%.
3) That the Executive Council be authorized to adjust all references to our financial structure in the Minutes to conform to the above motions.
The Committee of Action was formed in response to action taken at the 72nd Church of God International Assembly last year in San Antonio, Texas. The General Council at the Assembly referred the measure to the Executive Committee and International Executive Council to develop a workable schedule of reduction after conducting impact studies of a reduction on the international offices and world missions. Then, the Executive Council was to present its recommendations to the Committee of Action (COA) to decide on the reduction schedule. Since the General Assembly, a steering committee has conducted numerous meetings, gathering data and information on all aspects of the International Offices, including structure, personnel and capital assets, the operation of World Missions, and the effect on states/regions and the local church.
Sub-committees from the Reallocation of Resources Steering Committee included 1) Impact on World Missions (World Missions Board), 2) Impact on the International Offices (Budget Review Committee) and 3) Impact on States/Regions and the Local Church.
The Committee of Action meeting which took place on April 30 and was broadcast live via the internet is available for viewing online at the Church of God Web site by clicking on the Reallocation of Resources graphic.
To watch the Committee of Action for the Reallocation of Resources meeting online
