New International Executive Council Meets
CLEVELAND, TN–The newly elected Executive Council convened September 10-11, 2008 at the Leadership and Communications Center in Cleveland, Tennessee. Dr. Raymond F. Culpepper, the new general overseer, opened the meeting by sharing the vision of the International Executive Committee to lead the denomination in three key priorities: Prayer, the Great Commission and a Quest for Trust.
As one of their first acts together, the council members gathered in the center of the room for an extended period of prayer for the Church of God around the world, the harvest, and the staff and ministries of the International Offices.
The council reviewed the latest financial data regarding income and expenditures. It was noted that departmental appropriations from the tithe fund had been trimmed by 20% for the 2008-2009 budget year. The Budget Committee was given the full support of the Executive Council to look strategically at all budgets and to develop procedures for budget surveillance between Executive Council meetings.
The general overseer distributed a list of committee appointments for the work of the Executive Council including the following which were announced to the 2008 General Council:
Study Commission on the Bylaws and Structure of the Church
Members:
Raymond F. Culpepper, Chairman. Tim Hill, Co-Chairman. R. Lamar Vest, Oliver McMahan, Donald M. Walker, Grant McClung, William Isaacs, Tony D. Scott, Bryan Cutshall, Jeff Robinson. Ken Bell, consultant.
Reported to the 2008 International General Assembly:
That a study commission representing the leadership and constituency of our church is being appointed by the General Overseer in consultation with the Executive Committee to study our bylaws and structure and to make a report with recommendations to the 2010 General Council.
Study Commission on the Structure of the USA National Council/Assembly
Members:
Lamar Vest, Chairman. Hollis Gause, Andrew Binda, Anthony Pelt, Carlos Moran, Jan Timmerman, Cheryl Johns, Tyra McIntosh, Jammie Massey, Gerald McGinnis, Mike Baker, J. David Stephens, David Ramirez, David Cooper, Mike Reynolds. Ken Bell, Consultant, Raymond F. Culpepper, Liaison.
Reported to the 2008 International General Assembly:
That a study commission is being appointed by the general overseer with representative membership (age, gender, ethnicity, laity and ministers) to prepare recommendations for the bylaws and governance structure of the USA National Council/Assembly to report to the 2010 USA National Council meeting for consideration. Further, this commission will consider the feasibility of a delegated National Assembly and International Assembly.
Pastoral Review System Study Committee
Members:
Mark Walker, Chairman. Michael Chapman, Tom Propes, Bryan Cutshall, Bill Isaacs, Darrell Rice, Consultant. Mark Williams, Liaison.
Motion adopted by the 2008 International General Assembly:
That page 168, S41. Pastor, I. Appointment of Pastors, be referred to the Executive Council for study and research and be brought back to the 2010 General Council for consideration of an option for a pastoral review system.
The council discussed the strategy for implementing the measure calling for a realignment of resources that was adopted by the Assembly. Attached are the committees appointed and their duties.
Reallocation of Resources Steering Committee
Members:
Raymond F. Culpepper, Chairman. Tim Hill, Mark L. Williams, David M. Griffis, Wallace J. Sibley, Doug LeRoy, Victor Pagan, Don Walker, Oliver McMahan, John Childers, Julian Robinson, Jerry Lawson, Dan Moore, R. C. Hugh Nelson, Darrell Waller.
Duties
a. Prepare a timeline for preparing the recommendation for the Committee of Action meeting (April 2009).
b. Give guidelines to and call for impact studies and reports from the sub-committees.
c. Compile data from the sub-committees and formulate a report for the Committee of Action.
d. Prepare recommendation for consideration by the Committee of Action.
Sub-Committee on Impact on International Offices (Budget Review Committee)
Members:
Don Walker, Chairman. Gary Sears, Lamar Vest, M. Thomas Propes, William E. Isaacs, Julian Robinson, Consultant. Wallace J. Sibley, Liaison.
Duties
a. Study the impact of a reduction of funds (finances and personnel) to the International Offices.
b. Recommend alternative sources of income.
c. Detail the programs/personnel that would have to be cut back, if any.
d. Prepare a report for the Steering Committee with specific recommendations.
Sub-Committee on Impact on World Missions (World Missions Board)
Members:
Tim Oldfield, Chairman. T.L. Lowery, Bobby Collins, Roberto Aldana, Eric A. Brown, W. Donald Price, H. Loran Livingston, Gary Sears, Carlos Moran, Ray Garner, Hal Thompson, Jr., Floyd Lawhon, Tim Hill, Liaison.
Duties
a. Study the impact of a reduction of funds to World Missions.
b. Recommend alternative sources of income.
c. Detail the programs/personnel that would have to be cut back, if any.
d. Prepare a report for the Steering Committee with specific recommendations.
Sub-Committee on the Impact on States/Regions
Members David Griffis, Chairman. Mike Baker, Jonathan Ramsey, Randy Hamon, Martin Taylor, Miguel Alvarez, Gene Rice.
Duties
a. Study the impact of a reduction of funds to states/regions (all levels).
b.Recommend alternative sources of income.
c. Detail the programs/personnel that would have to be cut back, if any.
d. Prepare a report for the Steering Committee with specific recommendations.
Reallocation of Resources Committee of Action
Members : International Executive Committee, Council of 18, World Missions Leadership, Representatives from States/Regions (State/Regional Overseers and 1st Man elected to the State/Regional Council)
Duties
a. Review the report and recommendation(s) from the Steering Committee.
b. Prepare the recommendation to be announced to the ministers (September 09).
c. Prepare the supporting documentation to accompany the recommendation.
d. Adopt the measures to be changed in the Minutes.
The Steering Committee has called for a preliminary report from the sub-committees by January 9, 2008.
The items submitted to the Motions Committee at the 2008 General Council were referred to the General Council Agenda Committee for review and recommendation.
Finally, a motion was adopted to appoint a committee from the Executive Council to determine the feasibility of establishing an association of affiliated churches that could identify with the Church of God while keeping legal title to their property.
