General Assembly Meets; Overseer Installed
Orlando, Fla.–The Church of God 73rd International General Assembly, meeting in Orlando, Florida since Tuesday, concludes their gathering this evening at the Orange County Convention Center.
This morning the General Council, the body of ordained ministers who debate and bring forth policy, finished their deliberations with an 11:30 a.m. adjournment. Two hours later, the General Assembly convened in the same location to ratify the action taken by the General Council the past three days.
The first order of business was the election of the nominated general officials, which included the five man executive committee and six department leaders at the international offices level. All nominations were approved by acclamation of the General Assembly which is comprised of all registered delegates aged 16 and older.
Installing the general overseer was former general overseer Dr. Paul L. Walker who presented Mr. and Mrs. Culpepper with symbols of leadership for the office including a gavel, Bible and what Walker termed, the “pledge of support from all members around the world.” Mrs. Culpepper was presented flowers and a Bible.
Following the introduction of Culpepper’s extended family on stage, Rev. Floyd D. Carey offered a prayer over the Culpeppers where he said, “lead him (Culpepper) and affirm Your approval with divine anointing.”
Following the commissioning ceremony, Culpepper told the gathered delegates “the enormity of this office is much greater than one man who fills it…this office does not belong to me, but to God and the Church.”
Mrs. Culpepper responded by saying, “thank you for your many acts of kindness and its an honor to serve the Lord in this capacity.”
The Commissioning service was followed by the remainder of the General Assembly session where delegates approved business adopted by the General Council, including a set of 13 resolutions dealing with a variety of issues, including the deity of God, church planting, global poverty, and women in the church.
