In 1995 the United Church of God, an International Association, came into existence, born reluctantly but of necessity. In the aftermath of an unprecedented doctrinal upheaval in the Church, hundreds of elders and thousands of members were finding themselves in a chaotic and confusing time, desperately desirous of preserving the truth of God, yet severely challenged on issues concerning organization, unity, and working in harmony. Fifteen years later those challenges still exist. Many would assert that the existence of so many Church of God offshoots today is due in large part to those core problems of governance and organization. Many would
further maintain that within a number of these church groups’ ministers and members find themselves still wrestling with serious internal conflict due to various organizational problems.
The United Church of God, much to the growing frustration of many elders and members, is no exception.
From our inception at the initial organizational conference in Indianapolis, we have regularly faced problems over governmental roles. In our earliest years we watched with dismay a struggle arise between the Council of Elders and the President, culminating in a crisis that deeply divided and nearly destroyed the United Church of God. In subsequent years we have seen less threatening, but certainly disrupting, philosophical shifts back and forth within the Council regarding its role vis-à-vis management versus governance. In recent times more and more members of the General Conference of Elders have been expressing questions and frustration over understanding and effectively executing their governing role in the church... (Source)
Whereas, the General Conference of Elders believes that it currently wears a heavy mantle of leadership responsibility for the health of the Church of God, under the direction of Jesus Christ;and
Whereas, we believe God led us in 1995 to come together and collectively organize the United Church of God, an International Organization, with the goal of preserving the truth, preaching the gospel, and serving the brethren; and
Whereas, we recognize that our ability to effectively function as God’s Church requires not only the highest spiritual standards, integrity and conduct, but also the most effective governmental structure possible; and
Whereas, we recognize that our current governmental system, for all of our good intentions in establishing it and for all its strengths, does contain inherent weaknesses which, if not identified and corrected, will deeply and irreparably damage the United Church of God,
It is hereby resolved, that the General Conference of Elders shall establish a Governance Review Task Force to thoroughly examine our governmental structure and report to the General Conference of Elders its findings and recommendations for improvement; and
It is hereby further resolved that this Task Force will be selected according to the following procedure:
a. A nine-member ad hoc Selection Committee shall appoint the Governance Review Task Force. The Selection Committee shall consist of the current and past Chairmen of the
General Conference of Elders (Robert Dick, Roy Holladay, and Clyde Kilough); the
current and past Officers of the Corporation (Les McCullough, Tom Kirkpatrick, JasonLovelady, Gerald Seelig, and David Johnson); and one of the primary authors of our
Constitution and Bylaws (Jim Franks). If any of the above is unable or unwilling to serve in this capacity the sponsoring officers of this resolution shall name the replacement(s).
b. The Selection Committee will, as its first course of action, select its own chairman to steer it through its work.
c. Within 30 days from the approval of this resolution the Selection Committee will appoint, by a process it shall determine, a Governance Review Task Force comprised of no more than 13 elders, consisting of the following:
i. At least three members of the General Conference of Elders who have historical experience with the governing documents of the United Church of God;
ii. At least three members of the General Conference of Elders who have relevant legal/organizational/management experience;
iii. At least three members from among the Selection Committee (neither are members of the Selection Committee prohibited from being among those listed in c.i and c.ii).
iv. In addition, the Legal Counsel for the United Church of God must be included as a non-voting advisor to the Governance Review Task Force.
d. Upon completion of this duty the Selection Committee is disbanded, and the work is turned over to the established Governance Review Task Force; and
It is hereby further resolved that the then selected Governance Review Task Force is charged with the following (not necessarily in order of importance or chronology):
a. To select from among itself a chairman, secretary, and any other positions it deems necessary to accomplish its tasks.
b. To maintain throughout its work the highest possible level of objectivity, reliance on facts alone and the utmost in professionalism.
To provide a summary of our organizational history (including that prior to our forming in 1995), analyzing the general challenges and specific problems we have had to deal with and to what extent our governance system contributed to resolving these problem(s), contributed to creating the problem(s) or, perhaps under a different configuration, could have alleviated or eliminated the problem(s). The primary focus will, of course, on the United Church of God’s experience. This historical performance analysis should be measured in light of the following:
i. Biblical examples and principles, especially in light of the church’s published Godly Governance study paper
ii. Best practices in terms of effectiveness (doing the right thing) and efficiency (doing things right)
iii. Required legal constraints
iv. Any other measurements the committee determines to be important factors.
d. To ensure that all members of the General Conference of Elders have opportunity for a voice in the process, including, but not limited to, the following:
i. Standardized interviews (written and/or oral) with all former and current Council of Elders members, officers and operation managers (who are still members of UCG);
ii. A comprehensive survey of the General Conference of Elders.
e. To call upon, if it deems necessary or helpful, qualified elders and members to seek input or advice on specific matters.
f. To determine, as soon as possible, a realistic, but conservative, time frame in which to complete its work, and to communicate that proposed schedule to the General
Conference of Elders. The Task Force should devote full attention and energy to this responsibility, with the understanding that the General Conference of Elders desires this important duty to be accomplished in a timely manner.
g. To publish, upon completion of its findings, a report for the General Conference of Elders (which may be shared with the membership), with emphasis in the report on recommendations for making improvements to our governing system(s). The General Conference of Elders will then have a 45 day period in which to review this report and to submit input to the Task Force. The Task Force shall establish the system for receiving this input.
h. To review, after the 45 day period, all the input from the General Conference of Elders and incorporate any revisions, edits or additions the Task Force deems prudent.
i. To publish a final report with any proposed recommendations for changes, plus a recommendation for the method in which proposed changes could be put before the General Conference of Elders for ballot (including, but not limited to, a special meeting of the General Conference of Elders).
Submitted by the officers of the Corporation, in accordance with Bylaw 7.9.2:
Clyde Kilough, President
David Johnson, Secretary
Jason Lovelady, Treasurer
.........
Note to Bob Thiel, who blogged this gem Saturday: "As regular readers of the COGwriter page are aware, although it is apparently wise for Roy Holladay to be careful, I have always had problems with UCG’s form of governance."
Well, if United would only have the sense to make Spanky their Pastor General for life, all governance problems would be over in a jiffy, right? ;)
Also, do United - Church of God members- retain Internet freedom of thought and freedom of speech? "The alternative forum was formed mostly because every time people posted something administration didn't like, they got nasty emails and phone calls from a member of admin. Nice."
UCG administration must be very busy tracking down and censoring Internet postings they don't agree with. Perhaps Mr. Spanky, himself former Gestapo-style head of ministerial services, and loyalty computer tithe-check pioneer, can give UCG a ministerial services tip or two on how to be more efficient at tracking people down, disciplining, suspending, and excommunicating anyone who dares voice an honest, truthful, candid opinion. Source.
Take LCG's unofficial Bob Thiel for instance. He doesn't allow freedom of any comments at COGwriter. Just think of all the tremendous time and money he buys Spanky, by not having to track down who said what without prior HQ authorization!
Hat-tip to Purple Hymnal for this, and who has posted links to the leaked UCG documents...
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