Let’s be honest about some things regarding this assembly. The agenda set before the general council is weak. I believe this is a direct result of the tithe of tithe cut. The year the TOT was cut it was because the agenda was finished in time for the motions from the floor to be discussed and voted on. This ended up burning the EC because the TOT reduction couldn’t be buried deep enough to not be discussed. There aren’t very many issues on this docket that are really life changing with the exception of women in ministry but we all sort of know where that discussion will take us- probably the same place it’s taken us the last few assemblies we’ve discussed it. The EC is so afraid of the GC presenting motions they have reduced the number of days we can discuss stuff!! They put other stuff up to waste time!!
Wow! That is about the biggest conspiracy stretch that I have ever read on here, and that is really saying something.You are saying that a shorter agenda means that the Executive Council is attempting to avoid motions from the motions committee. Wouldn’t a short agenda actually guarantee that we will get to the motions committee? The schedule is exactly the same as the year that the tithe of tithe cut took place. Additionally, there are only 2 members of the Executive Council that were on the Council at the time of the tithe of tithe cut.
There is less time for discussion because (a) there are less days to discuss, (b) there is now going to be a speaker at the beginning of the sessions doing leadership training that eats into the discussion time.Can you in good conscience say the EC does not construct the agenda to fit their desires and concerns?Can you in good conscience say the EC has no influence on the motions committee?Can you in good conscience say there is not an intentional agenda set forth to keep more pressing real life issues from surfacing?Here’s some more conspiracy for you- Its undeniable that the EC wants to keep the power in the southeast US. We ALL know this whole thing could be done via the internet but that would open things up to the whole world and our new PB would be from Indonesia. So in an effort to keep the control where the dollars are, no internet and no internationally convenient sites. Look at where the GA is hosted. SOUTHEAST for the last several years and this year its in Nashville? The cosmopolitan international hub of Nashville? (insert sarcasm) Why not Los Angeles or Washington DC or even Atlanta? because Nashville requires a little bit extra travel which means a little bit extra money and that puts it involvement just a little bit more out of reach.Imagine if the GA was hosted in Manilla. Imagine Pastor so and so having to get a passport and find a hotel and navigate the traffic. He would be hopelessly lost to the point he wouldn’t attend just like many internationals feel now. Not to mention the price. HQ would be inundated with calls about the cost of the GA in Manilla. And- most everyone in Manilla speaks english!! From a global perspective, with the weak european dollar, Germany or France would be cheaper than Nashville. But that can’t happen. Why? because people lose jobs if this big belly, hair bun party is hosted anywhere outside the grits and sweet tea zone.Lets be honest- this whole thing could be streamlined to be more effective, less expensive and more inclusive, but that costs people jobs.
That is certainly some interesting perspective. Let me try to respond to all of this from my perspective.
No one is forced to attend the G________________Recorded Sermons @ http://www.pastorwiley.com
This is exactly the mentality Im addressing. Thank you.No one is forced to, but only the rich elites can.I understand that the majority of the pastors at GA aren’t rich elites, but in a global perspective in comparison to the pastors OF THE SAME CREDENTIALED STATUS in other countries, we are all rich elites and this movement will remain controlled by and voting for those rich elites.Which is super ironic considering the pentecostal movement began among the poor and disfranchised. We are a movement of the poor for the poor by the poor… except for 1 week every 2 years where the powers that be control the agenda and manipulate the available leadership.
Wait………I am a rich elite?
Eddie now stop and give God the Praise for what He has made you________________Recorded Sermons @ http://www.pastorwiley.com
Son, somebody is watchin way too much science fiction. Hey, if all the conspiracy theory is true, I bet the electronic hand held voting devices is rigged, pre-set, to change all numbers already determined by the EC.
just keep being naive and making light of this stuff and before you know it the COG ministers will get so relaxed that nobody is paying attention and a million dollars will walk out the door and…wait a minuteor the EC will soon seize control of the mission dept money…wait minute or we’ll get a plan to sell all properties and consolidate offices to HQ…wait a minuteor nobody will get updated financials…wait a minuteor GA cost will still be an unknown… wait a minute
Centralized government, you gotta love it, ________________Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church
we knew this was coming. Yep. I do love it.
I guess I am too. Wow!!! Wait….. why am I still working a full-time secular job if I am part of the rich elite?
Eddie, wayne, and OTCP
Eddie and wayne, you aren’t the rich elites Im talking about because nobody is voting you in COG offices. The elites I’m referring to are the ones who campaign around competing to get votes. And everyone knows the old saying if you get voted in to cleveland and you don’t leave a millionaire, you did something wrong Thats because we pay these guys salary, and benefits etc and then they use our TOT to travel to camp meetings where they soft campaign and then take their honorarium and go back to cleveland.
Let’s see.I had rather attend the General Assembly of the Church of God than attend an independent camp meeting listening to clothesline preaching.Our church is congregationally governed, no one man rule here.We are very happy. ________________Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church
and it isn’t about preaching. Although making it about preaching is part of what got us in this mess. This has nothing to do with anointing, or calling or pulpit ability. This has everything to do with allowing people who are gifted and trained in one area to attempt to operate in another area.Why don’t we hire some guys with MBA’s and some CPA’s to handle the money stuff and let the preachers preach? Think about how effective the PB could be at casting vision and pastoring the pastors if he didn’t have the burden of money management on him?
One Man Rule?The Church of God accountability structure consist of a 5 man Executive Committee, a Council of Eighteen, Regional and State Bishops, District Overseer, State Council, Pastor, and Church Council. Our doctrine and polity are determined by the General Assembly, which is composed from 7
Way to go Eddie.It takes a little while to get rolling, but that is a pretty good month________________