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Use of the Term “Bishop” for State/Regional/National or International Offices: Discussion on Church of God General Assembly, Nashville 2016 Agenda

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Currently, the item is under referral for further study to be presented as a report at next assembly. Apart from its historical usage in the tradition and current IRS church related rulings, the item relates to the following issues currently in discussion as presented to the International General Council in four year increments:

  1. Titles for all Ranks of Ministry  (as related to current Item 10)
  2. Qualifications of Ministry (as related to current Item 11)
  3. Women in Ministry (as related to current Item 8)

Historical Presuppositions
The Church of God recognizes three ranks of credentialed ministers: exhorter (initial level), ordained minister (intermediate level), and ordained bishop (highest level). In addition to the rights and privileges held by exhorters and ordained ministers, ordained bishops are authorized to assist in ordination ceremonies. State/regional overseers are designated “administrative bishops”, International Executive Committee members as “executive bishops”, and the general overseer as “presiding bishop”. Women are eligible to be exhorters and ordained ministers. However, only men can become ordained bishops. There are also categories of licensed minister of Christian education and licensed minister of music.

All ordained bishops in the Church of God are members of the International General Council. The General Council meets every two years to decide what items or actions to recommend to the General Assembly for a final decision. It elects 18 ordained bishops to serve with the executive officers on the International Executive Council. Furthermore, the ministers in each state/region elect between 4 and 12 ordained bishops to serve on the state council.

In 2010, the Church of God Said: Women Can Be Leaders But Not Bishops
The Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.) has decided to permit women to serve on local church councils, but has maintained its rule that they cannot be ordained as bishops. By a narrow vote during its recent General Assembly, the denomination changed its policy on congregational councils by deleting the word “male” from its previous statement saying “members of the Church and Pastor’s Council shall be loyal male members of the church.” Just prior to the meeting, which concluded July 30, more than 62% of the denomination’s ordained bishops voted not to consider changing church policy prohibiting women from being ordained as bishops.

In 2014, The 75th General Assembly of the Church of God amended page 148, S56. ORDAINED BISHOP, I. MEANING AND USAGE OF THE TERM BISHOP (section A, Biblical Understanding of Ordination) by adding the following as paragraph 8:

That a study be done and a theological paper prepared defining the meaning and usage of the title Ordained Bishop; and should it be necessary change the current nomenclature in order to clarify and fulfill the intent of the International General Council with respect to designation of ministerial rank in the Church of God. Further, that said study is brought back to the 2016 International General Assembly and that the results of such study be included in the Minutes of the International General Assembly of the Church of God.

and page 102, S23. STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, paragraph 1, by striking the word “male” so as to read:
1. In each state, territory, or country where needed, the state overseer shall, at a state meeting or called meeting of the ministers of the church, or at a state convention of the membership of the church, appoint a State Board of Trustees of not less than five members.

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  1. Our envelope at FCC reads:Tithe _________________ $____Missions ______________ $____Offering _______________ $____Youth _________________ $____Love offering ___________ $____Miscellaneous __________ $____I encourage our people all the time to use the appropriate category for their giving.I’ve been called on the carpet more than once for what was termed ‘under reporting’ but the accusations are false. In fact we look for any evidence possible to make sure the tithe is reported properly every month & our clerk is a wonderful woman of God who loves her position & takes her office seriously.________________Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing …introducing people to Jesus!

  2. The church that you point out in this post has been one of the fastest growing churches in the Church of God over the last 5 years. It is filled with new Christians and is a younger congregation. Their tithes have increased significantly over the years, but have not caught up with the attendance growth. The pastor is a man of integrity and is COG. There is nothing covert here.

  3. Time for all state offices to abolish the practice of printing a state paper that releases info about church attendance & church finances.How 1950’s can it get anyway? Probably still have the attendance chart up on the wall next to the penny drive poster.If your state is spending the money to send out a paper to each minister/church, then this kind of information is a waste of resources. Don’t even ask a state clerk to display the info on the state website as its a waste of her time to do this.Just think of the nonsense that goes through the mind of a minister as he compares his struggling church to the other churches whose finances are in the surplus category. This stuff creates a spirit of jealousy & division. If you want to print something then print the details about the new church plants & report on how many deteriorating churches were remodeled. Talk about missions works both domestic & foreign. Create a pool of resources where your youth can apply for help while going through Lee or some other Christian college.There’s got to be a better way to learn more about the ministry of your state churches & ministers other than comparing church finances to church attendance. ________________Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing …introducing people to Jesus!

  4. I don’t think it can be done that way from a legal stand point. People who give to nonprofits and churches have the legal right to declare how they want there charitable giving to be used. If it is designated it is designated.

  5. I think we have that ‘pot and kettle thing again’. ********** ********** *************However, Thanks NBF, I didn’t know this existed. I follow JD’s line of thinking. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

  6. Sorry man. I disagree. Invoking a poem/song like this might be just the thing to unite us. Whites realizing how bad things once were for blacks, blacks realizing they don’t wait for someone to help them, they can help themselves. All of us look to God for help to make tomorrow a better day. Sounds like something all of us can get better at________________

  7. Sorry man. I disagree. Invoking a poem/song like this might be just the thing to unite us. Whites realizing how bad things once were for blacks, blacks realizing they don’t wait for someone to help them, they can help themselves. All of us look to God for help to make tomorrow a better day. Sounds like something all of us can get better at.

  8. Sorry man. I disagree. Invoking a poem/song like this might be just the thing to unite us. Whites realizing how bad things once were for blacks, blacks realizing they don’t wait for someone to help them, they can help themselves. All of us look to God for help to make tomorrow a better day. Sounds like something all of us can get better at. I agree NBF. SOME of those doing this might not have unity in their hearts, but the words of this song can’t be changed to mean something else. They are true and right. And if white Christian conservatives showed that they actually care and believe the God that this song sings about, then MAYBE we could unite a lot more of our country. 90% plus of blacks vote for the far left. Those who comprise the Congressional Black Caucus typify the sheer lunacy of their constituents. That anthem to them is not about unity, but about social justice and stamping out white oppression once and for all. To sing it along with our true national anthem is a disgrace________________

  9. Sorry man. I disagree. Invoking a poem/song like this might be just the thing to unite us. Whites realizing how bad things once were for blacks, blacks realizing they don’t wait for someone to help them, they can help themselves. All of us look to God for help to make tomorrow a better day. Sounds like something all of us can get better at. I agree NBF. SOME of those doing this might not have unity in their hearts, but the words of this song can’t be changed to mean something else. They are true and right. And if white Christian conservatives showed that they actually care and believe the God that this song sings about, then MAYBE we could unite a lot more of our country. I am not ignorant enough to think everyone is for unity. But it is time WE start TRYING to find ways to unite. Every littel bit helps… ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

  10. Well, I was going to say something I thought was funny, but the discussion on this subject seems to be heartfelt and serious on both sides of the issue.So, I will say this, I still do not understand why the national anthem is played/preformed at sporting events. These events are entertainment for all who can afford a ticket, not a battlefield to force political opinion (right or left) on the paying customers, in my opinion.We do not have the playing of the national anthem (and standing for it) at concerts, plays, movies and other places people gather for entertainment, why must politics be presence in sports. Generally, we don’t start out church service with the national anthem, it would seem inappropriate since we are gathered to worship Jesus. Forced patriotism is no patriotism at all, ask the citizens of North Korea. They play their national anthems a great deal, and you had better stand.As to the National Anthem, or the Black National Anthem, I’m tried of those who would bring in a patriotic test to a sporting event. This year I did not watch the Olympics, and I really do not care how TEAM USA did, because many of the competitors politicized their participation (between taking their banned substance or being abused by their coaches and doctors). On TV I turn the channel at the Nation Anthem, and if I go to the game, I’m going to do my best to go get get my hotdog during the playing.

  11. I would like to see a minimum of 15 pastors on the Exec Council.Primarily for the organizational consideration of having a majority voice that is actively from the front-lines of ministry.My recommendation has NOTHING to do with any disdain for COG Executive leadership or with any of the typical good ole boy shots that regularly inform these kinds of conversations. For me it is NOT about some balance of power or achieving democracy…it is simply about having a majority of influencers in the room who the freshest intel from the front-lines of pastoral engagement.

  12. Hope needs to be taken out of the equation. If we are changing bylaws – let’s have it spell it what we hope for…instead of just hope________________

  13. I’ve got to be honest here: In the end, who’s on and who’s not, matters very little to me. Without looking, I couldn’t name 3 people, currently serving on the Council of 18. Expand away, it won’t change how we roll here________________

  14. The Council of 18 has never really concerned me a great deal. Hard to get excited about expanding something that doesn’t directly concern me________________

  15. It is not God’s will that ANY should perish, but instead that all should be brought to repentance, and yet we know from other scriptures that some and perhaps most will in fact perish, and will not be brought to repentance, despite God’s will to the contrary.

  16. I cannot believe you would disparage something on the Orange Blossom Trail. It is also just about 2 miles from the little community I like called Zellwood! But you did skeer me, I thought you had dropped off the Mount. We have a nice town called MT Plymouth also. Come on down to the Sunshine state my friend, we got it all! You can even meet Mickey while at the GA! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

  17. I just finished the first lecture on OT Survey…such good stuff________________The World As I See Itworldjeffreysees.blogspot.com/Revuriah’s Facebookwww.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Richard/1226257444Jeffrey David Richard’s Myspace Musicwww.myspace.com/547856946

    1. Nope! There’s occasionally downloadable material on the main course page, and the lecturers may mention books now and then, but the lectures stand on their own.

    2. I’ve told Brad numerous times to take his teaching where it is needed – since no one here has the problem he thinks we have.Unfortunately, if ISa. stays – Brads teaching IS needed here.<sigh&gt________________

    3. Oh yeah, and I’ve answered this a million times but I’ll say it again 😊. We don’t keep the Law to be saved, we keep the Law because we’re saved😏Shalom ðŸ˜________________Ps 122:6

    4. Don’t deceive yourself. You don’t really keep the law. No one other than Jesus ever could. You pick which laws you want to keep, but the NT says it’s an all-or-nothing proposition. If you choose to be under the law, you are required to keep all of it; not just the Jewish rituals and customs you find convenient. Let me ask you a question sheik, if you saw someone drop their wallet would you pick it up and go give it to them?Would you have sex with anybody in your family?If you saw your best friend steal from your neighbor, and your neighbor just asked u not knowing anything, would you stick up for your best friend and say nothing or would you say yes my friend stole it?If G-d said life and death are in my Commandments choose life, would you keep His Commandments no matter what, no matter the cost________________Ps 122:6

    5. Shalom Unc….,😊 I think the skeptic & his friend with an opinion no scripture, was i believe was speaking of ur doctrine, feeling good about yourself, self-help nonsense, ,& a general inability to critically think about thingsI have shown you so far some of your doctrine stances on things that doesn’t work in all text the Bible and New Testament actually is for the Torah, G-ds Laws, you know the laws you say you don’t want to adhere to, the Bible calls that RebellionAnd you Unc, fall right in line with the last statement of not being critically able to think about things. My friend, it’s really not hard your fighting G-d….😶Shalo________________Ps 122:6

    6. Her’s an excerpt from some of those working to expose this cult, and make no mistake it is a cult – it is neither Christian nor Jewish but an aberrant sect of nonsense trying to appear spiritually above the rest of us. Read the following:The movement usually hides their beliefs and presents itself as simply seeking to educate Christians concerning their Jewish heritage. As they become acclimated to the Jewish orientation the more aberrant doctrines are slowly introduced.Some of the warning signs• All Christians must adhere to a kosher diet • The Sabbath can only be observed on Saturdays • The Jewish festivals and holidays must still be observed today The root of their symptomatic heresies is hermeneutic (having to do with the methodology used to interpret scripture) in nature. The Protestant Reformers used a grammatical-literal hermeneutic when interpreting scripture. In other words, it means what it says unless there is a significant reason to believe otherwise. This movement uses a grammatical-historical hermeneutic with a twist. Their underlying assumptions when approaching any scripture are: Whatever God has ever commanded of those who seek Him (i.e., the Jews, their ancestors, their descendents, and Christians) is still in effect today (including the Levitical law) Gentile followers of Christ were grafted into the Jews which they interpret to mean that Gentiles must assume Jewish customs if they really want to mature and please God Like all cults, the Hebrew Roots Movement have their own version of the Bible, which of course, is the only version you are allowed to use.Based on those unquestionable assumptions, they then decide how they can best interpret a given scripture to support those beliefs. The farther down this rabbit hole they go, the more bizarre their doctrines become. Many see the New Testament as inferior to the Old (or a conspiracy by the Catholic church). More still say that Paul’s teachings are contrary to Christ (since they have trouble with his obvious statements against their beliefs) and, therefore, reject his epistles as scripture. Some say that the only reason we aren’t still sacrificing animals and stoning people for their sins is because there is no Temple and no Sanhedrin. But when they are restored then these will resume. Others go so far as to eventually reject Jesus as the Messiah and simply say that He was just a Rabbi. The inevitable outcome of following this train of thought is to put people back into bondage to the Law. The proof is in the ScriptureBut there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses. ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Acts 15:5The issue of how to treat the gentile believers is not a new question in our day, the Apostles themselves dealt with this issue on more than one occasion. Acts 15shines ample light on not only the question, but the answer as well. As we read in Acts 15, we see the bible heavyweights like Paul and Barnabas called on the carpet along with the rest of the apostles to figure this out. And as with most issues in the church, the whole problem started with a small handful of troublemakers:And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Acts 15:1A few bad apples…Now, we are not told who these troublemakers are, but it was sufficient to throw a monkeywrench into the whole deal:When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:2And deal with it they did…And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us; Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:7-9They acknowledged that while e gentile does not become a Jew when believing on the Messiah, the line of division between them no longer exists. From God’s perspective then, there is no difference between a Jewish and Gentile believer in Christ. But they didn’t stop there, they continued on to answer this question in a most resolute and final way.The Apostles settle this question once and for allNow therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Acts 15:10-12Peter is so bold that he stuns them all into silence, and uses this time to allow Paul and Barnabas to recount all the awesome ‘miracles and wonders that God had wrought among the Gentiles by them’. Just when you think it can’t get any more intense that it already is, James steps in begins to wrap it up:And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Acts 15:13-18Then, the knockout blow:Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Acts 15:19-21In an amazing display, James through the Holy Spirit, tells us once and for all what God expects from Gentile believers…and it is not to be placed under the Law of Moses. There exists no evidence in the New Testament that mandates that any Gentile believer observe Jewish holidays, eat kosher foods or worship only on the Sabbath day. What was the reaction from the entire assembled group of elders? They said this:Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. Acts 15:24-29Did you catch that line? Go back and reread the Apostles themselves saying that they never gave any such commandment for Gentiles to be placed under the Law of Moses. Never. Ever. Do you believe the Bible? Don’t take my word for it, look it up and read it for yourself…The believer in Christ is not called to law, but to freedom in Jesus. And for those who still need further proof, Paul provides it in Galatians 2:But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:11-16ConclusionThe roots of Christianity grow deep in Jewish culture, and it is highly recommended that all Christians learn about the Jewish feast days, holy days and other customs. They will only deepen our appreciaton and understanding of our common ancestry that we have, Gentiles together with Jews. But to suggest that any Gentile believer who follows Jesus must be placed under Old Testament law is nothing but bondage, and it’s a bondage that the Bible speaks against not only in the verses quoted here, but in many other places as well. Regarding the freedom we have in Christ, let me leave you with this verse from the Master himself:If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

  18. Is there a particular reason you’re throwing out Costi’s testimony?Aside from that, the man’s teaching speaks for itself. Do some reading. Listen to some sermons. You didn’t answer my questions.Yes I do have a particular reason & I won’t go in to too much detail. I’ve met Bro. Hinn & I’ve spent a little time with some of his ministry team & his security detail. Thats another story to itself.If you spent some time with some of my nephews/nieces you might get a biased/slanted view of how things are run here at FCC (other family members would tell you different) but that doesn’t mean it’s the whole truth, unless you’re looking for something to be wrong or you question the validity of our ministry. When we see something wrong we try to correct it asap, in fact we recently had the AB come in & handle a situation that needed state office discipline. I’m not trying to defend Hinn but I am asking for evidence to substantiate the notion that he needs to repent or maybe for some people to offer proof to support these claims. When we met them it wasn’t a controlled environment & they were in their own element but I spoke with & witnessed a B. Hinn who was passionate about his calling & ministry …in other words there were no cameras & he carried himself with dignity.No I do not agree with all of his teachings & some of it seems to be kind of silly but I have spent time with them & I didn’t come away feeling as though he didn’t belong to our evangelical circle.He operates on a diff level & I for one would not want to be in his shoes, but I have seen a private side of him that was as genuine as it gets.Maybe somebody has some good evidence other than here-say or a suggestion to do a Google search.________________Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing …introducing people to Jesus!

  19. Start a new thread and pace 3 sentences of that goofy letter and we’ll break it down together according to what G-d says in the Bible. And you will quickly see that that’s false Doctrin________________Ps 122:6

  20. I think you can file that under “fake news.” I do know that according to the Minutes, the CoG will permanently revoke a minister’s license for performing a homosexual

  21. Give me a few days, NB. My anonymous source in the Knesset is scheduled to contact me before Sunday. Some guys have instant access to the Knesset – you’re slipping oldtimer________________