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This is a genuine issue with me -- appreciate feedback...Trying to decide to attend GA this year. Have attended last five GA, etc. Church does not subsidize expenses. Would pull from savings, etc. Have done before, etc.I always come home glad to see some folks I know, but asking --- was that really worth expense? I see how so much is spent on the GA when money is tight and some departments are broke, etc Attend much lesser conferences and leave feeling spiritually filled, edified, intellectually challenged, etc. Can't remember last GA felt that way...Struggle with over all expense and profitability in attending. My wife and I travel lite, but it would cost on low end at least $800-1000. Not staying at Omni and partying like 1999...just simple travel, eat meal or two in room, etc.Genuine responses to help my decision process. I am ordained Bishop and take morning session seriously. Just having a really hard time this year -- is it really worth it??? Really?Thanks

Earl, can't really help ya on the financial component of attending GA, ever feller will have to have to make his own decision.What I can say is that the GA is not designed to be a conference that will leave one intellectually challenged. There are a few individual sessions, but in the main, the GA is designed to take care of the business of the COG for the coming GA term and elect denominational officials for the same. So its not really a apples/apples comparison to compare the GA with a lesser conference.

I agree with OTCP, that this is not another conference but a business meeting. I am thrilled to see special orders of the day with leading church growth leaders and other leaders who will bring some dynamic encouragement to the ministers.Though the agenda is lighter than normal this time the items are meaningful to our movement and needs to have voices speak to them. We must then cast a vote that will have meaningful impact on all of us.I love being part of the process. I love the fellowship with other ministers. I love the worship services. I love the atmosphere that reminds me that I am part of a larger global church.I understand the financial situation that you are in. Not sure if you are pastoring, but it would be nice if the church where you serve could have had fundraisers, etc. to assist you in attending.In my early ministry pastoring a small church that is what my church did. I was not even an Ordained Bishop at the time.

I think you should try to go. Would you be offended if I made a suggestion? Can you present it to your church this Sunday and ask them if they could give sacrifically between this Sunday the 10th - to the following Sunday 17th. The clerk should have tried to take care of this before now. Lets all pray that God supplies the need. Even if you get a portion of the funds, that would help. The church needs to know it is their obligation to send you. They have had 2 years to prepare for it. We pastored at small churches all our ministry - it is hard to do and it is NOT a vacation. The last church we pastored, they put up a special fund and put aside $100 a month and most of the time, that would cover campmeeting and GA. Some weeks,we did not even get a salary, but, we still had them put up the $100 a month. I am going to pray that you will be able to go. You need to represent your church and be a part of a great church. You asked for feedback and I hope this is ok with you.God Bless

IMHO, the answer would be no.For many years I thought I had to attend the Assy. Here I am a much older man. I see things very differently. If I could raise 1000.00 on my own for the Assy, I could put that money in a savings account to enjoy much later when I needed it the most.Oh how I wish I had all the money we spent at the GA over the years.I am not opposed to the GA, the church or anyone else.Praying that you make the right decision Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

No, not going this time & it's the first time we will not be going in ages.From a California perspective it's tough to justify financially. We used to send all of our credentialed ministers/wives & teen talent candidates that had qualified. Currently:We only send O.B.'s in our church & at this time we have 5.Each person gets a meal stipend of $75 a day & we cover all travel/lodging (usually about $3,000-3,300 per couple).No longer support teen talent for too many reasons to list here.Not going to GA this year & probably never again, it's complicated.Didn't go to camp meeting this year due to other reasons & probably won't go to the ministers meeting in the fall.I guess there's not much we are attending any more so we're saving the funds & attending the ARC conference in October Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

sitting in the pew, and remembering the costs in time and money to attend, this post as others in the past should give way to a way to do this with internet assistance. I would love to hear there are plans to first have regional and world wide participation in the discussion and voting.I would feel like my church was growing instead of stagnating; just picking destination places where the SE ministers could go on vacation. I really do not mean that in an ugly way, it is just that I have always thought of the GA as a sacred gathering. A gathering for God's work.Sorry, I said enough. I hope it is a wonderful General Assembly. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

Re: GA Nashville - Attend or Not?

Earl, can't really help ya on the financial component of attending GA, ever feller will have to have to make his own decision.What I can say is that the GA is not designed to be a conference that will leave one intellectually challenged. There are a few individual sessions, but in the main, the GA is designed to take care of the business of the COG for the coming GA term and elect denominational officials for the same. So its not really a apples/apples comparison to compare the GA with a lesser conference.All at said, I hope ya git to attend GA if ya want to. Thanks, that helped to clarify difference...helped.C

Thanks for suggestion --- got some travel $$$ --- decided to attend w wife. Appreciate response. Decided it's important to make happen.C