Acts20.com

Let me start by saying i don't really think Cleveland is a swamp, but i put that title as click bait. Also, this is a rough/working plan. Id like to think those of us on this forum can develop a plan that works better than what we have.1. Reduce EC from 5to 3 (+1 admin asst)2. Reduce World Missions staff in Cleveland to 3 (+1 Admin Asst)3. Reduce Youth Staff to 3( including 1 Admin Asst)4. Allow all states/regions to elect their own AB and YD5. State AB's elect the EC/WM and YD6.Reduce TOT to 8%7. Ministers who do not report or pay TOT are not eligible to vote on anything or hold any office until they report and pay TOT for 2 years without missing.8. Each state is responsible for their own church planting effort and missions effort working with the WM dept in cleveland.9. All revenue and expenses are published (including salaries and expenses) quarterly on the ministers online reporting website.10. ALL money from any property/building sale must be allocated based on the unanimous vote of all the AB's and EC as they see fit.

Good ideas but wishful thinking.All these reductions would mean a lack of positions for occupation and less power.ABs being selected by individual states would mean less concentration of power.These proposed measures would have to be put before the General Assembly and voted on...

Do you think government and church should be radically turned upside down when they do not follow the will of the people.

that a guy named change agent isn't interested in change.Im not qualified to speak for everyone in the COG. I can speak for me and a select few. Im not mad bro. Im more disappointed. We give so much and receive so little. Think about it for a minute.What do you get for being COG? You get to give your TOT but you still have to pay for everything. Our kids, seniors, everyone has to pay for state and national events on top of the TOT. And, if you have your AB or an EC member preach at your church, you probably have to give them an additional paycheck. I understand many of them refuse honorariums but many don't.

Good suggestions. Probably would never pass but would be nice. I would like to add to #7 7. Ministers who do not report or pay TOT are not eligible to vote on anything or hold any office until they report and pay TOT for 2 years without missing.

I like where this idea is going but I don't agree with #6. The GA voted years ago to reduce the ToT down to where it is now & I find it acceptable at 10%. At the same time I don't like our current model using the ToT system but I know it's impossible to ever get it changed to a more equitable system so it will have to be left alone for now.I would change #1 to electing a PB who will hold the office indefinitely until he either retires or steps down so we can elect a new leader. I don't like the 2 year or 4 year plan of revolving door leaders. Also I would only have 1 other EC member & they both have 1 admin asst.#7 I would agree to 1 year instead of 2 years. We're looking for conformity not punishment.#9 would be eliminated because I don't think most guys want their salary published for all to see & nowadays there is no way to protect that info online.In place of #9 I would say that Cleveland releases all church properties to solvent or sovereign churches with 50 or more members who can afford to maintain their own properties & have the right to build, remodel &/or manage their own mortgage. Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

If an AB comes into a state that is on the downhill slide as far as attendance, number of Churches, finances and other quantifiable attributes and builds the state up in some ways, shouldn't he be rewarded? Recognized? If a pastor comes in to a church in similar circumstances and does same will be not be rewarded? Yet if he fails again and again and again and again and he knows someone in Cleveland or at the state level he might be promoted again and again.

Ladies and Gentleman:I may not agree with all the suggestions listed above but I like the push being put forward for further change in Cleveland. Most corporations have too much fat in the middle of their organizations but it is my opinion that the CoG has too much fat at the top. Questions:1. Why are their 3 assistant GO's, what are their salary packages and what are their job descriptions?2. World Missions directors: what are their salary packages and what are their job descriptions.3. Youth directors: what are their salary packages and what are their job descriptions?4. Do each of these have their own administrative assistants?5. What financial impact do these salaries/benefits packages and assistants have on the CoG as a whole?I agree totally with the question regarding the benefits of the CoG to churches. What benefit is there to putting the CoG emblem over your door? Our churches pay for our trainings, our licensing, our pastors/pastors wives/pk's often are the ones who are sacrificing to keep the doors open and what do we hear from Cleveland regarding our sacrifices?.... Don't be late on your monthly reports/sending in your money or you will lose your voting privileges

Re: kind of ironic (sick of this stuff)

I am so sick of people being negative about the Church of God. Recently our state experienced a huge disaster with numerous buildings being partially or totally destroyed. The General Overseer (Tim Hill) made a plea for the CoG family across America to respond with love offerings to help restore or rebuild the affected churches. Overall I suppose about a million dollars or more was sent from the CoG family around the country to completely restore every church to a better status than it had prior to the disaster - even if it meant razing an ancient building and providing a brand new metal church building to worship in (furnished). That's just one of thousands of stories that could be told about what do you get for being in the Church of God? But even beyond that (which should answer your question and shut you up) there is so much offered in regard to love, encouragement, education, participation with others to build the Kingdom of God through a great World Missions program, a family, resources for church growth, Christian education, ministerial training - development - encouragement - care......... the list goes on and on. If you have been with us for any length of time and your question is what do you get? then the simple answer is much more than you are aware of since you obviously haven't even taken the time to view the CoG website to see what all is available to help you and what opportunities are there for you to give to others and get involved in Kingdom ministry- and if you are dealing in dollars only then your financial contribution doesn't even begin to compare to the value of all that has been done, is being done and potentially could be done for you because you are in a church family/fellowship and not floating out on your own.