I presented the following substitute motion this morning. It was ruled not germane. I appealed from the decision of the chair to the body. The body was required to vote with the ruling of the chair or with the appeal. The General Council upheld the appeal in the range of 950-625 (not precise).
That substitute motion reads:
That beginning September 1, 2008, local churches shall gradually reduce the total mandatory contributions over 5 years to state and international headquarters from 15% to 10% with the reduction to be shared equally among State Offices, International Offices, and World Missions.
Reduction Schedule:
September, 1, 2008
September, 1, 2009
September, 1, 2010
September, 1, 2011
September, 1, 2012
Further, that all references to our financial structure be adjusted to reflect these changes.
Following adjournment, Tom and I had an opportunity to spend about 30 minutes with Brother McGuire (a good brother and a father to a lot of ministers in the COG). The time was spiritual, mutually affirming, and left me incredibly encouraged. At one point after praying, Tom sat down at the piano and played and sang a song he wrote called “Audience of One.” I sat on the floor and soaked up that moment as God ministered to all three of us in a special way.
That will be a treasured moment for the rest of my life.
Filed under: church of god
Trav:
Great job! Again, thanks for continuing to help bring change that is so desperately needed in our denomination. Yo go, bro! You rock!
Best
Dennis
Oh, I forgot to mention, there is a bunch of prayer supporting your actions!
Best
Dennis
Thanks for the update. I didn’t go to the GA this year but am in prayer that true unity and change will come out of this one.
Wow! Way to go. It helps to know the rules of order.
And to reiterate, there is prayer going on about what’s happening on that floor.
care to comment on the GO’s amendment
Travis,
I am encouraged to hear about your meeting with the former GO and the respondent move of the Holy Spirit at the next session. I am also encouraged at the spirit of Raymond Culpepper’s motion and the current pace as well as the nature (embodied in your substitute motion) of sharing between the departments the burden of the needed reduction.
Blessings
Travis,
As I sat in the session today I was impressed with your diligence in getting something productive accomplished, but at the same time i was highly discouraged at how quickly the Realignment was tabled. As an exhorter i was unable to call a point of order, but one was desperately needed, because the amendment proposed by Raymond Cullpepper was in contradiction to the rest of the amendment. Is there anything that can be done to correct this oversight by the Chair?
Much Thanks and Appreciation
Stephen D. Henderson
Hey, I’m hearing some pretty unnerving things about what happened yesterday afternoon in the session. Can somebody help clarify the situation before there’s a mass exodus in the ranks?
Travis,
Question. Did your substitute motion stipulate the manner in which the reduction would be shared equally?
Is it an equal percentage of their existing portion of the 15%? Or is it an equal amount of the total amount being reduced annually?
These numbers are radically different for the bottom line per entity in implementation. Yet, it can be said the parties are sharing the reduction equally.
God bless.
It is a very sad commentary that many- if not most- of the so called “missionals” either did not show up for business today or were significantly late…including the “leaders.” What does that actually say about their care for the church? It sure makes one wonder about the conflict between serving self and serving God and the church.
Tim Cranfill, D.Min., BCC, MBA (candidate)
Director of Pastoral Care
BHS
San Antonio, TX
I find myself disappointed to even imagine that the Church of God that I am a member of today would fail to recognize the importance of the World Mission.
The very words of Jesus “go ye into all the world” mandate missions.
I believe if there is a problem with the administration of the %5 given by the churches then the problem should be fixed and the 5% should continue to support the World Mission. I understand it is a burden for a church that takes in $60000 to send $1800 to State & General Headquarters even as it is difficult for one that takes in $1000 to send $50. But the %5 has supported World Missions for many years allowing the Church of God World Missions to become one of the greatest movements of evangelism in the world.
The first thing that troubles me is that eliminating the %5 will require the World Mission department to be reduced in size and budget. The second thing is that if the General Headquarters see a reduction in income during any year such as a General Assembly year, the World Mission budget will be slashed even smaller.
Today the World Mission department stands alone with their finances. After this General Assembly the WM department will be at the monetarial mercy of the General officals that create the budget.
Is that really a move to better Missions?
I think our $50 is well spent when it comes to Missions, well actually I should say God’s $50. Fix the problem! Don’t cut off the funding.
I’m a young guy/lee student trying to find my bearings in all of this… and prayerfully considering if the COG is where I should invest my life. I attended the MIssion of Jesus Resurgance meeting with some friends on Tuesday and came away with a sense of Hope.. that maybe.. just maybe the Mission of Jesus might prevail.
I don’t understand all of the money issues and won’t pretend to and it will be many years before I have a voice (if i do at all). So I guess this is an encouragement to those of you with the guts to be who you are, to live authentically in incredible opposition. I can say things without consequence and so I do liberally. I hope that when my livelihood depends on speaking honestly and living authentically that I will do so whatever the cost.
thanks for the hope.
Here’s my interpretation of what happened with Raymond Culpepper’s amendment:
Basically, RC was saying, “Give me this issue, give me the power to solve it, trust me……and you won’t have to worry about it again.”
This was a HUGE act of leadership. Leaders lead by example. RC simply jumped out front of the issue, took it on his shoulders and proposed a fix.
I, for one, trust him. In fact, I have been calling on other COG ministers to trust him for months now (sometimes to my own detriment). It seems to me that the vast majority of OB’s chose to trust him yesterday.
Now, RC will appoint a committee of ACTION with leaders from the EC, C-18, WM, and the states. I am confident that this group will reach an equitable and a workable solution.
This truly was a “God moment” – GO GOD!
I was present at the GA several years ago – 2002, I think, on the night that they raised $1,000,000 for World Missions. It was phenomenal to see the excitement as everyone came together for that moment. Someone had offered a matching donation up to a certain amount of money – I’m not even sure what it was, but through that gift a million dollars was raised to change lives and touch souls.
Everyone seems to agree how important World Missions is. I guess this is where we have to trust our leaders to take seriously what they have been charged with. They are accountable to God for every soul WM will now reach. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want that on my shoulders every night when I went to bed if I wasn’t handling it right.
I do happen to know they have done some major downsizing at the COG HQ fairly recently. Someone that I correspond with there told me about a particular department whose entire support staff had been cut. So it appears that perhaps not all cuts will be made in WM as it is assumed. It sounded to me as though the HQ is anticipating the need for cutting back.
One final story…a COG minister tells the story of a widow in his dad’s church whose son reorganized her finances & told her she couldn’t afford to give $10/month to WM anymore, as she & her husband had done for years. He told her she needed it for groceries, & WM would never miss it. The Lord gave her a vision on her lawn one night of a multi-racial choir of about 50 people singing & worshipping the Lord, with a gentleman leading them whose back was to her. She asked the Lord what she was seeing, and He told her these were the souls saved by the money she had given to World Missions over the years. When the gentleman leading them turned towards her, she saw it was her husband. After the vision faded, she immediately called her pastor & insisted he come & get her WM money right then, in the middle of the night.
Hey folks…that’s what it’s all about. If the COG ministers cannot bring about change through the power of their vote, it’s time for them to take the problem to the Lord. If we will bombard heaven with our prayers with the same intensity of our protests, I believe we will see change as never before as the Holy Spirit does what man alone cannot do.
It seems that a lot of people are concerned that missions will be hurt by a budget reduction. This is does not have to be the case. The Assemblies of God field ten times more missionaries than we do and they are not required to give a thing. If you are really concerned about a drop in missions funding then just give more to missions. Better yet, develop relationships with some missionaries and their ministries and support them directly. I am firmly convinced that if people were required to give nothing, but had the opportunity to give directly to ministries that they felt led of God to support, they would give more.
You are 100% correct, Jamison.
Travis, Thank you for speaking in such a meaningful way and with such a love for the church. You stated correctly and adequately what I would have fumbled through. I really appreciate your knowledge of Roberts Rules of Order – I would not have know how to proceed.
May we continue to have meaningful dialogue that is seasoned in prayer.
Randall,
Thank you…that is beyond gracious.
Jamison,
It’s great to see you venturing out here, roomie…love you bro.
We at National Church, in Washington DC, have a lot of people that come from the Ivory Coast and Congo. We contribute to missionaries in those countries that are not always COG. We give to missionaries in Indonesia and South America also. We work with the missions department on the Indonesia part, but the rest we send money. The missions department does its best to foster growth around the world, but we wanted to help the former homes of our congregation.
I do hope however that we are able to maintain the orphanages and schools outside the USA if there is a cut and not a job in the USA.
The GA was very good for the most part,I did not like the reduction of money.Saying that the thing that bothered me was how people left before the pray was given,also walking out during the preaching,and the rude manners of some of the ordained bishops towards our general officials, bad taste.
Just a thought…would anyone dare suggest that a soul in America is more valuable than one in Africa, Europe, Asia, Central or South America? Of course not, but we seem to regard World Missions as somehow “more” in keeping with the Great Commission than local ministry. Now I am not trying to start anything with world missions or the thousands of “missional” people who take up the cause, but I wonder when will we see the same passion for the souls “next door” as we do for those across the borders. At this GA we (missional OB’s) were able to preserve the denominational commitment to WM as part of the DNA of the CoG, now what will we do at our State Meetings to light a fire under EHM? Travis has been equally passionate about this issue as we all have about WM, but he cannot carry the load alone. The battle for the lost of humanity is not a “foreign” war, it is a daily skirmish with the demonic agents of neglect, apathy, deceit, ignorance and stagnation. What do we as (US) ministers need to do to get our churches as fired up to reach our communities as they are to reach Africa? What can we do as districts, states and territories do to synchronize our efforts and multiply our harvests? What can be done in those states where the EHM funds are not being properly administrated per the designation required by the Minutes?
Now please don’t call me a killjoy, I too am rejoicing over this initial victory and give glory to God for his hand in “working out all things”, but I don’t want to see this “Jericho” momentum turn into another “AI” setback because we think the “real” battle is over.
I second Jerry’s post. RC seized the “trust moment” of this Assembly, got ahead of the issue and “led the cut.” In this and the other trust-building initiatives he has announced, there is clear engagement with next-gen missional leaders- we should all be praying for him and cheering the “listening tour.”
Though initially disappointed that the General Council did not discuss, debate, and decide on the issue- I now sense that this was at least the next best thing. This was an Assembly of historic “firsts,” and missional concerns were upheld- there is alot to give thanks for, and reason to be hopeful. The “seed of trust” I was hoping for was planted…let’s see how it grows (and water it whenever we get the chance).
Blessings…
Money, it makes the world go round and round. Money everybody needs it to survive in this world of hustle & bustle. Money, there seems to never be enough. I need it, you need it, seems like everyone I know needs money. True the cost of living has increased so the need is greater.
So what do we as a church do to help out, Cut out the money going to missions, let the local church keep it. After all that $50 we would send from a $1000 can be used here.. Forgive my bluntness.
As a pastor of a small church I have seen times when I needed enough just for bread and milk for my kids, but God supplied. I have seen the time when I went somewhere to preach a service with no gas in the tank & God supplied.
But I have found out that when we realize that we are in His hands and He will keep us, we are His children and He will provide for us that is when we begin to receive the blessing.
Missions, whether Home or World are the most important part of our purpose. To win souls here & abroad is the essence of the Church of God, the very purpose. When we reduce the funding will we reduce the worker? will we reduce the souls won? will we reduce the orphans cared for?
Sometimes getting an offering for World Missions from church members is like squeezing blood from a turnip.
“People here have needs, why send it to those overseas.” is the common statement regarding World Missions. If we are not careful we will find ourselves becoming a church with no World Missions emphasis and no longer a growing church in the world.
What should be done? I think the General Officals should revamp the system, reduce the number of workers in the General Office, cut the cost where needed and at least keep a %2 funding to General & %2 to State. See if the reduction hurts the ability of the World & Home Missions to influence this world.
If we fail to impact the world we fail as a church.
One more thought, as a pastor of a small church that depends on the tithing of every member for my income and to pay the bills of the church. I have found out that every member together supplies the need. Thank God for the unity of the Church of God that has make World Missions & Home Missions the greatest tool for soul saving the world has seen. We must continue the labor.
Monte,
Home Missions on the denominational level is utterly broken as it presently functions (or fails to function). I don’t even know anyone that would debate that.
World Missions has been protected from a targeted elimination of mandatory funding. Our denominational bureaucracy on the state and international level will be downsized…an incredibly needful thing.
Further, I’d propose that the single greatest entity for reaching this world is the local church. When we cooperate financially, we have an incredible opportunity to reach the world through World Missions. We are going into a season of downsizing that should prove to be healthy and in my opinion will definitely produce more resources for ministry in the long run.
[...] won’t go into the details of how it went down. There is plenty to read and plenty of record to examine. What I will say is that Raymond [...]