In just a moment, Kelly and I will go to the Alamo Dome one more time before we leave San Antonio for vacation. I’ll end my time away from Life Pointe Church by speaking at New Hope Church in Tennessee where Tom Sterbens pastors on Sunday, August 17. When I return home, I’ll take my oldest daughter for her first day of school. I’m ready to get back. I’ll feel very encouraged on my way back.
Here are some of the reasons why I am encouraged:
- The General Assembly proved it CAN BE the highest governing authority in the COG. All week, I had people coming to me to let me know that they have never seen the Body overrule the Chair. The General Assembly/Council simply decided we would have the discussion we wanted to have.
- We didn’t sell our inheritance for a bowl of bean soup.
- We had open discussion about our future (slightly messy at times) where ideas were openly discussed in San Antonio and around the world (391 people joined us online on Monday night).
- Out of the Resurgence Meetings, a family was formed. I expect big things developing in the future.
- A project to raise $500,000 in 2009 for Mission was announced. I believe this will be a HUGE SUCCESS!
- Our General Overseer said, “Our bureaucracy in Cleveland, TN is too big.” We responded. We will downsize and re-work our structure. In the end, we reduced the mandatory contributions into our corporate entities by 33%.
- Relief is coming on September 1, 2010 for the local church.
- Tom and I had some really great time spent with Bro. McGuire, who is a good brother and a man who loves Jesus, his family, and the Church of God.
- While, we had some excellent, godly leaders on the Executive Committee before, we have fresh faces operating under a mandate to downsize bureaucracy, inspire trust, thrust our sickles into the harvest, and to create a culture of openness.
- I believe we have an exceptional Council of 18 with a heart for the local church and the Mission of Jesus. Listing the designations of the men eligible for the Council of 18 during voting was historic and precedent setting. It is reasonable to expect that every General Assembly.
- It was especially exciting to see Nick Park go on the Council of 18. He’s a good, non-pretentious brother with a massive heart for Jesus and His Mission in Ireland. I don’t know that his name has ever shown up on a Council of 18 vote before. In the end, we had 11 pastors and a total of 13 Ordained Bishops who are not under appointment by the Executive Committee serving on the Council of 18.
- While this is nothing new, it was wonderful to see Tony Scott go on the Council of 18 in the 4th position. Tony married me and Kelly in 1999. He threw his hat in with me on the Resurgence when common sense would probably say otherwise and changed the look of the Church of God. I believe the Church of God owes Tony Scott a big thank you.
- I have heard many good, encouraging things about the resurgence from so many members of the Executive Council.
- We have an Executive Committee that has committed themselves to openness, dialog, and the Great Commission.
- It was thrilling to witness Victor Pagan and Wallace Sibley in historic moments. I remain encouraged that we will soon cross that bridge with the women of our church.
- I have a few relationships that have been strained recently finding repair this week. I could not even begin to go into details. Speaking only for myself, this General Assembly was a time of restoration.
- Yesterday, before leaving the Alamo Dome, I spoke with Dr. Culpepper. It was a great talk. Without getting into details, I have to say that I am very encouraged for the future of the COG.
So, I go home with a great outlook and a view toward the Mission of Jesus. We’ve done a lot of work on the denominational structure. Now, let’s take our hearts and pour them into our cities and see the Kingdom of God manifest itself in our neighborhoods.
Peace.
Filed under: church of god
I am glad that all your hard work, thought, and prayers leave you sensing the goodness of God. Have a great vacation and as many have already stated, including myself, a great big THANK YOU! Get some rest there is still much to do in these next few years.
I agree that the Council of Eighteen has wonderful leaders on board. The Executive Committee also, in my opinion, has the capabilities of guiding this Church in the right direction.
First day of school, now that brings back memories about Eloa and Jonas.
Best
Dennis
Dennis,
Eloa and Jonas walking into Kindergarten…that’s a startling mind picture!
Travis,
I am so glad to hear of your time together with Bro. McGuire and Dr. Culpepper. it is vital that we all wind up in good standings at the end of the day, and i know you agree. we travelled a 1000 miles at this Assembly, and I feel good that it was in the direction of the “mission” our Lord started and called tus oin. i hope my few seconds of time on the stage about church planting was recieved as nothing but pure passion to fulfill the mission and encourage all to take their role in lvinng it out.
talk to ya soon
grant
Travis,
Thank you for the work you’ve done. While many have great ideas, it’s those that put action and hard work behind the idea and principle that turns something that was once faith into history.
Thank you for all your efforts.
“A great idea without an action plan is nothing more than a vaporous thought.” (8))
Thanks, Renee.
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First let me say that truly it was refreshing to have men like you and Bro. Sterbens become so passionate about the honor of the COG. And I have read both of your comments on the 2008 GA. Resurgence and reaffirming our pentecostal roots were both very important issues but as one brother put it, there is still ‘a white elephant’ in the middle of the room and I as of yet I haven’t heard one voice of concern about the women who have helped to form and sustain the COG from its inception. I am the senior pasator of a church and yet I did not have a voice at the GA. If something fells to pass with the General Council then it is never brought before the General Assembly.Each GA I go with hopes and each GA I come home with a deep hurt and with a deep disappointment. I wonder how so many godly men, how so many good minds, how so many good hearts ?…….
I to left GA with a sense of optimism. I attended both nights of the dicussion times and found them informative and refreshing as I perceved that this was not meeting to tear down but to express the love for God and his church specificaly the Church of God.
Thank you for including me.
My only disappointment with GA is the issue ( and the vote) on women being allowed to sit on a church counsel. I fail to understand how we can ordain women, allow them to pastor churches, which gives them far more authority, and still deny them the privilege of being able to serve on a church counsel.
I believe that really IS hypocritical.
Mia and Avery – I couldn’t agree with you more.
However, there is work-around. The Minutes have a segment affirming the ministry of the Biblical leadership of elders (and deacons I think. There are no gender limitations associated with those statements. We have elders and are developing the functioning role of deacons within our fellowship. But whenever we need a “Church and Pastor’s Council” representation for anything uniquely Church of God, there are a group of men who have been identified as such in recognition of the Church of God parameters.
That is a summary (all summaries being incomplete).
And you are right…it is hypocritical.
Allow me to just pose a question, not an argument. Isn’t the current ruling, with the loophole the best possible compromise between those in our great denom that would love to see women having the opportunity to be on the C & PC and serve on state board’s etc, and those within our denom that don’t even favor women pastoring?
We have to remember within our great church family, there is a broad spectrum. There are those of us who have tolerated policies regarding leadership abilities for women in our denom that are actually more liberal than how we interpret scripture, but we’ve learned to coexist with it for the greater good of our diverse church family.
For the record, I favor women preaching/exhorting, but not pastoring or in any authority/leadership position over men. Just my personal interpretation of scripture. So don’t we have to find a compromise so that everyone can still identify with our denom?
Good Brother Johnson, your proposal and speech are one of the finest memories I have for the 22 Assemblies I have attended. Thank you for strong and daring leadership. You are a gentleman, believable man of God, and great leader.
Ron Ragan
Hey Doc – With regard to self examination….what I do know about this blog is that the majority of people who post here do so under their names. That is refreshing.
I personally value critical examination of any issue…including my heart and motivations.
When there is occasion for you to consider the counsel you’ve offered here in terms of personal application and the fruit yields the integrity to write under your own name…I will perhaps take more seriously the words you’ve offered and look forward to the ensuing dialog.
Mia and Avery:
Thanks for your posts. I too share your disappointment and sentiment. Our current position makes no logical sense. This issue is, as Don Warrington likes to say, an “unfinished work” in the CoG. One common sentiment that I currently hear from my brothers in “the other camp” on this issue is that they fear that once we eliminate gender restrictions on the C&P Council then the Ordained Bishop will be next. Of course, I expect that they are absolutely correct in that estimation. And it is my sincere hope and prayers that the CoG will see a complete removal of all gender restrictions for ministerial roles within the next four years.
Todd:
I responded to your question about whether or not our current stance is “the best possible compromise” here.
I must say that I am truly thankful and encouraged at what I have read in this post, on this blog and what I saw and experienced at the GA. I know that there is a long way to go but I thank God for the progress I have seen.
As an Army Chaplain and one who ministers “Outside the Gates”, as Dr. Crick says, I live with the constant struggle of relating to our church.
In preparing to attend this Assembly (my first in six years because of deployments and assignments) I joined with a prayer partner in asking God to reestablish a connection with my church. It is my desire to represent our church faithfully.
Long story short God has answered my prayer.
Blessings
I too was greatly blessed to see the height, depth and breadth of the grace of God reflected in this GA. I also wish to thank Tom, Travis, those who attended the resurgence meetings and all the members of the GC who rose up to call attention to the incongruency of agenda item #2 and the New Testament mission of the CoG. I left the GA with a renewed sense of identity and mission and have no doubt that this next 2 years will be a time of harvest locally as well as overseas.
To those who are discouraged regarding the role of women in our movement I would remind that the proposal only lost by 104 votes and that vote was clouded by a re-vote being necessary after a glitch in the first vote. We are closer than ever and I believe it is only a matter of time before we will succeed. I also would remind you that God is not waiting for permission from the CoG before raising up women with gifts of administration, leadership and wisdom to benefit and bless the local church. It is an unwise pastor who fails to avail himself of the resources of Godly women. I for one simply have a “department head” meeting in conjunction with my council meeting and since my worship leader, women’s ministry leader and youth and ce leaders happen to be female I end up with a fairly balanced panel of advisors that gives me the benefit of their experience and wisdom.
Once again I was refreshed, challenged and empowered by this GA and can’t wait for Orlando in 2010.
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