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Illinois General Assembly of the Church of God 08 February 2014. The Church of God: Changing. Changing the World. The 30 largest congregations of the Church of God = 25% of the whole church in the United States.
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Illinois General Assemblyof the Church of God 08 February 2014 The Church of God: Changing. Changing the World.
The 30 largest congregations of the Church of God = 25% of the whole church in the United States.
The 200 largest congregations of the Church of God = 49% of the whole church in the United States.
There are 1million people who will attend Church of God services worldwide in 86 countries this weekend.
There are 2,082 congregations of the Church of God in the United States and Canada = 233,850 people attending each weekend. Note: attendance in 2014 Yearbook reflects a decline of 7,450 when compared to 2013.
The largest Church of God meeting on record took place in Shillong, Megahalya, India, in 2004, as 100,000+ people filled a soccer stadium to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Church of God there.
There are 160 congregations in the United States and Canada that have less than 25 people meeting together each Sunday.
There are 11,182 eligible voting members of the General Assembly of the Church of God in the United States and Canada: historically the forum which defined the church, meeting annually in Anderson (since 1906).
More members of the General Assembly attended the June 2013 meeting than at any time in the last 10 years: total registered = 6.1% of the whole.
Just 1% of the Church of God in the United States and Canada attended the annual Convention in June 2013; still it was the largest Convention attendance since 2007; attendance has declined by over two-thirds in the last 20 years.
The General Assembly quorum was lowered from 400 to 300 in 2011, because of the inability to meet the quorum annually; 300 = 2.7% of the whole.
In 2012, the General Assembly voted to convene the annual Church of God Convention and Assembly in two locations in 2014: in Anderson and in a satellite location (undetermined); 3.2% of the Assembly was present to vote.
The General Assembly’s decline and the Convention’s decline are but two symptoms of the Movement’s drift, loss of identity, and vision vacuum; they are markers, not determinative, but markers just the same.
The kingdom continues to expand, of course, and the Church of God has many leading edges.
Who are we?Who are you? Identity matters; never forget who you are.
John 13:3 (The Last Supper) • Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God.
Who are we? • www.churchofgod.org • www.churchofgod.com • www.thechurchofgod.org • www.churchofgodsa.org • www.unitedchurchofgod.org (www.ucg.org) • www.cog7denver.org • www.denlcg.org • www.chog.org • 64 different sects/denominations/groups are listed on-line in Wikipedia under “Church of God” … “mostly unrelated denominational bodies, most of which descend from either Pentecostal, Holiness, or Adventists traditions.”
www.chog.org • Church of God with General Offices in Anderson, IN • A movement tracing its origins to Daniel Sidney Warner and a dramatic moment in 1880. • Closely related in its thinking and formation to other parts of the Body of Christ that also grew out of the Wesleyan Holiness understanding of the Scriptures and Gospel.
www.chog.org • Bill and Gloria Gaither’s church. • “The group that doesn’t work with anyone else.” • A movement at work, with congregations in 86 countries and territories. • The group that used to publish the Gospel Trumpet but now does not, but a breakaway group does, anyway.
www.chog.org • Wikipedia says we are: “a holiness Christian body with roots in Wesleyan pietism and also in the restorationist traditions … while having some characteristics of a denomination, the Church of God considers itself anti-denominational.”
Wikipedia also contends we change our mind a lot. • “Beliefs and practices the Church of God no longer teaches” … • Against outward adornment (jewelry, make-up, etc). • Against women wearing men’s clothing (eg: pants) • Against ministers receiving a set salary. • Against women cutting their hair. • Against musical instruments in worship. • Against the absolute prohibition of divorce. • Against war and bearing arms. • Against mixed bathing (swimming).
How does this www.chog.org deal work, anyway? • Well, it’s a collection of individuals banding together in individual congregations who band together with other congregations in regions, states, or countries, who band together with other structures and sometimes do things together, but often do not, but say they do, because all of the individuals know best alone how to pursue God’s will here on earth, and can prove it by the Scriptures.
General Assembly in the United States and Canada • 11,182 members, including: • All licensed and ordained ministers of the Church of God in the United States and Canada • Members of the Boards of Church of God agencies (for instance: our four colleges and universities) • Lay delegates elected by local congregations (one delegate for each 100 persons, up to a maximum of four from any one congregation)
Ministries Council elected by General Assembly • 24 members + General Director: • 4 representatives from each of four regions • 1 university president • 1 representative of the National Association • 1 representative of the American Indian Council • 1 representative of the Hispanic Councilio • 1 at-large appointed by General Director • 3 Officers of the General Assembly
General Director of Church of God Ministries • Assigned to manage Church of God Ministries, providing leadership for the Church of God in the United States and Canada and networking the church worldwide • Nominee selected by Ministries Council (a 1.5 year process in the last itineration) • Ratified by General Assembly • Reports to the Ministries Council (which represents the General Assembly)
ChoG Ministries Council 19-20 September 2013 – Oklahoma City
The 5 Non-Negotiables Truths that cannot be compromised
The Top 5 • Jesus: Savior, Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man • Holiness: Personal, Social, Work of the Spirit • Unity: One Body of Christ • Great Commandments: Love God + Others • Biblically-based: Scripture Authoritative
The Next 4 (all tied) • The Trinity: God in Three Persons • Women in Ministry: Gender-equity in Church Vocations • Kingdom of God: Present Reality • Great Commission: Missions + Evangelism
What we want Jim to Do Ministry Council answers – march 2013
ChoG needs: • Decisive Leadership. • Coherent Vision. • Clear Communication to the Whole Church. • Identity. • Global Vision + Involvement. • Excitement, Energy, Broad Participation
ChoG’s Greatest challenges Ministry Council Answers - March 2013
Greatest Challenges: • Leadership Development • Hazy Vision • Secularism • Division (within Church of God) • Overcoming Idolatry of the Past • Overcoming Negative Self-Image
What’s the Church’s purpose? Ministry council’s answers – march 2013
Church’s purpose: • Make Disciples • Equip the Saints • Agent of Change • Bring Glory to God • Fulfill Mission of Christ • Make Known Love of God
I understand that I have been charged to bring sweeping, substantive, dramatic, and Biblically-grounded change to the Church of God, for the purpose of re-energizing the Movement.
I believe we are not so much called to build churches as we are called to change the world. • I believe we are not so much in the reformation business as we are in the reclamation business: taking back what Hell has stolen.
Isaiah 9: “… for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given … and of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end …” • Luke 4 (after quoting reclamation prophecies from Isaiah 61): “… the Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
John 10:22-33 • It was now winter and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded Him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
John 10:22-33 • Jesus replied, “I have already told you and you didn’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s Name. But you don’t believe Me because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me and He is more powerful than anyone else.
John 10:22-33 • No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” Once again the people picked up stones to kill Him. Jesus said, “At My Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone Me?” They replied, “We’re stoning You not for any good works, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
John 10:22-33 • We have to earn the right to speak. • Jesus modeled this for us. • We are at home, as we have long been abroad, facing a post (or pre) Christian culture, in which our right to speak is not a given.