The typical Church of God method in selling real estate/church property at a discount continues. Wise investing has never been a strong point in Armstrongism. From the Festival sites built across the United States, to properties in Vail, Lake Tahoe, Oregon, England, Texas and Pasadena, every one was sold at a substantial loss. That tradition continues on in the United Church of God.
Back in January 2008 it was revealed that the United Church of God had bought 81.5 acres of pasture land in Denton Texas where they had hoped to move their "international" headquarters and build a future campus to rival Pasadena and Big Sandy.
See: World Exclusive: Photos of UCG Denton HQ Property!
Visions of a college campus and sugarplums danced in their heads. Though that dancing soon lead to major issues in the church. Many were vocally against it. So much so that eventually the church split over it along with other administrative matters.
This all led to COGWA forming where it was the same faces doing the same shit but with a new name.
See: COGWA's Good Old Boys Network
UCG dumped millions of dollars in tithe money that members struggled to send in for this property, Less than two years later in August of 2009 Clyde Kilough made the decision to dump the property in order recoup its money. COGWA was reportedly interested in it though it was to be made clear that they would NEVER be allowed to have it.
See: Council of elders Meeting Announcing Sale of Property
See: UCG Headquarters Is For Sale
Sale of Denton, Texas, Property Final
Its nice to know that God delayed the selling of the property for 6 years in order for them to sell it in 2015. God's hand must surely have been on the sale. While Christians are being slaughtered in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan, children are starving in Africa and Ebola is killing thousands, God is more concerned about selling the Denton property. Such comforting news.It is with great pleasure that we announce to you the sale of the Denton, Texas, property that the Church has owned for some time.
The sale of the 81-acre property was finalized yesterday, February 10, 2015, to a Texas-based land speculation company. The Church purchased the property at the height of the real estate market in January 2008. While the land was sold at a loss from the amount paid at that time (before the decline in real estate prices), our agents, the Council and the Administration are satisfied that the amount received was fair market value and that it was not reasonable in the foreseeable future to expect a higher purchase price.
We thank God for His mercy in allowing this land to be sold. We seek His will about how the proceeds should be used in doing His Work.
Victor Kubik, President
Rick Shabi, Treasurer
With UCG's epic financial failure at the end of last year with it's failed campaign to this financial loss, the golden apple that UCG always loved to hold forth is rotting at the core now.
16 comments:
" If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ." 1 Corinthians 9:12
historically the cogs have not accepted the principle behind that scripture which is why they continue in stunted growth to this day.
As the UCG continues to shrink they finnaly decided to dump this property for a lose. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the writing on the wall. Is the cost cutting going forward to include decreasing the number of congregations and number of paid ministers ect. ?
God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes EXTREMELY mysterious.
if a church take tithes of the people and squander it on the physical trappings of the world instead of using it for the edification of its members, that church will ultimately implode...
@Anonymous:
Yeah. UCG is already relying on a lot of part-time and unpaid ministers. Most of their paid staff left with COGWA and they didn't completely refill the ranks. They're already limping along on a wing and a prayer. Judging by the fact that blue muppets and failed public seminars are the best growth strategies they can muster, UCG is pretty screwed.
if a church take tithes of the people and squander it on the physical trappings of the world instead of using it for the edification of its members, that church will ultimately implode...
You mean like the Roman Catholic Church has imploded, with its billion members and its extraordinary real estate and museum holdings?
Inept and getting worse.
I read with interest the link to “Silenced” article regarding the “the old boys network” and some of the names associated with it. The “old boys’ network” actually extends all the way back to the “East Coast Rebellion” that occurred in the Worldwide Church of God in 1974. That year, the WCG experienced its first major schism losing 35 ministers and approximately 2,000 members. Some of the ousted ministers included Washington, D.C. based Ken Westby, Paul Zapf, Walter Sharp, George Kemnitz, Carl Fowler and many others.
Ken Westby was a Regional Director as well as our Pastor in Washington, D.C. At that time, Baltimore and Washington were a church circuit that at its peak had 1,200 in attendance. My family attended both local Churches. Vince Panella was a preaching elder under Ken who performed the pastor responsibilities in Baltimore. When the East Coast Rebellion occurred, the WCG sent Larry Salyer to replace Ken Westby. My recollection was that HQ sent Rod Meredith to Washington to stabilize the circuit. Mr. Panella stayed with WCG, but was reassigned to another church area if memory serves me correctly. Once Larry Salyer was settled, HQ sent Doug Horchak to Washington, D.C. as a ministerial assistant. Sometime after the Rebellion, the church circuit was split and Mr. Arnold Hampton was sent to nearby Baltimore as a ministerial assistant.
A leading deacon in the Washington, D.C. Church was King Finlay. Mr. Finlay stayed loyal to the WCG and to my recollection became close to Mr. Salyer. Mr. Finlay’s oldest daughter is Debbie Finlay who attended Ambassador College Big Sandy and met and married Clyde Kilough. So, at least for Larry Salyer, Doug Horchak, Arnold Hampton and Clyde Kilough, the COGWA “old boys’ network” origins go all the way back to the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md. local WCG congregations.
Richard
Unless you are a constant player, it is very difficult to make any money in investments unless you can hold on to those investment indefinitely. This is why the rich generally stay rich. They invest in things that they didn't really need, things that have intrinsic value, and have the moneys to maintain until a more favorable cycle initiates. Also, they have a network and status that the common man or church could only hope for.
I decided long ago that my best way of generating wealth is to apply my gifts and skill set, ingratiate myself to the sweet spot of the the money trail, and to do that consistently. Hard work. Investing has been a mixed bag for me. I did well with platinum, held my own or made modest gains in other areas, and lost money in some. The two areas that I probably lost most on were cars and women. However, those were both entertainment areas, and I didn't necessarily expect any enrichment beyond the smiles.
One could always ask, "Why would anyone buy at the top of the cycle?" And this is an especially poignant question for a church that teaches that the economy is going to tank. But, then every splinter is trying to be that especially blessed breakaway group that ends up attracting and reuiniting all of the splinter members under their, and only their umbrella.
BB
UCG and COGWA have duked it out for years over property and cows.
It's like the Old West all over again.
Sale of Denton, Texas, Property Final
It is with great pleasure that we announce to you the sale of the Denton, Texas, property that the Church has owned for some time.
Oh brother...
We thank God for His mercy in allowing this land to be sold. We seek His will about how the proceeds should be used in doing His Work.
Oh brother...Really?
i mean the cogs have hindered the Preaching of the Gospel because they have rejected the principle of 1 Corinthians 9, particularly verse 12...
regarding the roman church their time is coming...
Anon 4:27 AM commented saying: "...i mean the cogs have hindered the Preaching of the Gospel because they have rejected the principle of 1 Corinthians 9, particularly verse 12...
Well, ask any of the xCoG leaders what their Gospel message is and summarize it in 1 or 2 sentences...or 3 or 4 sentences.
And in most, if not all cases, their supposed gospel is not really "good news," but it is news that let's us know that there are a lot of losers when all is said and done...
John
when all is said and done, they who believe Christ's Word and do it are the Winners...
and regarding the good news it is very simple: that the Lord Wishes that ALL man should ultimately be freed from the limitations and tribulations of being in a state of flesh and be Transitioned to a state of Spirit Eternal...
" when all is said and done, they who believe Christ's Word and do it are the Winners...
and regarding the good news it is very simple: that the Lord Wishes that ALL man should ultimately be freed from the limitations and tribulations of being in a state of flesh and be Transitioned to a state of Spirit Eternal..."
And for all eternity you'll never know how wrong you are.
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