Apparently, the United Church of God has named the following men as the potential figurehead of the church.
These are the qualifications that UCG wants them to have:
Dan Dowd, chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee, led the Council through a discussion on the information the Council would like to see on resumes submitted by potential candidates for Church president, as indicated in the Process and Timeline for Selection of President document.
Every member was able to weigh in on various items they would like to see.
Mr. Seiglie says he would add something based on 1 Timothy 3, where it describes requirements for a pastor. It is important that a man not be a novice and has an amount of spiritual maturity.
Randy Stiver agrees and says having a pastor’s heart is critical to being a good president. Other technical skills can be hired. Pastoral skills are more important than technical skills.
John Elliot asks if an item could focus on the individual’s ability to teach. The leader of the Church must be very God-centric, focusing the home office staff and ministry on what Jesus Christ is doing.
Jorge de Campos says he appreciates the comments made regarding a pastoral heart. He says the resume should say how a man handles things in a loving way, and the experience he has in that. We should be asking how a person applies concepts on truth in love. He says a person can be knowledgeable on things in the Bible, but have pet ideas that are divisive.
John Miller says the qualifications from 1 Timothy need to be in the forefront, and the president needs to be somebody that can clearly articulate the Bible. If he also has business experience, that will be helpful too.
Dan Dowd says he not sure how 1 Timothy 3 can be quantified in a resume. It can show job history. He says a business background is important for a resume, and that can include projects worked on within the Church. He says we will have questions for candidates that cannot be quantified in a resume.
Paul Wasilkoff says that knowing these candidates are coming from the General Conference of Elders will be an advantage to us. We will generally know these individuals. He says that we do not want to exclude elders, and only consider pastors. He also encourages asking the candidates for background on their international experience. It will be important to learn if a candidate will be able to adapt to serving international areas.
Scott Ashley and John Elliott introduced documents from 2013 and earlier, that were used during previous selection processes. Len Martin suggest we don’t spend too much more time this evening and instead use the existing documents as the basis to proceed. He then asks if the Council is comfortable sending the documents that exist to the Roles and Rules Committee and then discussing any edits by e-mail. There is a general consensus to proceed in this manner. Scott Ashley forwarded the documents to the Council chairman and chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee.
44 comments:
Sounds pretty straightforward. Adios, Vic. Nothing shocking about the suggested criteria. Most of these guys could have come up with those in their sleep. Basic programming. One wonders if this will be a peaceful transfer, or will a splinter be set off by it. Or, is it possible that there could be a reuniting with the COGaWA?
Rick Shabi or Aaron Dean are the only two on the list who could probably pull off an executive leadership role without managing to torpedo the organization in the long run. Both already have such experience which increases the odds of not making a catastrophic managerial mistake. Eddington is a nice enough guy but not really capable. Darris is obsessed with prophecy and will not connect well with the remaining UCG membership.
I am appalled that Peter Eddington's name was even brought up. God help us if he is made Chairman.
I remember seeing Peter Eddington on his motor bike when I started attending services. I question the common sense of anyone who drives a "coffin on wheels."
So a person can be knowledgeable about the the bible but can "have pet ideas that are divisive." So the criteria isn't truth but whether an idea is divisive. Hence church culture comes first, and truth comes second. What can possibly go wrong?
If anyone knows, tell me what new understanding/truth has any cog come up with since the death of HWA. We are told in scripture to grow in faith and doctrine/understanding, but I know of no area where this has taken place.
The whole thing is quite sad really because here we have church organizations each proclaiming to represent Elohim but none know or preach His Name and His Son's Name. What about tithing which was given to ancient Israel along with sacrifices etc., for the operation of the priesthood and the temple. Why has the modern-day assembly still practicing the old covenant rather than the new? Why do the modern church leaders live like the ancient Phrasees walking the walk of luxary instead of being in step with the common member?
Darris may be obsessed with HWA's version of prophecy...most of which was and still is wrong!
A lot of what I have heard him speak on several subjects was mostly what most Protestants believe. He is the worst choice in my opinion!
Here is the full list of nominees, in alphabetical order:
Aaron Dean
Peter Eddington
John Elliot
Joe Greene
Darris McNeely
David Morker
Steve Myers
Rick Shabi
Mark Welch
Maybe UCG can find a new President by advertising on CRAIGSLIST??
I am appalled Aaron Dean is being considered. That's all UCG needs.
I pray to God that Steve Myers is not selected. It's time the COG stops coddling this family. They are not the epitome of virtue that so many believe.
We are doomed if Myers, Welch, or Eddington get it.
I don't know if anyone in or outside of UCG realizes this but isn't the president's office supposed to be more of an admin position, not a spiritual one? We are fooling ourselves if we think the prez is the head of UCG -- it's the Council, isn't it, if they have power to replace him?
But as someone noted above, the elders love the corporate culture more than practicing the truth. If you want to practice truth you have to put your "job" on the line, which they don't want to do. They would rather play office politics, role play as politicians, lawyers, policemen, businessmen or doctors rather than uphold Christ's teachings.
How can they practice the "truth in love" when everyone has his own version of what truth and love is? They have become wishy-washy and impotent, more worried about their social standing in the temple like the Pharisees rather than standing for Christ who employs them.
Truth for them is negotiable and love is only reserved for family and friends who don't pose a threat to their social security, so don't you approach them with truth in love because that is their prerogative.
They'll find a way to stifle or contradict the truth that you bring and accuse your love of being "misguided", "insulting", or evidence of a "bad attitude".
Spoken from 25 years of experience and observation.
That Aaron Dean would even be considered as presidential material tells you everything you need to know about the train wreck that is the United Church of God, an International Association.
Only God knows the right man, but these men will make their own human decision, for Solomon had said:
"whose heart Thou knowest (for Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men)" I King 8:39
So the council will pretend to ask for his decision, but they will then go about making their own decision, and claim it's God decision!
Agree.
I have never understood the fascination people have with the Myers family. When I was around them in Pasadena they were an arrogant stuck up family. To this day I despise the song "We are Family" because of these people. Almost every church/college dance there for a while had they Myers family band and they sang that damn song every single time. All of the Myers that ever did sermonettes, sermons were mediocre speakers who could only parrot church literature. Whenever Steve is on the telecast I turn it off immediately.
On that happy note 9:47 maybe UCG Council of Elders should have stuck with Vic Kubic for another term. Who on the list can preach better than Kubic ?
What are the chances UCG might choose to follow the Biblical example of casting lots to choose who'll occupy the vacant office?
Who the hell are Joe Greene and David Morker? I've never heard of either of these people.
Of that list, the man who would want the job most is Darris McNeely. He's very ambitious and extremely impressed with himself. There may be others on that list who are the same, but they just hide it better than Darris. Many believe he's desired the presidency for years.
"Of that list, the man who would want the job most is Darris McNeely. He's very ambitious and extremely impressed with himself. There may be others on that list who are the same, but they just hide it better than Darris. Many believe he's desired the presidency for years.
Darris has damaged himself too much with his extreme support of the COVID vaccine. His "Beyond Today" video (since deleted) spoke of how great God is that He could create the minds of people that could come up with a near-miracle like a vaccine. The divisive-ness of this video led UCG to decide it would not take a position at all on the vaccine because it was too divisive. Cowards. Worse yet, UCG kept its mouth shut on vaccine mandates. As apocalyptic as the COG has been for decades, along comes something resembling the mark of the beast, and UCG says nothing. Cowards.
His "Beyond Today" video (since deleted) spoke of how great God is that He could create the minds of people that could come up with a near-miracle like a vaccine.
McNeely wasn't wrong. God created the amazing minds of the people who built the Tower of Babel. He created the amazing minds of those who engineered the Killing Fields that saw the genocide of 2 million Cambodians. He created the amazing minds of German leaders who arranged millions of deaths in their "Final Solution." He created the amazing mind of Mao Tse Tung who built a new China on the backs of 100 million murdered or starved Chinese people. He created the amazing mind that let the Zodiac Killer evade authorities.
COVID-19 vaccines do illustrate God's power as a Creator and Designer. They do NOT, however, illustrate God's supposed goodness.
'He's very ambitious and extremely impressed with himself'
Ha! Ha! I love this comment. Sums my entire experience of dealing with many. Aren't they all 10:21, aren't they all.
What has concerned me about UCG is its refusal to allow viewing of the counsel of elders (COE) meetings and their discussions. They used to be open but they closed them to member’s and other’s viewing. Why the secrecy? There have been issues over the past number of years since this action that could have easily been resolved in the member’s minds if they could have viewed and listened to the discussions. Instead, all the members heard is what a select few on the counsel of elders wanted them to know. Where’s the love, openness and proper judgment in this? Quadrants? It makes my head hurt.
I can only assume that the Council sits in the seat of God!! Where is it WRITTEN that there should be a Council?? “I AM the way, and the truth, and the life”. (John 14:6) If Worldwide was destroyed, what makes you think that the UCG will stand??? Armstrongism is of ARMSTRONG!!
I don't recognize any of these names except Dean.
I see from the comments that Myers is a pretentious dork and McNeely is a prophecy pimp.
Ha! I couldn't stand that track as is. Aside from being weirdly saccharine, it was so... culty! We were not (deleted) family, we just had a single common interest at best. But that was the isolating aspect of the group at work.
Yes I used to appreciate the council meetings being filmed and put on council of elders website.
I am betting on Shabi which would be the same thing as Kubik doing another term!! They are one in the same and best friends!! “By their FRUITS you will KNOW them”!!
Oh no! Please tell me they didn't co-opt Sister Sledge!
The very thought of it reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live skit when Ray Charles was the musical guest and Dan Aykroyd acted as the leader and spokesperson for a group calling themselves the "Young Caucasians". He told Ray Charles, "Mr. Charles, we especially loved your song 'What Did I Say?'!
I'd rarther have a changeable council of elders than one man at the top rule.
True, while certain ones are nice guys, they don't have the ability. We are sure that most are nice men, but the only ones that can connect with the people and be fair in disputes are Dean or McNeely. Perhaps Shabi - but we are not confident about the others.
Be grateful that Bill Bradford is not on the list. In Queensland we know what he is like - he has arranged for all his family to be ordained. Some are nice men; the son in America is not nice with people and never can be.
Bill Bradford has surrounded himself with the rich and dislikes the poor - the rich are blessed and the poor are not and that he uses as justification for courting the wealthy and disdaining the poor.
Worse still, he has said many times that he is opposed to the UCG structure and wants to go back to the 1960s with complete control by ministers because they are inspired. Here he operates like a WCG regional director and runs the church contrary to its local bylaws and the home office in America. While he and a couple of his ministerial buddies are in control here, the UCG will continue its slow but inexorable collapse. He must be held to account and replaced.
If anyone like him becomes President of UCG, that will spell the end.
Listen to Bill Bradford's sermon entitled "The Compact." A number of people were in shock after hearing it, and that's not a positive.
It is not just Bradford's behaviours and opposition to the leadership. It is also his sermons that are always based on a Passover theme. He has little knowledge of the Bible. He also has his favourites.
We are sick and tired of it all and he and his buddies just do not care that the churches in Queensland are declining.
Wasn't there a lot of opposition to his moving to Australia many years ago? His move was delayed several times due to possible legalities due to his abuses while pastor in Australia? He promised at that time to discontinue abuse and not to strive to become a regional director or something similar. Now look what has happened.
What has done there is leading to the UCG's demise.
The government of God is in HEAVEN!!
How he can authorize speakers such as Alan Dean, we all know what he has gotten up to, it shcoking to us. There is a lot we can reveal. But Bill and his inner group must go for the sakes of the future of the UCG in Queensland and Australia.
With the other pastors in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney all vying to move to Brisbane or Gold Coast to replace Bill Bradford, more people will leave here. We will not give them a good reception if they came here. All the churches they lead fall apart,
It is disgusting to see that the people being put forward as non-ordained representatives on the national board are friends and relatives of the ministers as usual. What a joke. Bill Bradford and his friends have destroyed the church in Queensland. He did the same in Melbourne years ago. What a disaster. He likes the rich and dislikes the poor.
Agreed. One of the other Australian pastors can take over instead because he is past it. What about the Council of Elder's international coordinator - what is he doing about this? All is done quietly rather than openly as in a family. Where are the governance reforms they promised us?
We are relieved that Bill Bradford's friend is not on the boad any more., He thinks he owns the church and bullies peo0ple. But what will happen after the boad election coming up soon?
Interesting to read all this. But what about the minister who looks the other way when it comes to homosexual activity etc? Why? He and his gang have infected the Church of God since the 1980s with their slander and divisive behaviours no matter which group they are in.
We have now heard that the unethical practice continues and Bradford is still pushing all his relatives into positions.
His son in law is now on their national board and also Steven Clarke's friend. Is this corruption or just wrong?
Everyone knows that Bradford gossips about members to his ordained sons and son in laws and they then turn against the members.
Then there is Grant Chic in Western Australia who has messed up and destroyed his church. Ask thm there. It is sickening.
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