UCG Council of Elders on removal of Rick Shabi as President:
Dear brethren,
As a follow-up to my video message to you on Friday, I’m writing to share an update from our February meeting of the Council of Elders related to our process for reaffirming a president.
As you know, the president is appointed by the Council to serve the Church for three years and this term is ending. It is now time to determine whether to reaffirm our president or select a new president, a process required by our governing documents.
Some might ask, what goes into the decision to reaffirm the president of the United Church of God, an International Association? To be clear, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. After seeking God’s direction, past Councils have chosen seven men to serve as president during our 30-year history, each with different approaches and talents.
The process of reaffirmation allows for either planned continuation of current talents or a transition to another set of talents to further God’s Work. Through this model, we benefit from having emeritus presidents who continue to contribute their skills on an ongoing basis in different capacities.
After seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting, through thoughtful deliberations, and in accordance with processes outlined in our Bylaws, the Council has decided to transition to a new president. With this decision, we now turn our attention to beginning the selection process for the next president. I will share more information about this in the coming weeks.
We are deeply appreciative of Rick Shabi’s service as president. He traveled extensively to international areas, bringing to light important needs outside of the United States. He also brought a fresh approach to preaching the gospel with the Biblical Worldview video program. Having worked with him since May, I know he put in many hours and late nights fulfilling his duties. He previously served in many other ways, including as a pastor and treasurer.
Thank you for your prayers and support of this process and please join me in thanking Mr. Shabi for his service over the past three years. We look forward to his continued service.
In Christ’s service,
Tim Pebworth
8 comments:
Tim Pebworth wrote: "...After seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting, through thoughtful deliberations, and in accordance with processes outlined in our Bylaws, the Council has decided to transition to a new president...."
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After seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting, the United Ass. was established, but after seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting Global was established, and after seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting, Philadelphia was established...and on and on it went.
Doesn't this sound a lot like confusion? What did that fasting do? God has some advice about fasting:
"Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Isaiah 58:4
What is the track record for the United Ass. since it was established? Factions and fractions all over the place. Can we really believe God had anything to do with any of that confusion? Did God listen to any one of their voices as they strived to imagine their prayers would be heard on high?
Which organization really has God's direction? United? Cogwa? "Living?"....
Think about Moses. Did we ever see a committee around Moses, or even Christ? We remember some independent thinkers like Aaron, Mirian, and others who preferred to vote like Korah and Dathan and Abiram, etc.
God worked through one: Moses.
Well, as Tim said, "...the Council has decided to transition to a new president..."
That is the bottom line. God does not author confusion, factions and fractions. Yes, there will be such a thing as Laodiceans, because God said so, but the United Ass.? Living? cogwAss.?, etc."
I suspect that God has had nothing to do with the man-made organization of the United Ass., cogwAss., Living group...etc. I suspec that God had absolutely nothing to do with choosing the new President of the United Ass., and that God had nothing to do with the rejection of Rick Shabi, because Tim admitted that: "the council has decided."
So many of those hirelings of the former WCG think they will do better than HWA, and strive to do an "identical" or virtually identical "work" as was done through HWA, but they've all fallen short.
What new grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ have any of these hirelings of the former WCG learned since 1986? Most of them still believe in that Mickey Mouse Millennium of another Jesus to "very soon" return to begin a 1,000 year K/G reign on earth, destined to fail after Satan exits the pit, etc. They probably still believe that God lied, that God will not save "all Israel," b/c they think someone, other than themselves, have to go to the lake of fire. Some even think Jesus Christ, actually another Jesus, spoke out the law on Mt. Sinai, rather than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Acts 3:13), etc.
What might Jesus Christ think about all of those hirelings of the former WCG who set themselves us with their man-made organizations?
John 10:12 "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."
Was Jesus right? Have all of them been scattered enough, or may we expect more scattering of the sheep?
Time will tell...
John
''To be clear, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. After seeking God’s direction,...''>>>>
It's far from clear because why would Jesus want to be associated with a ex Armstrong group that merely repeats the same old lies. It is using God's name in vain.
Still can't figure out the MMM. God's still in charge after loosing Satan.
On UCG members Facebook group posts, various people have expressed their dismay that he is not continuing. Their main sentiments are (a) he is not afraid to point out the faults of the nation and members where needed & appropriate, to boldly proclaim a call to repentance; and (b) he is a popular president among the members.
I don't have a good finger on the pulse for (b), but my own perception is that he is notably authoritarian in his approach to the membership. Eg in his pre-Feast sermon "What Are You Thinking, When You Think of the Feast?"
* Criticised people for inadequate Feast attendance.
* Criticised people for not attending opening night service — failing to do so dishonours God.
* Criticised people for not saving 2nd tithe (he says that everybody who saves 2nd tithe is blessed for it by God; this is a health & wealth concept).
* Criticised people for never going to their home site.
* Criticised people for not serving.
* Criticised people for going to their home site and staying in their own home.
Come on now, 5:25PM, don't you remember the words of your Savior? "Come to me, you who are heavy-laden, and I will give you more and more arbitrary burdens invented by men who've never held a real job in their whole lives!"
6:16 So true! Armstrongism is more about the arbitrary rules than they are about following Jesus.
Moses had 70 elders waiting for him on a plateu of the mountain. He had at least 70 elders from all the tribes to help him run the day to day leadership command in the wilderness.
So it begins......why doesn't your own point b apply to you? Because you are not a member? But know about Shabis sermons? And are trawling the UCG Facebook members sites....
The sermon you mention was not the sermon preached by Shabi during the 2024 Feast of Tabernacles but given weeks/months before Tabernacles.
Rick Shabi was popular because he took notice of the UCG member survey results and achieved alot for members behind the scenes. He is a highly skilled Pastor in looking after his Congregations and brought a great deal of discernment, honesty and trust to the role of President.
The way this whole situation has been handled so far is a disgrace and makes the Council of Elders and the ones on here, look like bitter, uncharitable Tkatchites panicking for change. The years are ticking by and it's mist probably now or never....
So who's it to be Predident Tim? A man who's French speaking sermons are not on the UCG Website so cannot be discerned....
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