UCG HQ Srambling To Halt Members Leaving

To: Melvin Rhodes
Subject: Council of Elders Q&A

Greetings Fellow Ministers,

The Council of Elders has prepared a document (attached) with answers to some
of the more common questions asked of the Council in recent weeks. Council
Communications Committee chairman, Darris McNeely, has subsequently recorded a
video of the questions and answers for you to watch. The video is 15 minutes
long and is now posted on the Council of Elders Web site at http://coe.ucg.org/videos
Both an audio MP3 version and a Windows Media Player video version are
available for download at   http://coe.ucg.org/content/questions-and-answers-council-elders-darris-mcneely

. This may be shared with our members.

Thank you,

Melvin Rhodes
Chairman

---------------

From: Peter Eddington [mailto:peter_eddington@ucg.org]

Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 3:56 PM

To: Peter Eddington

Subject: Live Sabbath Service Webcast Available

Dear Fellow Ministers,

In order to help provide Sabbath services for our congregations and
scattered members, the Cincinnati East congregation is going to provide a
live webcast of both its AM and PM services for the near future.
Service times will be at 11 a.m. EST and 2:30 p.m. EST. You can access the
live service from our Sabbath webcast page at
http://members.ucg.org/content/sabbath-webcast . A link will also be
provided on the home page of our member’s Web site at http://members.ucg.org

Please note, if you are not able to connect during the live broadcast, or
the time is inconvenient, an archive of the morning service will be made
available for download very soon after the live webcast ends.

Since we pay for the bandwidth used during the webcast, we ask that this
service be provided primarily for those brethren not able to attend
services, or for your congregations which do not have a live speaker
available. Please pass along this information to the scattered brethren and
congregations in your area of care.

All the best for the upcoming Sabbath,

Peter Eddington

Media and Communications Services

UCG is NOT Happy That Ministers Conspired To Lead People Away From UCG

The COE of United is not happy that various ministers and elders have been working overtime while on UCG payroll to lead people away into other churches or organizations.

These con-artists did the exact same thing to WCG in 1995.  They spent months parked in 360/380/390 apartments conspiring to lead members away from WCG into their new organizations.  They established themselves to not only divert members, but more importantly divert money into their new organization so they could continue to get a salary.

Now UCG is facing the exact same scenario, only this time they are on the receiving end.  They deserve everything that is happening to them.  Notice how they justify their rebellion in 1995 - just like the current splinter churches are justifying their breakaway UCG churches.  Same old, same old!

We believe that the current long and hard trial within the United Church of God is nearing its end. In the past few days we have received a number of resignations of ministers and former administrators. We do not rejoice in seeing these resignations. In fact, as the apostle Peter noted, we are grieved. It remains deeply painful to see new church groups start up in some pockets of the country and former ministers still publishing or putting on the Internet statements that have little or no basis in fact. Based on recent information sent to us from a number of sources, we now know with certainty that former trusted ministers have been and are now actively and openly trying to draw away faithful members, like yourself, to new groups. As they will find, separating into other groups will not solve their problems.

The Council of Elders is in possession of irrefutable documentation that demonstrates complicity by certain ministers and members in secretive efforts to undermine and destroy the very organizational fabric of the United Church of God. We are greatly saddened to see this, as it hurts to know as a fact that some have essentially said one thing regarding reconciliation or resolution of differences while working behind the scenes with a completely different agenda.

This documentation, authored by a former home office administrator, lays bare organized efforts at a very high level to break away. It distorts the record and generally reflects a grievous state of mind among those who are fracturing current relationships and trying to influence members of the United Church of God into following them.

Sadly, if past events are any guide to the future, documentation will soon appear online, together with varied “analyses” of various stripes and colors, trying to again spin this documentation somehow into one more quasi-“proof” of the alleged evils of the Council of Elders. It is being said that we demand personal loyalty to men. This is not true—as we would not even sign a document that required that. We simply ask for the faithful service of our employees and ministry to the Church that employs them, recognizing that not everyone thinks alike but that we all need to work within the structure we all agreed upon in 1995.

Leon Walker Says UCG CoE "...have treated us with disdain, hostility, indifference and abuse."

From: Leon Walker

Date: 12-10-10

On December 9, 2010 the Council of Elders sent out a letter addressed to the members of UCG entitled, “Efforts to Reconcile With the Latin American Ministry.” This document begins with a statement that the Council “continues to seek resolution of the situation in Latin America regarding former ministers and members.” This statement is absolutely untrue. All 15 of the ministers as well as the members in Latin America will confirm that no genuine effort has been made by the president or the Council to seek a resolution of the issues regarding Latin America. On the contrary, we can cite numerous examples of actions by the president and Council that have treated us with disdain, hostility, indifference and abuse.

The document then states that “numerous direct attempts have been made by the Council to meet with ministers and brethren in the region over the past six months.” Once again, this is completely untrue. There haven’t been any attempts, let alone “numerous” ones. And then the document adds, “Some efforts have achieved at least partial success.” Really? We in Latin America have seen no success at all.

Speaking of Mario Seiglie’s visits to Latin America, the document states that “Despite the fact that these ministers continued to receive a salary and support at the time from the United Church of God, an International Association, none of them would meet with Mr. Seiglie.” This statement also is totally untrue. First of all, only two ministers in Latin America received a salary directly from the U.S.—Leon Walker and Larry Roybal. However, their salaries were cut off on July 2. The other ministers received their salaries from their local income. None of them was salaried by the U.S. Even if one considers that their salaries indirectly came from the subsidies sent by the U.S. those subsidies were cut off on July 1. Therefore, none of the ministers was receiving a salary or any kind of support from the United Church of God, an International Association at all when Mario Seiglie was traveling to Latin America.

The document laments the fact that the ministry in Latin America did not wish to speak with Mario Seiglie. However, considering the aggressive and hostile manner that Mario displayed in Chile, as well as previous unpleasant experiences that the ministry have had with Mario it is little wonder that they did not wish to speak with him.

The document then states that “Mr. Walker continues to deny the fact that he has been replaced as director for UCGIA affiliated entities in the Latin American region.” However, the UCG Rules of Association (1-130 and 3-110) state clearly that areas outside of the U.S. will establish and maintain their own legal and administrative structure and they will administer and direct their own affairs. The legal boards and ministry in Latin America only recognize Leon Walker as their regional director—as is their right. Nowhere do the Rules of Association (nor the Constitution or Bylaws) give the president or the Council the authority to impose a legal or administrative structure in Latin America or elsewhere outside the U.S. where national councils/boards exist. Therefore, the supposed removal of Leon Walker as regional director is not recognized by the legal boards in Latin America and that removal, as well as the naming of Denny Luker as regional director, is simply illegal.

The document then states that last August the Council invited Mr. Walker to meet and try and find a basis for reconciliation. There was really no genuine attempt for reconciliation in that meeting. When Mr. Luker telephoned Mr. Walker and asked him to come to Cincinnati he made it perfectly clear that it was not for the purpose of finding a way to restore him as regional director. Initially Mr. Walker questioned why he should go to Cincinnati if there was no positive result to be achieved. Nevertheless, in the interest of cooperation he went in order to answer questions that the Council might have. However, nothing was achieved by the meeting. It was a complete waste of time and actually just a “photo op” so the Council could pretend that positive talks about reconciliation were taking place.

The document also states that it is Mr. Walker’s continued stance that he must be reinstated as regional director over Latin America. That is not true. It is the boards and ministry in Latin America that decides who (including Mr. Walker) is to be the regional director, or even if there is to be a regional director. That is their right and their choice according to UCG’s Rules of Association. Mr. Walker has made this point several times, including before the Council in August. This decision is not Mr. Walker’s—it rests with the boards and ministry.

Reference is then made to Mr. Luker’s letter of November 11 to the Latin American ministers. This letter was an ultimatum, demanding that the ministry choose either to recognize Mr. Luker as their regional director or Leon Walker as their regional director. The ministry did not respond to the letter since they had already made it clear in previous communications that they did not recognize the legality of removing Mr. Walker as regional director and the appointment of Mr. Luker as regional director, which was against their wishes and without consultation with them.

The document then states that phone calls were made to these ministers asking whether they wished to be affiliated with UCGIA or if they desired to support Mr. Walker. The document states that the ministers declared that they wished to be affiliated “with the emerging organization rather than UCGIA.” The ministers did not make such a statement, nor could they do so since an “emerging organization” simply does not exist. This statement is putting words into their mouths, which they did not say. Furthermore, the ministry and members in Latin America did not leave UCG nor have they formed another church organization. It is the Council which has disenfranchised the ministers and members, cutting off financial assistance, expelling ministers, removing all areas from UCG’s websites, etc.

Yet the document begins to conclude, “As demonstrated in this letter, the Council and administration have reached out repeatedly.” The letter demonstrates nothing of the sort. The Council’s efforts simply do not exist and the letter does not demonstrate that they existed.

Then the document states, “During the past six months the Council and the administration provided opportunities to those aligned with Leon Walker to make overtures to the Council and to the administration. Only one chose to do so.” There were rumors that the president and/or Council were going to invite Spanish pastors to come to Cincinnati for discussions. With the exception of one individual (Eduardo Hernandez) no other minister ever received a phone call or email message from the president or chairman of the Council inviting them to come to Cincinnati for discussions. Eduardo Hernandez did go to Cincinnati in September and he was assured that the other pastors would be invited to come after the Feast. However, no such invitation was made. Absolutely no overtures were made by the Council and/or administration to the Spanish ministry.

The document concludes, “We cannot unethically overturn the Church’s governing documents and pretend they don’t exist in order to accommodate other organizations with different leaders under the same name.” What an incredible statement. This is in fact what the president and Council have done—they have unethically violated the church’s government documents (including the Rules of Association) by illegally removing Mr. Walker as regional director and by Mr. Luker illegally taking that position. Mr. Walker and the Latin American ministry have not violated the church’s documents, but the president and the Council have done so.

Once again, the Council has chosen to issue a document that attempts to describe the Council as righteous and just, while Mr. Walker especially and the Latin American ministry are portrayed as unethical and uncompromising. Sadly, the Council once again resorts to declarations that simply are untrue as well as distortions of the facts. Once again, the Council refuses to address the real issues that face the Church.

UCG Council: "...ministers are to be servants,..."

If UCG ministers are to be true servants then THEY will be the ones kneeling and washing the lowest members feet.  I truly wonder if any of them have to balls to do that! The problem with UCG leadership is that they still expect the members to serve them, to be loyal, to fund them, and to be at their beckon call.  The truth is it is the other way around.

(The following letter was sent to the United Church of God ministry and membership by the Council of Elders and the President on December 7, 2010.]

Dec. 7, 2010

Dear Ministers and Members,

This letter to you is from the entire sitting Council of Elders and has also been signed by Dennis Luker as president of the United Church of God, representing the administration and ministerial team. We invite you to carefully read every word and pray earnestly about what we are writing to you today.

As we collectively write to you, we write in the prayerful, humble and confident knowledge that the Bible—the inspired Word of God—means what it says when we are told that Jesus Christ Himself is the living Head of the Church. That means that we must all—ministers and members alike—look to Jesus Christ for the power, the love and the direction that He will give His Church to know and fulfill God’s will. Sometimes we may be presented with things and events that we don’t totally understand at the moment, but nonetheless, we can and will be confident that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, emphasis added throughout). We must not allow the familiarity of this verse to dilute its meaning!

This morning, during the regularly scheduled meetings of the Council of Elders, Melvin Rhodes was presented with the resignations of three members of the Council: David Baker, Michael Blackwell and David Treybig. The Council resignations today followed on the resignation from the Council submitted last Friday by Jim Franks. All resignations were received in a civil and respectful manner. No resignations from the Council from these four men were solicited by other Council members and they were not anticipated.

In following the process established by the Church’s Constitution, Roy Holladay and Victor Kubik were installed as members of the Council of Elders. These two men, both of whom have previously served on the Council, were in line for service per the balloting of the General Conference of Elders last May. The current Council of 10 represents sufficient membership to continue the work and mission of the Church under our Bylaws, and that work will continue forward!

The process for the remaining two Council positions will be fulfilled according to our Bylaws, and you will receive due notice of that progress.

As the work and mission of the United Church of God continues forward, we as the current Council of Elders, together with Mr. Luker, want to emphasize the intensely earnest need for all of us to be in alignment with God’s will (Romans 12:1-2). We must surrender ourselves to that divine will in order for this Church—this group of called-out ones—to be healed of our differences, achieve reconciliation and forge together in unity. That is the goal, that is the objective, that is the focus of all of us. None of the Council members desires division or discord. Our belief and our focus is not whether any one person is “right” concerning any given issue, but what is the truth, how should we act on the truth and how can we—as the duly designated governing body over the United Church of God—humbly yield to and accomplish the very will of God!

Many unfortunate comments have been made about numerous issues both recently and over the past several months. For the record, as the current Council of Elders, we would like to briefly address three issues and make them clear.

One, the members in Latin America have not been cut off. No one on the Council has abandoned anyone. In fact, a fair portion of the Council meetings this week was devoted to understanding the current issues in Latin America, the facts, and how the Church can make progress and achieve unity. We acknowledge that some tough decisions have been made. These decisions have been made in accordance to the facts that we know and in conformity with both the bylaws of the Church and biblical teachings. The door is and will remain open to reconciliation both in Latin America and elsewhere. Reconciliation in God’s time remains our prayerful goal.

Two, no doctrines of the Church are being changed, subtly or overtly. No changes are being contemplated. Conversely, particularly given the unnecessary turmoil that has arisen in some quarters of the Church about the Sabbath, the Council is intensely focused on making clear what is expected in terms of Sabbath-keeping and the seventh day worship of God. We uphold the established doctrinal teaching of the United Church of God on the subject of the Sabbath and the Holy Days.

Three, we on the Council and in the administration believe that credentialed ministers serving within the United Church of God must fulfill their ministerial duties. That means that ministers are to be servants, providing for the spiritual needs of the precious members in their congregations. Ministers are to edify and build up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), not sow discord and uncertainty among God’s spiritual flock. Numerous avenues and opportunities are already available to ministers who would like to raise issues with us as Council members or those within the Church’s administration. It has been written before, but let us again make it plain here: we on the Council believe the biblical precept that “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17), but when things get so hot that the iron melts, no one is served. We on the Council—as we expect of ourselves—expect ministers to fulfill the biblical mandate to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). According to the biblical requirements, we expect that ministers will “be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2).

Those standards apply to all of us. The Bible tells us that we all fall short, that we are all imperfect. Yet we are instructed: “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NIV). That means we must learn how to live in love, just as Jesus taught. That means we all have much to overcome.

While we may be buffeted by trials of various type and circumstance in this current time, we know that Jesus said “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). As Jesus declared to His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Even in the midst of this trial, we can be confident that God is directly using these experiences—however unpleasant, exhausting and taxing—to mold and shape our character. That divinely refined character will last for all eternity. We must not fail at this task: “You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Despite the current trials, we know from the Bible that the work of God, the work of the Church, indeed, theChurch itself will continue. As we know from Scripture and from history, we know that if we are yielded to God, seeking His will and how to learn how to love one another, He will use us to accomplish His will. We all need correction, and we must seek it to achieve this.

With God as our witness, we whose names appear below bear no ill will to any man. The Church of God will be here today, it will be here tomorrow and Christ will continue to prepare the saints for the Kingdom of God. While we may be a comparatively small church, a little flock, God is magnifying our voice and has set before us an open door to preach His gospel.

In conclusion, we on the Council prayerfully join with what the apostle Paul wrote under inspiration to the first century church at Ephesus: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better” (Ephesians 1:17, NIV). Paul continues, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart [your innermost thoughts and understanding] may be enlightened in order that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe” (verse 18-19, NIV).

Thank you all for your prayerful support. Let us seek peace. Let us claim the promises of God and rejoice in the spiritual riches He makes available to all of us through our living Leader, Jesus Christ!

In Christ’s service,

The Council of Elders [Scott Ashley, Bob Berendt, Aaron Dean, William Eddington, Roy Holladay, Victor Kubik, Darris McNeely, Melvin Rhodes (chairman), Mario Seiglie and Robin Webber] and Dennis Luker (president)

UCG's New Council Members

The controlling council of UCG is now in place


 (barring any more resignations)

Melvin Rhodes (chairman)

Scott Ashley

Bob Berendt 

Aaron Dean 

William Eddington 

Roy Holladay

Victor Kubik 

Darris McNeely  

Mario Seiglie 

Robin Webber

Get ready for the fur to start flying!

Sponsors of UCG Petition Refuse to Back Down to Melvin Rhodes Demands

5 December, 2010

Dear Mr. Rhodes,

This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request that we withdraw the “Petition for Resolution to the GCE.”

Your comments expressing opposition to our effort are certainly within your rights as an elder however your request  that we withdraw the petition from circulation among our fellow elders is clearly an attempt to claim power and/or authority the Council of Elders does not possess. Regarding your counsel’s opinion as to the legality of our petition please be advised we received the legal counsel of three attorneys prior to releasing the petition and resolution and we are confident both are in full compliance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of God which we believe you and your legal counsel are aware of as well.

Furthermore, we must express our deep disappointment with the harshness of the letter you sent to the entire ministry regarding the petition (its content and intent). Your comments totally misrepresent, mislead and mis-characterize it by questioning the authenticity of its authors; inferring illegitimacy as our being non-salaried elders; strongly suggesting clandestine methods of distribution; stating the petition calls for a “trial” of the majority of the Council of Elders not to mention your accusation of the Review Committee being composed of “men known to be critical of the present Council and Administration” as well as your description of a review “becoming more like an inquisition.” While these statements may reflect the Councils “opinion” of the matter, sharing them with the entirety of the ministry as a preemptive move by the Council to persuade elders to answer a matter before they hear it is not direction we feel an elder should be advised to follow (Proverbs 18:13). As you yourself acknowledged – all elders have yet to receive the petition for their individual consideration.

Regarding the petition, your communication to the elders also states, “members of the GCE should not support it.” May we remind you of the voluminous problems we have already experienced when efforts have been made to persuade elders in  “block voting”… a circumstance the Council has not only condemned but has disciplined others for at times they believe it has occurred.

  As sponsors, it is our sincere hope that the Council, the Administration and the whole GCE, in considering a response to the petition and resolution, will remember that there is no intent or attempt to accuse or malign anyone (which is why no specific names or actions were listed in the resolution). The intent is simply to carry out a good faith review of the actions of the present Council of Elders and Administration during a defined time period.  Considering the deep concerns that have been expressed by so many brethren and ministers over the last year or more, and in view of the deep divisions it has created in the Church, we feel such a review is warranted and very much needed.  Frankly, we wonder what any ethical, righteous groups or individuals would have to fear from such a review of meeting our established policies and procedures.  If there is nothing to fear or to hide then the very least that will be accomplished is to restore transparency and confidence within the Church amongst concerned brethren and ministry.

Consequently, the sponsors of the “Petition for Resolution to the GCE” hereby decline to withdraw the petition as requested.

Additionally, in view of the fact that as the Chairman, with a complete listing of all elders which you have utilized to inform all elders of your “opinion”, now, in an act of fairness, transparency, good faith and evidence of due respect for the General Conference of Elders, immediately utilize the same means to announce to our brothers our decision to continue forward with the petition and that each one may be advised of their Constitutional right to evaluate the petition and follow their conscience as God leads them.

Sincerely,

Dave DeHart, Glenn Doig, Mike Machin, Frank Pierce