UCG Tells Choir Members To Commit Illegal Act For Feast

United Church of God is encouraging its members who are singing in Feast of Tabernacles choirs at Feast sites to photocopy the sheet music they will be singing from.  Instead of UCG doing what is morally right, purchasing the sheet music for the choirs, it is telling members to commit an illegal act.

Is UCG so financially strapped that they cannot spend a few hundred/thousand dollars on some sheet music?  They can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on failed ad campaigns, office redecorating, personal appearances, and playground equipment, but they cannot buy some sheet music.  Isn't that what the non-biblical 3rd tithe you collect is supposedly for?

In the UCG post previously, United Church of God: Continues To Struggle On How to Remain Relevant In The 21st Century  the following comments were made:

Feastgoer said... 

A stunning sign of $$ troubles in UCG right now is the request at one Feast site for all choir members to print out the sheet music, and carry it with them to the Feast.
Is there not enough "Tithe of the Tithe" to purchase songs?

Another comment was made:

If UCG sent out an e-mail requesting that people violate copyright, the statutory penalty is $500 - $20,000 per violation, but rises to $100,000 if the violation can be shown to be willful.

A quick internet search finds this:

If music stores or orchestra leaders could simply buy one copy of sheet music and photocopy it for all their customers or band members, the composer and publishing house would not be able to make a living and create more unique music. Copyright laws protect composers and music publisher's rights; it is a violation of copyright law to reproduce sheet music without permission from the copyright holder. 

Copying

The copyright owner of a piece of sheet music owns the sole right to copy and distribute that sheet music including both the notes and words contained on it, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. Copying sheet music either by photocopier, scanner or by hand, or copying out any individual part or voice from that music without the express permission of the copyright owner is a copyright law violation. Illegal photocopying significantly diminishes the income of music composers, arrangers and publishers, according to the Music Publishers Association of the United States. Copyright violators may be sued for monetary damages.  Sheet Music Copyright Laws

Joe Tkach Announces Retirement

Joe Tkach, President of Grace Communion International (Former Worldwide Church of God) has announced he is retiring as of January 1, 2019.  Greg Williams is replacing him as head of the GCI.

During the conference, I announced that on January 1, 2019 I will be retiring—stepping aside as President of Grace Communion International. On that date, GCI Vice President Greg Williams will become GCI President. After retiring from GCI employment I will continue serving as Chairman of GCI’s Board of Directors and Russell Duke will continue serving as Vice Chairman.

These changes in our leadership, recently approved by our Board of Directors, will be accompanied by the move in April 2018 of our Home Office from Glendora, CA, to Charlotte, NC. We’re thankful to God for the way he has provided our next generation of denominational leadership, both in our Home Office and in our other GCI offices around the globe. Thanks for your prayers about these transitions! Leadership changes; humans in relationship

As one person mentioned to me, this is 12 years after he previously announced he was retiring.