UCG Ministers Code of Ethics

Here is the code of ethics that UCG ministers must agree to now.  I guess the rebellious heretics that all jumped ship to COGWA would never have agreed to these items.  If they did, and they should  have signed something prior to this, it goes to show that COGWA was not formed ethically.  But then, when has ministerial ethics ever been in the forefront in COG history?

MINISTERIAL CODE OF ETHICS

United Church of God, an International Association

PREAMBLE:

As a minister of Jesus Christ, I accept the duty bestowed on me through ordination, by prayer and the laying on of hands. I am dedicated first and foremost to preserving my personal relationship with God, therefore I am committed to basing my life upon the foundation of the Word of God. I am resolved to conduct myself in the ministry according to the ethical standards set forth in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and as amplified in this Code of Ethics so that my service in the ministry will be acceptable to God and beneficial to the Church, and my life will be a godly example to the Church, the community and the world.

Serving as a minister of Jesus Christ and as an elder in the United Church of God, an International Association (“Church, or “UCGIA”), I fully accept and agree to abide by the following goals, guidelines, commitments and ethical principles:

Personal Responsibilities:

1) I will strive to maintain my relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting.
2) I will endeavor to maintain my physical, mental and emotional health.
3) I will strive to manage my life by maintaining a balance in family matters, church duties and personal needs.
4) I will not use the office of the ministry to take advantage of any relationship or activity that may lead to a conflict of interest, the exploitation or manipulation of any member, or any unethical personal or material gain.
5) If I become a substance abuser, acquire a harmful addiction or have a diagnosable mental disorder, I agree to seek professional counseling and care in order to recover. I understand that if necessary, I may be relieved of my ministerial duties while undergoing treatment for the same.

Family Responsibilities:

1) If married, I will place my marriage and family as the highest priority in my life after my personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
2) If married, I will respect the unique role of my wife, to love, honor and recognize her as a partner in marriage and the family, and will seek to meet her physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs.
3) If blessed with children, I will regard them as a gift from God and seek to love them and meet their individual mental, physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Church and Congregational Responsibilities:

1) I will strive to faithfully shepherd the congregation(s) I serve by following the example of Jesus Christ in love, service, humility, respect, patience, wisdom and integrity.
2) I will strive to faithfully use my time and energies in ministering to God’s people through proper work habits and schedules.
3) In my preaching and teaching responsibilities I will give priority to adequate prayer, planning, preparation and spiritual growth through conscientious study so my presentations will be biblically based, historically and doctrinally sound, interesting and clearly communicated.
4) I will keep confidential all matters discussed in a counseling setting, unless the person being counseled gives the indication of being a danger to themselves or another person, such as a revelation of child sexual abuse or other disclosures required by law.
5) In my ministerial counseling I will limit my advice and counsel to my areas of expertise or formal training and will refer members to other ministers and professionals for any matter for which I am not qualified.
6) I recognize the influence I hold over those I counsel and will never take advantage of their vulnerability, such as becoming sexually or romantically involved with them. I will arrange visits in order to avoid being isolated with a woman who is not my spouse or with another’s child unless accompanied by another person.
7) I acknowledge that all local congregations of UCGIA are, under our Rules of Association, a part of UCGIA. I further recognize that any and all physical assets, including local bank accounts used by or for those local congregations, belong to UCGIA for use as directed by the UCGIA administration. Consequently, I agree that should I leave a congregation(s) or not remain as an elder in UCGIA, that I am not entitled to take, and must return, any assets of UCGIA and/or of a local congregation of UCGIA or its affiliates around the world.

Responsibility within the Ministry:

1) If married, I will endeavor to honor and respect my wife as part of my ministry, so that my ministry may be more effective.
2) I will endeavor to honor and relate to all ministers, especially those with whom I directly serve as coworkers in the work of God, respecting their roles and cooperating with them.
3) I will strive to serve my ministerial colleagues and their families with counsel, support and personal assistance when needed.
4) I will seek to promote an atmosphere of openness and unity within the body by supporting and appropriately communicating with the home office staff or the international equivalent.
5) I will endeavor to promote respect for Church leadership and unity within UCGIA. I will seek to eliminate destructive gossip or hearsay by going directly to the individual involved. I will communicate directly with the responsible person(s) to obtain clarity or to clear up any questions or accusations that are causing division.

Responsibility Within the Community:

1) As defined by Scripture, I will accept my duty to be a godly example and light in the world.
2) I will practice responsible citizenship and not engage in activities that are illegal, unethical or unbiblical.

Responsibility Toward the Governance of UCGIA

As a minister serving in the United Church of God, an International Association, I affirm my commitment to uphold:

• The Fundamental Beliefs as stated in the Constitution of the United Church of God, an International Association.
• The purpose, mission, goals and values of the Church.
• The Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Association of the Church and the governing structure described by them.
• The decisions of the General Conference of Elders (“GCE”), the Council of Elders (“COE”), the UCGIA administration and international equivalents. If I disagree, I reserve the right to respectfully seek change in any decision of the Church’s governing and administrative bodies in accordance with the governing documents of UCGIA, procedures and precedents.

I further agree to:

• Denounce divisions and schisms as a means of resolving differences.
• Support and assist the GCE, the COE and the administration or international equivalent in denouncing and curtailing divisive behavior on the part of anyone in the ministry or membership by word or deed.
• Encourage all to follow, and to work within, established procedures and processes of the Church for any grievances or for any desired change in either governance or leadership in the Church.
• Should I ever leave or otherwise not remain as an elder of the Church, I will not proselytize members of UCGIA in order to draw them away or to gain a following for myself or some other religious organization.

I am in agreement with this Ministerial Code of Ethics and will always strive to practice these ethical
principles. I agree that this Code supersedes and replaces any previous UCGIA Ministerial Code of Ethics.


Signed: _________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Print name ______________________________________________

UCG: Are Public Church Directories A Wise Thing To Do?

Decades back, local congregations of the Worldwide Church of God had what they called "Directories" of members. In some areas, they not only had the name, address, telephone number, family information,  they also had pictures. Apparently UCG is wanting to include baptismal dates in these directories too.  Some of the members back then knew and tried to warn people that this was a bad idea because unintended people may have access to the information and it could end badly for those so exposed in the directory.

United Church of God is at it again. Some of the congregations are again putting together a local church directory with all the information in it. Decades ago some had questions; today many more are raised.

Today, an innocent church member can be at risk from stalkers. Worse, there are identity thieves both in and out of the Armstrongist Churches of God. This is a very dangerous practice. It is bad enough to have names and addresses at headquarters or home office, but this ends up in the hands of the general public. 

It should be added that it is curious that local UCG congregations are again putting together directories at a time when the Council of Elders is making it clear they want and need more money for the church. It may be benign, but there are those who remember the Draconian efforts of Worldwide attempting to strong arm relatives of members who had died and the reputation of the leaders and administrators of the Armstrongist Churches today is less than stellar.

New Book: The God Followers by Rand Zacharias

Here's what happens when you try to literally live 

by a human interpretation of the words from the Bible. 

Here is another book that has been written about life in Armstrongism.  The God Followers by Rand Zacharias 

 Imagine trying to grow up and do everything right. You're six years old and you know that Jesus is coming back...soon...and the world the way you know it will all change into a perfect world, an Utopian dream, a world tomorrow.

Rand Zacharias weaves an eerily humorous autobiographical tale of very creatively-enhanced non-fiction (with a little fiction added for a twist).

His story begins graduating from a world-renowned institution of excellence. He's graduated from the cult's unique learning institution--Ambassador College. Zacharias moves back in time and tells the genesis of their capture involving his loving father, who brought the family for the ride after a fiery explosion during the winter of love--1969.

Did Zacharias find the narrow path that leads to God? You'll find out.

Amazon has this blurb:

The God Followers is the autobiographical trauma-dy, tragic comedy, of growing up in a cult after Rand's father is caught in a fiery explosion. This real life account may make you question the inner workings of any organized religion--while taking you through the challenges of living in a manner of a literal interpretation of that ancient text--the Bible.

In paper back form it is here on Amazon where you can also read a small excerpt:  The God Followers

By eBook, Kindle, and other formats it is here:      The God Followers and here eBook

Follow Rand on his blog:  Randillusions

New Book: Genocide Revealed by Aleksandar Veljic

There is a new book that has been published by a former COG member Aleksandar Veljic.  It is about the massacre of Serbs, Jews and gypsies by Hungary during WWII.   Genocide Revealed: New Light on the Massacre of Serbs and Jews under Hungarian Occupation    Amazon has this review from Wade Frannson who is soon to publish his own book about life in Armstrongism - The People of the Sign.

Aleksandar Veljic has spent seven years doing primary research on events that were covered up 70 years ago. The list of accomplices is long and is not limited to Europeans. In the wake of WWII Miklos Horthy was given an unprecedented get-out-of-jail free card, as stated by the Wikipedia article on Horthy "But American trial officials declined to present charges against Horthy, a kindness that may have been the result of the influence in Washington of Horthy's admirer, the former ambassador John Montgomery." In other words, if we recall the geopolitical context - Horthy's strong anti-communist record was enough for the U.S. and others to turn a blind eye to his overt support of racist facists like Hitler, and the genocidal activities he endorsed and supported in regions under his control.

While under arrest, he made appearances at trials in which he helped convict others, but during which he was never required to testify. After his release from the Nuremberg prison, in December 1945, Horthy was supported by John Montgomery, Pope Pius XII and others. He could also count on admirers such as Joseph Stalin to plead for mercy on his behalf.

I would not have been aware of any of this if it weren't for the work of Aleksandar Veljic. In recent months the BBC has picked up on his work, Serbian news media and agencies are getting involved, and respected members of various Holocaust Societies in Israel and elsewhere are highlighting the importance of this book.

One thing is for sure, Veljic's work is important and explosive enough to stir up interest in atrocities that have been buried for too long. It's not just that the victims' blood cries out, it's that Horthy's reputation has been laundered, that his memoirs have been published in several languages, and that statues of Horthy are on display in his honor, and that schoolchildren in Hungary and elsewhere are reading stories about his role as a heroic leader, with no idea that in other ways he was a very evil man.

The facts, for example, that he was the first anti-Semitic European Leader, and that he had close ties to Hitler, who admired him during Hitler's own ascent to power, need to be surfaced, examined, and judged. Not to mention his record of endorsing genocidal atrocities.

This book is destined to cause a re-examination of those facts.

Congratulations to Aleksandar Veljic for his diligence and fortitude, in the face of opposition, with no resources and very, very little official support, on having created a work of original history that is destined to be cited in every subsequent work on this and related subjects, of which we can be sure there will be many.

Wade Fransson
Managing Partner
Something Or Other Publishing, LLC

Is Dave Pack Ready To "Squeal Like A Stuck Pig?"

The small group of apostate church jumpers at Restored Church of God have this little blurb up today about Dave Pack ridiculing Ron Weinland and his idiotic May 27th prophecy:

New Open Letter Addressing Ronald Weinland’s Prophecies

Mr. Pack has written an extensive Open Letter to followers of the Church of God – PKG. It is titled “Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!”

Over recent years, Ronald Weinland fell into ridiculous teachings on many topics, but especially his framework of prophecy. He has announced a series of failed predictions. He is most noted for predicting that Jesus Christ will return on May 27, 2012.

Opening with a more than cursory overview of the truth of prophecy, including some brief statements from Mr. Armstrong, this article goes on to identify and refute Weinland’s bizarre, totally unscriptural prophetic scenario. Addressing a number of topics in a way you have not seen, it is a tool to help misled followers untangle themselves from a web of error and delusion.

Apostle Pack says:

 Some time before (referring to Harold Camping), a lesser known “prophet,” Ronald Weinland (of the Church of God – PKG), had spun his own theory about how Christ would return on May 27, 2012. He began pushing in earnest his end-time scenario—through extensive ad campaigns much like Harold Camping—five and a half years earlier in late 2006, in belief that the Great Tribulation would begin on December 14, 2008. (Also paralleling Harold Camping, Ron Weinland has had to recompute events and dates because of failed prophecies.)

Dave does not recognize the fact that Herbert W Armstrong had hundreds of failed prophecies. Gerald Waterhouse had hundreds of them, Dean Blackwell had his share, John Rittenbaugh has his embarrassing failures.  The list could go on and on.

The most magnanimous Apostle to ever walk the face of the earth has this to say:

True ministers of God strive to never attack other human beings. They are for the truth rather than against people—and there is a big difference. Therefore, I have determined to actively resist and teach against any false doctrines that are deceiving people among the splinters. However, this subject presents a unique problem with this policy.

Dave then goes on to say this:

When a leader teaches a false concept or doctrine, it rarely has anything to do with himself. Generally, the heresy can be clearly singled out and countered without having to necessarily address the man who teaches it. 

This is going to come back and  bite Dave in the ass big time!   RCG is all about DAVE!  It's all about HIMSELF!  Hersey in the Restored Church of God is centered squarely in Dave Pack's shoulders!

Dave goes on to say this about prophets, which of course does not apply to him:

The Bible says prophets fall into one of two categories—true or false. All prophets—past, present or future—are one or the other. They cannot be both, and they cannot be in-between. Within the category of false prophets are two types: Those who claim to be a prophet, but falsely foretell events, not being inspired by the true God—and those who do not necessarily claim to be a prophet, but who teach falsely about prophecy—and for that matter any other aspect of God’s Word. The latter would include false teachers and false ministers. Like false prophets, false teachers assert they are vested with God’s authority. Rather than falsely prophesying future events, they teach false doctrines supposedly from the Bible. Therefore, Jesus’ warnings about false prophets also apply to false teachers, who work in the same way.

Ronald Weinland is a complete fraud, and one who is breathtakingly ignorant of even the most rudimentary elements of prophecy—of events that should be impossible to misunderstand. He is utterly wrong—and in his case spectacularly so, and on virtually every point! The Bible does not validate any of his prophetic ideas. You are about to see this.

We can rightly says:

 Dave Pack is a complete fraud, and one who is breathtakingly ignorant of even the most rudimentary elements of prophecy—of events that should be impossible to misunderstand. He is utterly wrong—and in his case spectacularly so, and on virtually every point! The Bible does not validate any of his prophetic ideas. You are about to see this.

Dave says:

Tragically, most who read Bible prophecy remain in near total ignorance of its size and scope. They are completely unable to recognize the speed, sequence and timing of its prophecies. And this is on top of not truly comprehending what any of them means! So many just cannot untangle the maze of what happens when, as well as where and to whom—and WHY!

 Then says this  about his prophecies.  He knows EXACTLY how they will all come about:

The interested reader will want to view my 2-part World to Come broadcast series titled “26 Prophetic Events in Exact Sequence Before Christ’s Return!” It reveals in detail all that lies ahead.)

Dave then goes into a look screed about the specific things that will happen in a specific order.  Just typical Armstrongite prophecy silliness.

 Dave does write some good things in his letter that are spot on about Weinland.

...seeing through Ron Weinland should be a snap. Incredibly, he has managed to get almost nothing right—NOTHING! It has been said that even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut. Not Weinland! He seems unable to get anything right, even accidentally. Again, if Elijah mocked the ancient prophets of Baal, I can mock a modern one.

Pack has this to say about lying false prophets.

A final word of caution: When their silliness is exposed for what it is, false prophets usually squeal like stuck hogs in protest. With his “credibility” now at stake, I realize this article might cause Ron Weinland to smear my credibility. He virtually has to. But at best his words will only carry “weight” until May 28 when his prophecy fails. The even barely discerning person will realize Weinland cannot use God’s Word in any intelligible fashion to do this.

I can see that very soon we will see Dave squealing like a stuck pig because of his lies.

Beware all you splinter cult leaders, Dave has his sight set on you next!  God's most powerful Apostle over the largest web based minister on earth today is coming after you!

I will address more splinter leaders in the future—and in detail. This includes certain other deceivers within these groups.

Dave's letter is long and boring, filled with typical Armstrongite theological stances with a Dave spin added to them.  Read it at your leisure because it is all fantasy:  Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!