Three More UCG Resignations

The domino's keep falling!

David Treybig, Michael Blackwell and David Baker are the latest resignations from the UCG ministry

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

Ken Giese: "Wolf Sowing Discord?"

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness and grave concern that I write to you all regarding the current crisis gripping the United Church of God. Clearly, we are a house divided against itself and in danger of disintegrating. We have been told that there is a rebellion in our midst, led by wolves who are causing division and seeking to draw brethren to themselves in an effort to “start their own church”. Our current leadership continues to accuse dedicated pastors with decades of faithful service and experience of leading an organized conspiracy, while at the same time, dismissing some 2,000 Latin American brethren and their pastors without due process, demonizing anyone who would question their authority and demanding the support of members and ministers alike despite their egregious misconduct. The income of the United Church of God is dropping precipitously, morale is sinking and we are about to lose what we have all worked together to build under Christ’s direction for fifteen years. Enough is enough.

 As many of you know, on November 4, 2010, I resigned from my responsibilities as an employed pastor of two UCG congregations (Reno, NV and Sacramento, CA) due to the fact that I could no longer in good conscience support the actions and decisions of the current Council of Elders majority or their appointed administrators. As I wrote to Dennis Luker and Victor Kubik, despite the fact that I resigned from employment, I wanted to retain my membership in the United Church of God as well as my status as a credentialed elder in UCG in hopes that the current Council of Elders and our administrators would accept responsibility for this debacle and seek reconciliation and peace rather than confrontation and war. Sadly, they have chosen the latter.

 As one who has been identified as a wolf who is sowing discord, I would like to set the record straight. The last thing I or any of my fellow elders want to do is leave the United Church of God and start another organization. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. We (some current COE members, former administrators, regional pastors, concerned elders and members) have been working diligently behind the scenes to bring the current Council of Elders majority and our administrators to the table for frank discussions on our current state of affairs as well as exploring methods and means whereby we could all work together to bring reconciliation and peace, but our efforts have been consistently rebuffed and ridiculed. We desperately want to remain a part of the United Church of God, but we are being falsely accused and forced out by those who have clearly disqualified themselves as our spiritual leaders.

 Therefore, I am calling upon the General Conference of Elders to step up and demand that the current Council of Elders and their appointed administrators be held accountable for bringing the United Church of God to the point of imminent disintegration. I encourage GCE members to fulfill their responsibility as the only “members” of the corporation – The United Church of God, an International Association. I encourage the GCE to call for a special meeting for the purpose of restructuring the organization with new leadership. Our current leaders have proven themselves incapable of correcting the problems that are clearly facing us all.

 Please do not let the cries of “foul” deter you from taking these appropriate and necessary steps. If these actions do not take place, the United Church of God has little chance of surviving intact.

 In light of my personal circumstances and the fact that roughly one-half of the Sacramento UCG congregation has stopped attending, I feel compelled to offer a place of refuge for myself as well as those members who feel they have been forced out of the United Church of God. At the same time, I would love to remain a member of UCG as well as a credentialed elder in UCG and work with the entire GCE in taking the necessary steps noted above, but I cannot in good conscience do so. Therefore, I hereby resign as a member of the United Church of God and as a member of the General Conference of Elders, effective immediately. This coming Sabbath, November 27th, I plan to meet with other brethren who no longer feel they can affiliate with the United Church of God. My purpose is not to start a church . . . I am attempting to provide a place of refuge in hopes that we can eventually return to fellowship in a healthy, vibrant and Godly United Church of God.

May God bless and guide us all in these difficult and challenging times.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Giese

UCG Hit List of Ministers Removed From Office So Far In 2010 Updated 12/7

UCG Ministers who have resigned or been kicked out of UCG in the last year:

Mr. David Baker, December 2010, resigned Council of Elders
Mr. Michael Blackwell, December 2010 resigned Council of Elders
Mr. David Treybig, December 2010. resigned Council of Elders
Mr. Neil Hart, December 2010, resigned  12/4/10

Mr. Jim Franks, December 2010, resigned from the Council of Elders

Mr. Alfredo Arboleas, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry

Mr. Eleodoro Avila, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry 

Mr. Alberto Gonzalez, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry

Mr. Jaime Guiñez, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry 

Mr. Adan Langarica, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry 

Mr. Luis Mundo, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry 

Mr. Fermin Nain, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry 

Mr. Jaime Ortiz, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry 

Mr. Manuel Quijano, December 2010, removed from UCG ministry   

Mr. Pablo Dimakis, December 2010, resigned form UCG ministry

Mr. Ron Kelly, December 2010, removed from ministerial duties

Mr. Jonathan R. Pinelli, November 2010, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Paul Carter, November 2010, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Ken Giese, November 2010, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Tim Waddle, November 2010, removed as Associate Senior Pastor of East Africa

Mr. Tom Clark, November 2010, removed as Associate Senior Pastor of Ghana

Mr. Larry Salyer, November 2010, removed from UCG ministry

Mr. Edwardi Hernández, November 2010, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Ken Giese, November 2010, resigned as pastor

Mr. Larry Salyer, October 2010, relieved from ministerial duties

Mr. Paul Suckling, October 2010, relieved of his position as Senior Pastor of the United Kingdom

Regional Pastors removed: 

Bruce Gore, Lyle Welty, Mike Hanisko, Todd Carey, Jim Servidio, Jim Haeffle, Greg Sargent, Larry Grieder,  Larry Neff, Dennis Luker  

Mr. Graemme Marshall - August 2010 - resigned from UCG- Canada ministry

Mr. Hendren  - August 2010 - removed from ministry

Mr. Mendez - August 2010 - removed from ministry

Mr. Garcia - July 2010 - removed as Deacon

Mr. Lovelady - July 2010 - resigned as Treasurer / HR Director

Mr. Walker - June 2010 removed as Director of Spanish Work, removed from the ministry

Mr. Roybal - June 2010 - removed from UCG ministry

Mr. S Langarica - June 2010 - removed from UCG ministry

Mr. David Campbell - June 2010 - resigned from UCG-Canada ministry 

THE following were made in cognito by UCG brass.  Their ultimate fate is still unknown.

Mr. Alfredo Arboleas

Mr. Eleodoro Avila

Mr. Pablo Dimakis

Mr. Jaime Guiñez

Mr. Alberto Gonzalez

Mr. Adan Langarica

Mr. Luis Mundo

Mr. Fermin Nain

Mr. Jaime Ortiz

Mr. Manuel Quijano

Mr. Sanchez

These men while removed or resigned their position continue to be employed as paid elders

Johnson - May 2010 - not reconfirmed as Corporate Secretary

Horchak - May 2010 - position on the Ministerial Services team was eliminated when Victor Kubik came in as interim operations manager.

Thompson - May 2010 - position on the Ministerial Services team was eliminated when Victor Kubik came in as interim operations manager.

Register - May 2010 - resigned as Director of Educational Services, his position on the Ministerial Services team was eliminated when Victor Kubik came in as interim operations manager.

Kilough - April 2010 - asked to resign as President

Franks - April 2010 - asked to resign as Operations Manger of Ministerial services

Salyer - April 2010 - resigned as Operations Manager of Media

Kilough - July 2009 - resigned from CoE

Thompson - July 2009 - resigned from CoE

Foster - July 2009 - removed as Council Reporter

Talking to the Queen About British Israelism

Armstrongism is not unique it it's absurd fascination with British Israelism.  The Revival churches in England are also into it.  Check out a great little video:

Revival Churches Discussion Forum

Melvin Rhodes Names More Ministers Kicked Out of UCG

Dear Fellow Elder of the United Church of God:

 It is with heaviness of heart that I must write to you. There are recent developments within the United Church of God, an International Association, (UCGIA) of which you need to be aware.
As of this date, besides the information that has already been reported to you via the Ministerial Journal, the following men have resigned from the General Conference of Elders:

Paul Carter
Pablo Dimakis
Ken Giese
Eduardo Hernandez
Jon Pinelli

 Additionally, the Council of Elders met in executive session on Tuesday evening, November 30, 2010. One of the agenda items was to discuss the UCGIA elders in the Latin American region. Each one of the elders (still listed as a member of the General Conference of Elders) was contacted and asked if he desired to remain with UCGIA or if he planned to go with another organization. As a result of each one’s response, the UCGIA ministerial credentials of the men listed below were removed (and thus they are no longer members of the General Conference of Elders). They are as follows:

Alfredo Arboleas
Eleodoro Avila
Alberto Gonzalez
Jaime Guiñez
Adan Langarica
Luis Mundo
Fermin Nain
Jaime Ortiz
Manuel Quijano

 The door always remains open to reconciliation should any of these men desire to talk with the Council of Elders and/or administration.

 I want to assure you that the Council of Elders, in coordination with the administration, is committed to serving all those who desire to meet with congregations of UCGIA around the world. The Council is also fully committed to preaching the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to all the world. We hope and pray that His Kingdom will come soon.

 Respectfully and in Jesus Christ’s service,

Melvin Rhodes
Chairman

Melvin Rhodes Strikes Back At Grumbling Ministers

Dear fellow ministers,

Some of you have no doubt received a document titled “Petition for Resolution to GCE” addressed to the General Conference of Elders (GCE), and apparently authored by and being circulated by four non-salaried elders. You personally may not have received this petition if it was considered by the sponsors that you would be unlikely to support its aim—which is to put the majority of the current Council of Elders on trial.

The resolution associated with the petition seeks to create a “GCE Review Committee” to, in effect, conduct an open investigation to identify and determine if any actions by the Council of Elders or the Administration against anyone in the United Church of God since January 1, 2010, have “in fact” been done “contrary to the published requirements and procedures” of UCGIA or “contrary to Scriptural guidelines.”
No specific improper actions or “aggrieved parties” are identified.

The resolution contains no way of giving those who may be accused access to any sort of due process and there is no mechanism for protecting the privacy of anyone involved. In fact, on completion of the “investigation” (very little time is allowed) the Committee’s “findings” or “recommendations” are to be made public—no doubt spread far and wide via the Internet.

The proposed makeup of the Review Committee is obviously designed to be composed primarily of men who are known to be critical of the present Council and Administration. One could easily envision the proposed Review Committee’s investigation becoming more like an inquisition.

The Council stated, by resolution on November 30, that this petition is legally flawed and has decided, with the backing of the opinion of UCG’s general legal counsel, that the associated resolution is clearly contrary to, conflicts with, and is inconsistent with our governing documents and existing grievance procedures. Such procedures are already in place under the authority of the governing documents. Legal counsel advises that it would require an amendment to the Constitution and/or Bylaws before the proposed committee could be created and become operational.

The proposed resolution is fatally flawed and members of the GCE should not support it.

Consequently, in a separate communication, the Council has advised the sponsors that their petition should be withdrawn since it would be improper to allow the associated resolution to be balloted upon by the GCE.

It remains the case that Council members can be removed through the balloting process at the annual general meeting of the GCE if elders are dissatisfied with their service.     

Sincerely,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders