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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