General Assembly Council Agenda Released
In keeping with the MINUTES of the Church of God General Assembly, the complete General Council Agenda for the upcoming 76th International General Assembly has been presented for perusal. The General Assembly is scheduled for July 19-22, 2016, at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Agenda has been released in several venues, including the Church of God website, a special email blast to ministers, on the ministerial reporting website and via Faith News. It will also be presented in the Church of God Evangel.
The agenda will be presented to the Ordained Bishop’s General Council for discussion and debate beginning Tuesday morning, July 19. The General Assembly Business Session is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Any registered delegate age 16 and older may participate in the Friday Business Session.
Highlights of the agenda feature an opening State of the Church address by General Overseer Mark Williams. Nomination of the members of the Executive Committee, and director and assistant director of both Youth and Discipleship and World Missions will take place next, followed by the election of the Council of Eighteen.
Items being presented for discussion include consideration of opening up membership in the General Council to ordained ministers at least 25 years of age and older. This motion seeks to, “affirm the value of a new generation of ministers by giving them voice and vote in shaping the future mission, vision, and core values of the Church of God. It also expands the International General Council to include ordained women, whose anointed insights and spiritual discernment are much needed in addressing the growing complexity of fulfilling the Great Commission.”
Also up for consideration is lengthening the tenure of state and regional overseers from 12 to 16 years. The rationale presented for this proposal states, “It has been clearly demonstrated that longevity in leadership roles provides for a more consistent vision, greater accountability, and better stability in an organization. Increasing the state overseer’s tenure from 12 years to 16 years allows for longer tenures in states, particularly when an overseer has a state financially stable, moving in a positive direction, and has the overwhelming support of his leadership team and the ministers.”
The agenda goes on to state that, “after a detailed review by the International Executive Council of the meaning and usage of the term ‘bishop,’ further study needs to be done that will better address whether it is necessary to change the current nomenclature in order to clarify and fulfill the intent of the International General Council with respect to the designation of the ministerial rank in the Church of God.” Along with this, the General Council will also consider revising Ordained Bishop qualifications.
The detailed Agenda is available for review or download at www.churchofgod.org. Registration is required for participation in events and activities at the 76th General Assembly. Registration can be accomplished on the website.
