1. My Church spends about the same percentage of its income on proclaiming the Gospel as WCG did under H. Armstrong.

This could only be said of the Living Church of God (LCG), "Last year, expenses to preach the Gospel were $2,527,000 (about 39% compared to 35% in 1999)" (Dattolo, Fred. Report from Treasurer. Living Church News. Mar-Apr 2001; p.10). I verified that LCG's accounting methods are the same as WCG's used to be in order for a true comparison and the percentages consistent with what WCG's were when Herbert Armstrong was alive (Dattolo, Fred. Telephone conversion, 4/01).

The United Church of God has always had a lower percentage. "Broadcast Media and Advertising. No budget is projected in this area at this time. The new Council of Elders will develop strategic and operating plans. Broadcast media and advertising will be addressed at that time." (Notes to Proposed Fiscal Budget. New Beginnings. December 18, 1995; p:11). "Broadcast media and advertising" + "Print media and advertising" = "Total evangelism" "4% of proj. exp". (United Church of God financial analysis. In Transition. January 31, 1997; p:9). "said one elder who also wished to remain anonymous,...'Even if all the noncommitted funds were spent to preach the gospel, only about 5 to 6 percent of all UCG expenses will be spent on what Jesus Christ told us to do: take this message to the world.'" (Robinson, John. UCG elders say constitution, not blown budget, is the issue. In Transition. January 31, 1997; p:8). For UCG's 15 month fiscal year ending June 30, 2000 "Public Proclamation" (2,584,544) divided by "Total revenues, gains, and other supports" (19,715,635) = 13.1% (Financial Statements Receive Positive Report from Auditors. United News. November 2000; p.18).

2. My Church spent most of its unexpected extra income in fiscal year 2001 to go on more commercial stations to proclaim the Gospel.

The Church that did this was LCG, "Although I did not mention our financial needs in the last letter, many were inspired to send in extra special offerings—for which we certainly thank God! As a result of this, we are now in a position to add some new television stations. We are negotiating to add three or four more commercial stations to our television log—and more later as God enables us. The great God is inspiring our little group of dedicated members and co-workers to go "above and beyond" the call of duty. He will bless us and use us mightily if we seek and serve Him with all of our hearts!...P.S. Even since I began this letter, news has come from our Television Production Coordinator, Wayne Pyle, that we are now approved to go on three new television stations! Each of them will begin airing the Tomorrow’s World program on Sunday, August 19, 2001. Here is the list. If you live in one of these areas, jot it down and encourage your friends and relatives to view these powerful Tomorrow’s World television programs. They NEED this message! Lafayette, LA Sunday 7:30 am KATC/ABC/3 Tyler, TX Sunday 6:30 am KLTV/ABC/7 Joplin, MO Sunday 6:30 am KOAM/CBS/7" (Meredith, Roderick C. Co-Worker Letter. July 27, 2001).

3. My Church spent most of its unexpected extra income in fiscal year 2001 to purchase a building for our headquarters.

The Church that did this was UCG, "Income patterns lead us to believe the United Church of God will finish the fiscal year, if present trends continue, with approximately $900,000 of income in excess of expenditures. “I think God is at least somewhat satisfied with what the UCG is doing!” observed Mr. McCullough... Mr. Kirkpatrick suggests using most of the $900,000 expected income (above budget) for all “one-time” costs associated with the acquisition of a new home office facility (if approved by Council). This would come to approximately $780,000." (UCG, aia Council of Elders Meeting Report. March 14, 2001).

4. I believe the Bible commands paying a third tithe in the third and sixth year of a seven-year cycle for "the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow" (Deuteronomy 26:12).

The Church that teaches this is LCG, ""And at the end of every third year you shall bring out a tithe of your produce of that year and store it within your gates" Deuteronomy 14:28)...the third tithe year traditionally begins and ends after the Feast of Tabernacles in the third and sixth year of a seven-year time cycle. "When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year--the year of tithing--and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, then shall you say before the LORD your God: 'I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which you have commanded me: I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them'"(Deuteronomy 26:12-13). Notice that God calls this tithe a "holy tithe"...God places great importance on this tithe because He sets it apart for sacred use" (Ehman, Gary F. The Blessings of Third Tithe. Living Church News. Nov-Dec 1999; p. 10).

5. I believe third tithe is gone because "Uncle Sam took it".

The Church that seems to believe this is UCG, "Member Assistance Greg Sargent presented an analysis of our member assistance situation, and some suggestions for future approaches. He reminded the Council of its 1996 resolution regarding members’ contributions to the assistance fund. As stated at that time, the Church acknowledges that government taxation in areas biblically identifiable as assistance to the needy amount to more than what God requires of His people through the third tithe administration first given to ancient Israel. As Mr. Sargent said: “Third tithe – where did it go? Uncle Sam took it. We must find it.” " (United Church of God, an International Association Council of Elders Meeting Report Sunday/Monday March 18-19, 2001).

6. Money which may have been used to proclaim the Gospel is needed to pay for member assistance because few of our members pay third tithe to the Church.

This seems to be what UCG keeps doing, "Despite what national governments may do to help the disadvantaged, there will still be needs within the Church that national social programs do not address....Thus regular tithes and offerings, which would normally be devoted to preaching the gospel and providing for other aspects of the work, have been diverted to the Church Assistance Fund." (Church Assistance Fund Donations. New Beginnings. November 4, 1996; pp.4-5) and "The Church has less income in this area than it uses for member assistance. Through the central administration of assistance funds (through the home office), a little more than $200,000 of member assistance is given from the operating fund, in addition to using the $469,000 in assistance donations received for this purpose. Additional shortfalls are experienced in local church accounts that administer assistance. There are, of course, legal guidelines to consider. A charitable purpose must be established for the donation. Aspects of member education and ministerial education are involved. " (United Church of God, an International Association Council of Elders Meeting Report Sunday/Monday March 18-19, 2001). For a biblical view, please read, Is Third Tithe Still Valid?

7. "The CHURCH is organized under theocratic government, hierarchical in form. The members do not set officials in the Church. God sets EVEN THE LAY MEMBERS in the Church (I Cor. 12:18)... GOD set officials to serve on the human level under Christ, in the Church. Members do not elect them. Yet in the churches of this world some believe in government by the entire congregation--"democracy" --and call themselves "Congregational." Others have organized themselves into government by ministers or presbytery".

This is a quote from the Mystery of the Ages. LCG agrees with it. "It is clear that God's government throughout the Old Testament--AND in the soon coming World Ahead--was (and will be) a hierarchical government under God's direction, based on the Holy Scriptures...Throughout the New Testament, we find the Living Christ directing His servants to follow the same pattern of government he had inspired over the previous 1,300 years...Again God's Word states 'Without counsel plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established' (Prov. 12:15)" (Meredith, Roderick C. What is the Biblical Form of Church Government? Global Church News. Sept-Oct 1995; pp:5,7,8). "In founding God's Church, Jesus worked primarily through one man, Peter, even though He originally chose His 12 disciples. Few have ever noticed that Peter was the real leader. Acts 15: Here is the crux chapter, not generally understood... The Jerusalem conference showed that PETER was preeminent over even Paul, although Paul was the ONE MAN God worked through primarily in the ministry to gentiles... This crucial crux chapter has been misunderstood, twisted and distorted. I have tried to take space to MAKE IT CLEAR in this article" (Armstrong, Herbert W. Originally published in Worldwide News article 2/19/78 and quoted in the Living Church News. Jan-Feb 1999; p.7).

UCG cannot agree with Herbert Armstrong's statement since it is governed by the ministers who elect its top leaders, "The General Conference of Elders (General Conference) hereby recognizes its responsibility: (1) To approve changes in the doctrine of the Church. (2) To ratify the annual strategic plan, operating plan and the budget that pertains to those plans. (3) To nominate and elect the Council of Elders, with prayer and fasting." (Constitution of the United Church of God, an International Association. 4.1. New Beginnings. November 27, 1995; p:17). "What is governance? What is the role of a council of elders? What is the role of a president? What is the role of the home office staff? How are they supposed to interact with each other? How should our governance be structured? Should we be balloting? Ask a dozen members these questions and you may get half a dozen answers--at least the mail that arrives at my office indicates such is the case." (Dick, Robert. The Issue of Governance in the United Church of God. New Beginnings. November 17, 1997; p:1). "We all want the same thing--to serve God and do His Work. Will we be able to work together to achieve that goal? I say yes, if we are willing to cooperate in the form of governance that God established in the forming of the United Church of God. I have heard some say that the form of governance we have in United is not working. I say that some are not working the form of governance that we have in United." (Luker, Dennis. The Importance of Our Governing Documents. New Beginnings. July 14, 1997; p:16).

However, UCG also seems to feel the right system of government is one-man rule in the Kingdom, "A time is coming, however, when one ruler will solve the problems of this world--one man with the right system of government" (Rhodes, Melvin. Extreme Right Appears in Central Europe. World News and Prophecy. March 2000 p.8).

8. My Church officially teaches that the "seven churches {Revelation 2 & 3} represent the history of the entire Church of God as seven eras which occur in chronological order."

This is correct regarding LCG, "When we recognize that the whole book of Revelation is intended as a prophecy (Rev 1:1) and that certain different circumstances present in the seven churches that could not have been contemporaneous (cf. Rev 2:10; 3:7-8), it is apparent that these seven churches represent the history of the entire Church of God as seven eras which occur in chronological order." (Ogwyn, John. God's Church Through the Ages. Booklet. 1995; p:29)

"In the New Testament, we find described seven eras of God's true Church (Revelation 2,3)" (Meredith, Roderick C. A Turning Point in World Affairs. Tomorrow's World. Jul-Sep 1999; p.5).

UCG does not officially teach this doctrine. Instead it teaches that this may be a possible interpretation, "You asked if the messages to the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 can be applied to eras of church history. As Mr. Herbert Armstrong said in the past, there were seven churches in Asia minor during the life of the apostle John that had certain strengths and weaknesses. Those same strengths and weaknesses could be evident in any church congregation today. Some believe that they also described church eras that began with the apostolic age and until Jesus Christ returns. Since some have disputed this idea, it is a subject that needs more study to see what we can know for sure and what remains in the unknown." (Internet Correspondence from info@ucg.com to Dr. Thiel. November 13, 1997)

"Since seven represents completeness, these seven lampstands seem to portray a composite picture of the Church of God, the light of the world. Paul explains that the Church is one body (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4). However, it has multiple congregations and members scattered throughout the nations. Therefore, these seven specific assemblies of believers appear to effectively represent the totality of the Church. It appears likely that the prophecies of the Church in Revelation 2 and 3 have multiple meanings and applications" (Foster, Roger. God's Church in Prophecy. Good News, expanded edition. Jul-Aug 2000; p. 8).

(Note: I am fully aware that many of members and even ministers, in UCG believe in Church eras as WCG used to teach and how LCG currently teaches them. The point is that UCG does not officially teach this.)

9. My Church officially teaches that it believes that though there are probably 'Philadelphians' in other fellowships, "we are a uniquely Philadelphian remnant".

This is a belief of LCG. "Because Laodicea is dominant at the end of the age, Philadelphia cannot be predominant then. However, a remnant of Philadelphia must still exist. We know this because Jesus told the Philadelphians: "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly!" (Revelation 3:10-11). The Philadelphians are the only ones promised protection! The remnant of the Philadelphians are "given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent" (Revelation 12:14)...The Living Church of God cannot claim that all its members are Philadelphian, but we do believe we are a uniquely Philadelphian remnant. Can one find a larger or more effective "corporate body" which retains the Truth as taught by Mr. Armstrong, without adding non-biblical "revelations" or diverting its members from making their top priority the Great Commission of proclaiming the Gospel as established by Jesus Christ? No! One can expect that Philadelphians, who care about doing an effective Work and holding fast to the Truth, will naturally support the Living Church of God. Of course, simply attending with the Living Church of God does not make one a Philadelphian; individual members must do their part, and must not allow their lives to be cluttered by the cares of this world so that they themselves become lukewarm (Laodicean). With all the confusion and misreporting that has occurred in the last several years, we can appreciate that there are Philadelphians outside the Living Church of God. " (Thiel, Robert. What is a Philadelphian? Living Church News. Jul-Aug 2001; p.15).

I have seen no reference to itself as 'Philadelphian' in any UCG literature.

10. Scripture indicates that Petra will probably not be 'the place of safety'.

This is the position of one of UCG's long-time Council of Elders' member, and since I have not seen any other reference to Petra in UCG literature, this seems to be more of a UCG belief than a belief held by LCG. "He (Dr. Don Ward) explained, turning to several scriptures, why he does not believe Petra will be the place of safety, although he acknowledges that Revelation 12:13-16 refers to miraculous protection of God's people. 'Petra has been used , unfortunately, to manipulate God's people', he said. 'I don't believe God's people will be protected in Petra during the tribulation.' "He referred to verses in Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Revelation, Micah, Zephaniah, Amos, Matthew and 1 Corinthians to back up his belief that the present area of the nation of Jordan, which includes Petra, will not be a place anyone should want to be anywhere near during the tribulation. "He said the focus on the place of safety, as opposed to the Kingdom of God, has diverted Christians' attention and energies from the activities that should be their first priorities." (Cartwright, Dixon. IBLC kicks off with on-site seminar. In Transition. August 19, 1996; p:3)

LCG teaches, "Scripture makes clear that God promises His zealous end-time people protection from the Tribulation. But why have so many in the Church over the years thought that the place where God will protect His people might be Petra?...In three specific references, the Bible seems to associate Petra with God's end-time place of protection for His people...(Isaiah 42:11-13)...Isaiah 33...verse 10...(v.14)...(vv.14-16)...Another reference is Isaiah 16. Here God tells the Moabites, who rule the area of Sela or Petra (v.1), to shield His outcasts...While the details of how and where God will protect His people are fascinating, we must all keep in mind that in the ultimate sense our protection does not come from any place--it come from God" (Ogwyn, John. Is There a Real Place of Safety? Living Church News. July-August 2001; pp.5-6). For more information, please check out There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians.

11. Birthday parties are fine.

This seems to be UCG's position. "On Friday morning Henrikas and I had breakfast together. Then I went to Anne Schotter's Kristlik Kodu (Christian Home). It was Anne's birthday and her son Avo came down from Tallinn for the day...At Bible Study Henrikas covered I Corinthians 15 and I talked about being all things to all men and not causing offense, women's hair and other subjects from I Corinthians 8-11. Then we all went to the Taverna where we celebrated Helge's birthday and had a fun evening of fellowship" (Kubik, Victor. June 12-16th, 2001 in Tartu, Estonia from www.kubik.org). Victor Kubik is on UCG's Council of Elders.

Herbert Armstrong taught, "There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible--rather, the celebration of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom, believe it or not!" (Armstrong, Herbert. The Plain Truth About Christmas. 1974, p.10). LCG teaches, "You don't observe Christ's birth. You're not supposed to have some big birthday party either to observe personal birthdays...Some people have accused me of observing birthdays...I do not observe birthdays and I have never had a birthday party for myself or any of my six children nor my wife or anyone else for over 51 years" (Meredith, Roderick C. Faith for Healing. AUE 123, 3/31/01).

12. My Church clearly teaches we are begotten by God's spirit through conversion.

This is the position of LCG, "In this life, we are 'begotten' or regenerated through conversion and the impregnation of God's Spirit. This Spirit is the Spirit 'of power and of love and of a sound mind' (2 Tim. 1:17). The Spirit of God imparts to us the very nature of God. As we surrender our wills to God, yield to His Holy Spirit and drink of it through regular Bible study and prayer, we grow in spiritual maturity until it is time to be fully 'born of God' at the resurrection of the dead!" (Meredith, Roderick C. Your Ultimate Destiny. Booklet.1996; p. 9).

UCG teaches, "In the Bible conversion is represented as a miraculous, life-transforming process...When we receive God's Spirit we begin a new life of spiritual growth, of replacing our selfish human nature with God's divine nature. Baptism points to our being set apart as children of God" (Transforming Your Life, The Process of Conversion. Booklet. 2000; pp:2,41).

13. Although my Church does not have an official position on 'born'again', our personal correspondence department may prefer the term 'born from above'.

This is true of UCG as the following quotes demonstrate: "Re: whether a Christian is born again now, it's plain we need to be careful about word choice so that inaccurate meanings aren't assumed by the general public. Born again conveys more to the average Bible-believing person than having his mind opened to the truth. For that reason, it is unlikely that we will use it in our publications or public speaking. Born from above is the accurate way to translate John 3, while linking begotten with that passage is forcing an analogy not used by John. However, explaining the process of salvation as like the conception of a spiritual life leading to the resurrection which is like a birth, is a helpful analogy... The Bible does not, surprising as it might seem, say that we will be born in a resurrection." (Kubic, Victor. Personal Correspondence Department, August 5, 1995; p:2).

"We believe that all who truly repent of their sins in full surrender and willing obedience to God, and who by faith accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, have their sins forgiven by an act of divine grace. Such individuals are justified, pardoned from the penalty of sin, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which literally abides within them and supplies the divine love that alone can fulfill the law and produce righteousness. They are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ, which is the true Church of God. We believe in a true change in life and attitude. Only those who have the indwelling presence of and are being led by the Holy Spirit are Christ's" (Fundamental Beliefs of the United Church of God, An International Association. Booklet. 1998; p:19).

"Baptism not only pictures our death to sin, it also pictures our being resurrected to a new life in Christ:...Our new life starts us down the road that ultimately leads to eternal life and our entrance into the Kingdom of God at the resurrection" (The Road to Eternal Life. Booklet. 1995; pp:17-18).

"You asked if the United Church of God has an official statement on "born again." No, it does not. But I understand those responsible for preparing one are actively working on it. They agree with you (and others) that such a statement is needed. But the point Jesus made to Nicodemus is clear. We received physical life from our human parents. We receive eternal life and enter the Kingdom of God by becoming God's children. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we become "born again" or "born from above" as children of God" (Fahey, Bob. Personal Correspondence, UCGIA email to David R. July 17, 2001).

This may be a good time to point out that UCG's recent 60+ page booklet, Transforming Your Life, The Process of Conversion, does not teach that the Holy Spirit begets us or that we will be born again at the time of the resurrection (these were 2 of the 18 truths restored to the Church). The terms 'beget', 'begets', 'begotten', 'begettal', or other derivatives do not seem to be mentioned in any of the booklets cited. The cited statements seem to be the closest UCG seems to officially come to teaching what WCG used to teach on this subject.

In contrast, LCG teaches, "As we surrender our wills to God, yield to His Holy Spirit and drink of it through regular Bible study and prayer, we grow in spiritual maturity until it is time to be fully 'born of God' at the resurrection of the dead!" (Meredith, Roderick C. Your Ultimate Destiny. Booklet.1996; p. 9).

14. Based on survey results, it may be that 75% of our elders and general membership believe in voting and 25% do not.

"Mr. Dean said the council sent a questionnaire out to elders to ask them why they do not vote. 'But the people who don't vote don't answer questionnaires', he noted. 'If its a conscience thing, then everybody's voting no anyway...How do you get enough votes to change it when people won't vote to change it? we're kind of stuck. It's ridiculous'...Cecil Maranville of Phoenix, Ariz., asked if the council members believed the approximately 25 percent of elders who do not vote are representative of a similar proportion of the general membership of the UCG that does not believe in voting" (Cartwright, Dixon. Conference focuses on urgency; council answers questions about president's term. The Journal. May 31, 2001). Thus, if 25% are opposed to voting, 75% are not opposed.

CGCF Issue Raised with UCG and CGCF's Last Response, "Question 2: Not teaching against voting (as in national elections)" Answer "This is a question that needs to be asked as there is no reference to this topic in UCG literature" (Doctrinal study paper for CGCF, posted 6/30/01 at cgcf.org).

LCG teaches, "A true Christian must learn to live as Jesus Christ actually lived—not as many people incorrectly imagine how He might have lived. Jesus Himself told us, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4). The genuine answer as to how we ought to live and function in a democratic nation is to be found in the Bible—the inspired Word of God. For we are to have the "mind of Christ" (Philippians 2:5). And the Bible is the revelation of God's mind—telling us how the Father and Jesus Christ really think about the fundamental issues of life. Two contradictory messages are being aired during this November-December season in America. On the one hand, we will be told, "Vote for so-and-so as your leader!" On the other hand, in churches and auditoriums across the land—and over the airwaves as well—these majestic words of Handel's Messiah will be sounding forth: "King of kings and Lord of lords, King of kings and Lord of lords!" Most professing Christians don't even grasp or understand the inherent contradiction between the messages described above.... Jesus told Pontius Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36). Clearly, Jesus had no intention of trying to get into this world's politics and wars. He represented another world, another government—the Kingdom of God. Therefore, Jesus would definitely not try to reorganize this world and get into the midst of a lying, scheming political system under the sway of Satan the Devil!...When Christ returns, He rewards His servants according to how well each has done in using God-given time, talents and wisdom in serving God.... Do you see any indication of politicking or voting here? Not at all. Rather, it is just one more scriptural example to make clear to Christians that the best form of government—God's government—is not in any way based on human politicking, compromising, wheeling and dealing, and coming up with half-baked solutions to our problems...How Should Christians Interact with Human Governments NOW? Although Jesus Christ did not actively participate in the governments of this deceived world, He did set us an example of obedience to civil law, showing respect to those in office. When the Pharisees came to ask Jesus about paying taxes, He answered, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21)... Paul tells us to pray for those in positions of authority...True Christians—who make up the church (Greek ekklesia, literally, the "called-out ones")—are like foreign ambassadors.... But we must always remember that our ultimate citizenship is NOT in or from the governments of this Satan-inspired society! Although we should serve others and do good on an individual basis, we cannot and must not get involved with political efforts to reorganize or to clean up Satan's deceived world. For the system itself is NOT God's system!...What would Jesus do in this election year in the United States? He would be so busy proclaiming the GOOD NEWS of the soon-coming Kingdom of God that He would have no time—and no interest—in politicking, voting or taking part in any groups pressuring to clean up Satan's world" (Meredith, Roderick C. How Would Jesus Vote for President? Tomorrow's World. Nov-Dec 2000).

15. My Church's system of insuring doctrinal integrity has successfully allowed us to officially teach the 18 truths that H. Armstrong claimed to restore to the Church.

Only in LCG's literature have I seen any reference to H. Armstrong and the 18 truths, "Mr. Armstrong wrote that he restored to the Church of God at least 18 truths that the previous era had lost (Mystery of the Ages, p. 251). Philadelphians are the ones who hold to those truths (as well as all other biblical truths)-including governance-and will be able to have a crown and to rule! Philadelphians have "kept My command to persevere" (Revelation 3:10). Holding fast to Truth, while putting a priority on proclaiming the Gospel, is what sets the Philadelphian Church apart...The Living Church of God cannot claim that all its members are Philadelphian, but we do believe we are a uniquely Philadelphian remnant. Can one find a larger or more effective "corporate body" which retains the Truth as taught by Mr. Armstrong, without adding non-biblical "revelations" or diverting its members from making their top priority the Great Commission of proclaiming the Gospel as established by Jesus Christ? No! One can expect that Philadelphians, who care about doing an effective Work and holding fast to the Truth, will naturally support the Living Church of God " (Thiel, Robert. What is a Philadelphian? Living Church News. Jul-Aug 2001; p.15). "Again God's Word states 'Without counsel plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established' (Prov. 12:15). For this reason, the...Church of God has established a Council of Elders 'to assess and guide the overall direction of the Work and all major projects of the Church' and 'to have final authority over all major doctrinal issues'" (Meredith, Roderick C. What is the Biblical Form of Church Government? Global Church News. Sept-Oct 1995; p:7)

I would like to add that other than on governance issues, none of the "doctrinal changes" in UCG were approved in accordance with "Our very founding documents require doctrinal change to be ratified by a full three-fourths of the entire General Conference of Elders" (Dick, Bob. Protecting Our Beliefs: What Approach Should We Take? New Beginnings, July 22, 1996; p:1) or "Please remember that doctrines within the United Church of God can only be changed with a 75 percent agreement of all 400-plus elders" (McCullough, Leslie. What Exactly Does the Council Do? United News. July 1999; p.15). This puzzled me, until I realized that it is now only the Fundamental Beliefs of United which require this 3/4 majority in order to be changed (although it appears that third tithe may have been a 'Fundamental Belief" that was changed without 3/4 vote). A careful reading of those 'Fundamental Beliefs' shows that only 2 of the 18 truths Herbert Armstrong restored to the Church of God are discussed within the 'Fundamental Beliefs", while 2-4 others are alluded to that have not yet been changed, and that UCG teaches against many of the others.

16. A Chairman of my Church reported that we did not try to get the Gospel out for a year because the children of Israel sat on the bottom of Mount Sinai for nearly a year and that we would like to 'do it right this time'.

Of course, this was a statement from UCG, "Israel sat on the bottom of Mount Sinai for nearly a year (Exodus 19:1, Numbers 10:11). Why? Because this is how God decided to start a church...God took time to teach Israel how to worship Him. He took time to organize and train their ministry and to write their ministerial manuals. He took time to teach them how to conduct worship services. All this was done in Exodus. God then dedicated the entire book of Leviticus to teaching Israel how to worship and walk with Him--a repetition and expansion of the book of Exodus. Is there a lesson in it for us? Yes. Some get overly anxious about doing a work...Some would like to see us do it right this time." (Dick, Bob. From the Chairman: How Would God Start a Church? New Beginnings. March 4, 1996). "Broadcast Media and Advertising. No budget is projected in this area at this time. The new Council of Elders will develop strategic and operating plans. Broadcast media and advertising will be addressed at that time" (Notes to Proposed Fiscal Budget. New Beginnings. December 18, 1995; p:11). UCG officially went on radio over 5 years after its founding, "On May 30 Gary Petty will come to the office to begin taping the first 13 half-hour radio programs for the Church-sponsored weekly radio broadcast scheduled to begin in August...it is hard to know what results to expect from this test phase" (Radio Taping Begins. United News. May 2000; p.16).

Within 9 weeks of its founding, the Living Church of God was proclaiming the Gospel across the entire U.S. on cable super-station WGN (the transition from the World Ahead to Tomorrow's World was less than 7 weeks). The Global Church of God was on radio within 12 weeks from its founding.

17. My Church is currently on approximately 131 television stations and 8 radio stations.

This is true for LCG as Tomorrow's World is on approximately 131 television stations and on 8 radio stations, in twelve countries (Source: Tomorrow's World Magazine. Sept-Oct 2001; pp:31-32).

As of August 2001, UCG was on 12 radio stations. It should be added that some independent productions are now also somewhat sanctioned by UCG.

You can click here for more documented Differences Between the Living Church of God and the United Church of God.

You should attend where you agree, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (II Cor 6:14) "for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom 14:23). You should not attend somewhere because it seems easier for Jesus taught, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Mat 7:13-14) and "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).

The Bible clearly indicates that one should not make their religious decisions on the basis of what family members decide (Luke 14:26). The Bible indicates that financial reasons are also unacceptable (Matt 13:22). The fact that one likes the preaching style of one minister (or group) more than another also does not seem to be biblically sanctioned (I Cor 1:12-13).

Nor does the fact that one does not like aspects of the leading minister, look what Paul wrote, "Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's. For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed-- Lest I seem to terrify you by letters. "For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible" " (II Cor 10:7-10), thus some did not care for Paul either. The same could be said of Jesus, Moses, and many other biblical leaders; "Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? (Matthew 21:42). If you are not attending with the group that you agree with with, perhaps you should further study Differences Between the Living Church of God and the United Church of God and the article Unity: Which Church of God for You and change where you fellowship.

Bob Thiel, 2001.