A Year Ago, COGWA Reported Thousands, Yet UCG Still Remains

One year ago, Church of God, a Worldwide Association (COGWA, a UCG break-away group) reported the following:

January 8, 2011 – Approximately 400 people assembled in the ballroom of the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Sabbath service in connection with the organizing conference of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. Thousands more were connected via webcasts and phone lines…

Around that time, I was receiving emails from a few COGWA supporters that indicated that they felt that the United Church of God would sustain such losses from the COGWA split that perhaps UCG would almost not exist.

A year later, UCG is still around as is COGWA. On the Sabbath of 12/24/11, we had a few visitors at LCG services in our area who were from UCG. Their comments basically were that there were no significant doctrinal differences between UCG and COGWA, but that UCG was more effective in its public proclamation efforts than COGWA.

I concurred.

Because of the limited differences between those groups, it would not surprise me that if there is enough time until the Great Tribulation begins that many in those groups may decide to get together again. Though there is still too much hostility between some of the leaders of both groups for this to happen.

I also received an email from an LCG member who happened to visit a COGWA congregation on 12/24/11 as he was traveling. Basically he told me that the group he met with really did not care if they were part of UCG or COGWA. Thus, this suggests that if time heals some of the wounds, perhaps the two groups will realize that they really have a lot in common–and no, I have no facts about possible mergers between the two groups–my comments are simply observations.

As I wrote last year, it is my view that those affected by this crisis who wish to support a more effective gospel-proclaiming organization will consider checking out LCG, as it has stood for proper church governance and the work since its foundation (which preceded its formation).

It is still decision time for those who have been affiliated with UCG/COGWA as LCG continues to be more effective in public proclamation than both groups combined based upon television responses and baptisms as far as I have been able to tell.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association Known as COGWA, this seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it. UCG’s former president Clyde Kilough and UK CEO Peter Hawkins are part of it.
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?