UCG: 161 Elders Out, Spanish Telecast In

The Abigail Cartwright (AC) site listed some more losses to UCG’s eldership:

Mr. Kambani Banda (Pastor, Zambia), January 3, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Jerry Shachoongo (Local Elder, Zambia), January 3, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Richard Rand (Retired Pastor, Miami, West Palm Beach, FL), January 25, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

According to the list at the AC site, UCG has lost 161 elders/pastors/ministers since June 0f 2010.

Last night, UCG reported:

We have an exciting update regarding the blog filed on November 19, 2010, about Beyond Today being produced in Spanish. As you may recall, in a small family production studio in Santa Rosa del Sur, Colombia, our brethren are producing Spanish voiceovers for our Beyond Today TV program. The family production studio is called “Sierra Productions.”

It has been a blessing for members in Latin America to have access to the program in Spanish. Initial translations are done from English into Spanish by a member in the United States. And now, four months later, thanks to this group of members in Colombia, a number of Beyond Today TV programs can be seen and heard by anyone that speaks Spanish.

While I generally applaud making messages available in multiple languages, the fact that UCG has apparently waited to do this until months after it lost most of its Latin American ministry seems a bit unusual (unless there is a hint that its prior ministry stood in the way of this–though that seems unlikely). But again, this entire crisis has been unusual.

This crisis has been a real struggle for those in or once part of UCG as parties on both sides seem to be offended by the actions of those on the other side.

If you are or were part of UCG and are confused about what to do, please pray, fast, and study the Bible about this.

Ask yourself what are the true priorities that the Bible indicates that the church most faithful to the words of Jesus would do and act appropriately.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association This seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it.
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 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation