UCG: No Office Expansion Relocation, Yet

The Shining Light blog had the following related to the United Church of God:

From Financial Operations:

Our income for January 2012 was a positive 8.7% compared to January one year ago, the first month after separation. When you add the deposits made in January but dated December 2011 for tax purposes, we were up 14.86% (these have always been added to January’s count at the end of the month, but not in the January daily totals). We anticipate positive income comparisons each month for the rest of the year, even though our year-to-date income will remain negative. Our year-to-date income is tracking 17% better than we anticipated when building our budget last May. The administration has filled gaps in several congregations with additional pastoral hires, which have made expenses a little higher than anticipated. God knows this and has rewarded our faith accordingly. Keep praying for more qualified men to help in whatever capacity they are able and also for the faithful tithes and offerings that support the cost to serve our members. Pray also for relief for our ministers who have extended themselves to fill the gaps.

We have received many responses to our building proposal survey. Most responses have been positive, to step out on faith, but with concerns about financing so much of it. The members responding mention they are glad to be included in this decision. We are family and this exercise has helped to increase unity. Although the determination will be up to the Council of Elders, with the needs of our church areas and members, I don’t see at the present time how we as an administration would suggest adding this expansion into the upcoming budget. That being said, I believe we should have a contingency that would allow us to move forward with building it IF our Texas property sells or enough money is raised during the year to make it viable. We want what is best for the church, as God shows us, and at the moment we do not plan to put these building expansion plans into the May budget. We will not cut our service to God’s people to force an agenda.

Thank you for your prayers and service. — Aaron Dean

Aaron Dean is the treasurer for UCG.

The proposed delay is not particularly surprising as UCG lost about 1/2 of its ministry since the Spring of 2010, when a former president and certain other leaders left to form a group known as Church of God a Worldwide Association (COGWA). The loss also included thousands of members, and hence has affected UCG’s income compared to the time prior to the COGWA-related losses. UCG has had two major (and several minor) defections in it history, the first major one involving former UCG President David Hulme’s COGaIC in 1998 and then the COGWA split. Both the COGaIC and COGWA splits were claimed to be related to issues of church governance and direction.

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.