UCG Clarifies Sabbath Position, Finally (But Now South Africa)

Laodicea has many ineffective structures

UCG finally has clarified its Sabbath position:

STATEMENT BY THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS

Seventh-day Sabbath and Holy Day Observance

January 4, 2011

After studying the material that has been provided from a couple in Chile, the Council of Elders, after full review and rendering due diligence, is prepared to issue the following statement in regards to observing the Seventh-day Sabbath and Holy Days in a proper manner to uphold the Fourth Commandment.

The United Church of God, an International Association, has a long-standing teaching on the subject of owner-operated businesses in relation to the observance of the Sabbath and biblical Holy Days. If a business is solely or majority owned by a Church member, then the business should close on the Sabbath and the Holy Days.

There are some exceptions, as Jesus Christ gave Sabbath-keeping principles in Scripture in this regard, which would apply to healthcare and retirement facilities and dealing with dairies and farm animals. But, day-care centers and schools do not fall under these categories. Therefore, the Council of Elders stands by the authority of Scripture in our lives and the consistent position of the Church which requires that such businesses, as long as they are solely or majority owned by a Church member, be closed on the Sabbath and the Holy Days.

While I am not going to comment about the details of the above at this time, UCG may have had less of a crisis if it would have done this three to seven months ago.

The AC site has the following from “Morgen”:

Hello Mr Rhodes,

The 4 elders in South Africa note that on the UCG Home website our names have been removed as contacts for the 4 congregations we serve, and your name appears instead. This has been done without any reference to us, or any accusation being brought against us. We note also that the usual monthly subsidy from the Home Office for South Africa has been withheld with no explanation in spite of emails having been sent to Gerald Seelig and Aaron Dean. The obvious studied silence and intended discourtesy towards us is noted.

UCG is having problems, and I do not claim to know all the details of them in South Africa, Latin America, the USA, or elsewhere. But, COGaWA or something like (which the AC site apparently supports) it is not the solution. UCG’s form of governance should never have been adopted.

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?
Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? Most Protestant scholars say Sunday is the Lord’s Day, but is that what the Bible teaches?
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
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.

<img src=”/556.gif” alt=”Laodicea” width=”307″ height=”230″ />
Laodicea has many ineffective structures

<a href=”/cogwriter.htm”>COGwriter</a>

The AC site reported the following:
<blockquote>
<li>Mr. John A Trotter (Local Elder, E. TX (Big Sandy) ,December 30 2010, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Eric Evans (Kingsport, TN, Knoxville, TN, and London, KY), January 3, 2010, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Donald Finger (Local Elder, St. Paul MN), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Maurice J Ledet (Local Elder, New Orleans) December 31, 2010, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Les McCullough, January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Dave West (Elder, Fort Worth, TX), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Larry Neff, January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Cory Erickson (Local Elder, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.), January 1, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Blaney Sproul (Local Elder, Morgantown, WV) December 30, 2010, removed from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Richard Avent (Local Elder, New Orleans), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Jeff Baker (Local Elser, Asheville, NC), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Chris Moen (Ohio), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Merle Cunningham (Local Elder, Pensacola, FL), December 31, 2010, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Dennis Kuhns (Local Elder, Youngstown, OH), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Herchial “Paul” Fisher (Jamaica), December 29, 2010, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. George Meeker, January 1, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Garry Poffenroth (Local Elder, Calgary, AB, Canada), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Lorne Davies (Local Elder, Vancouver, B.C., Canada), January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry.</li>
<li>Mr. Tim Waddle, January 2, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Osmonde Douglas, January 3, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Kevin Epps, January 1, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
<li>Mr. Bill Johnson (Asst. pastor in E. Texas (Big Sandy)), January 1, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry</li>
</blockquote>
UCG still seems to be losing ministers (whether from resignations or terminations). These seem to be in addition to those I reported about a couple of days ago. John Carmack (UCG member until quite recently) posted that UCG may have already lost nearly 60% of its elders/ministers in this crisis.

The above list has another former UCG President, Les McCullough (Clyde Killough, another former UCG President, was reported on an earlier post). The situation is UCG is very serious, despite its comments last month suggesting that the crisis was mainly past. As I wrote some time ago, it is possible that UCG will no longer be the largest COG. Even though I see no reason to believe that COGaWA will be any better.

UCG’s Darris McNeely stated the following, in an official UCG document, a few days ago:
<blockquote>This crisis did not have to happen. It happened because a number of former ministers made a choice not to accept the governing principles that the vast majority agreed to some 15 years ago.</blockquote>
Well, all those same ministers had agreed to a different form of “governing principles”, shortly before then as well, then changed them. Apparently, UCG does not see the irony in this.

If you are or were part of UCG and are confused about what to do, please pray, fast, and study the Bible about this. Decide if you wish to follow the lukewarm or those that Jesus Christ has truly been using to do the work–those who have had the same basic governing principles for over 40 years.

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’s decision time for those who have been affiliated with UCG.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

<a href=”/church_governance.htm”>Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government</a> 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?
<a href=”/unity.htm”>Unity: Which COG for You?</a> 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?
<a href=”/ucg.htm”>Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God</a> This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
<a href=”/ylcg.htm”>There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God?</a> 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.
<a href=”/work.htm”>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?</a> 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 <a href=”/paul.htm”>Paul</a> and <a href=”/herbertwarmstrong.htm”>Herbert W. Armstrong</a> expect from evangelists?
<a href=”/laodiceachurch.htm”>The Laodicean Church Era </a>has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.