Today and tomorrow there is a special General Conference of Elders being held by the United Church of God, for which an agenda can be found here [1].  It is my hope that the elders who attend there are able both to come to a more complete understanding of what went wrong, how to avoid such a situation happening again [2] [3], and then how to move forward as servant leaders and as one body united in spirit and truth.

There are a few particular concerns I have.  For one, I hope the manpower needs both in the United States (in the East Coast and Southeastern United States in particular) and overseas can be met by godly leaders whose ambitions do not include the establishment of fiefdoms opposed to the Home Office and only interested in maintaining power and a luxurious lifestyle as has happened in the past when certain unethical men held high positions of responsibility.  Additionally, I am enthusiastic that servant leadership and a major effort to encourage the development of the gifts among the laity can develop, as those are efforts I would certainly like to be involved in.  As it should be noted, I have a few modest proposals of my own to help in certain aspects of the Church [4] [5], in such areas as focused education and business counseling.

After these two days of meetings there will be a Council of Elders meeting all day on Wednesday.  It is my hope that the elders and their families who are attending this meeting have a productive and spiritually rewarding conference as well as a safe and speedy trip home to their local congregations.  I look forward to hearing and reading all about it, and pray and hope for the success of this conference in its numerous and varied goals to heal and to prepare for growth ahead.  May God be with you all.

For, as Psalm 1:1-3 says:  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

[1] http://realtimeunited.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ucgia-jan-feb-2011-ministerial-conference-agenda.pdf

[2] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/portrait-of-a-wicked-man-proverbs-612-19/

[3] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/some-ironic-comments-on-the-upcoming-louisville-conference/

[4] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/a-modest-proposal-for-the-development-of-focused-education-programs-in-the-united-church-of-god/

[5] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/a-modest-proposal-concerning-business-counseling-and-the-application-of-gods-laws/