MINUTES of the 64TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH OF GOD Convening

702 Pages·2005·13.54 MB·English

MINUTES
of the
64TH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
of the
CHURCH OF GOD
Convening at the
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
August 10-16 ,1992
CHURCH OF GOD PUBLISHING HOUSE
Cleveland, Tennessee
Church of God International Offices
2490 Keith Street N.W.
P.O. Box 2430
Cleveland, TN 37320-2430
615-472-3361
ISBN: 0-87148-595-8
Copyright O 1993 by Pathway Press
Cleveland, Tennessee
Revised and Corrected
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
............................................................................
Foreword -4
............................................................
Acknowledgments -5
.................................................................................
Preface 6
The book of Minutes is divided into four major parts as shown
below:
. .............
I JOURNAL (Minutes of the General Assembly) 7-99
..............................................................................
Vital Statistics 8
..................................................................
Table of Contents 910
I1 . SUPPLEMENT TO THE MINUTES ...........................1 01-250
.............................................................
Table of Contents 103-111
. ..............................................
I11 GENERAL DIRECTORY 251-668
............................................................
Table of Contents 2 2 5 4
IV . STATISTICAL AND FINANCIAL REPORT ........... 669-679
..............................................................................
GENERAL INDEX 681
4 MINUTES OF THE 64TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FOREWORD
The 64th Church of God General Assembly, which convened in
the Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, reaffirmed the Church of
God's commibment to world evangelization, pastoral care, and the
involvement of the laity in ministry.
Some 15,003 people from around the world came together for
worship, business, and Christian fellowship during this Assembly.
A significant change from previous Assembly schedules, the first
worship service was on Monday evening, the first day of the
Assembly. Giving priority to worship set the tone for Assembly
activities for the rest of the week.
Two years ago, at the 1990 General Assembly, the ministry theme
of the Church of God (Into the Harvest-A Commitment for the
'90s) was adopted for the decade of the 1990s. Continuing under this
decade-long theme, the focus for this Assembly period (1992-94) is
Laborers for the Harvest.
Speakers for the worship services brought messages on various
aspects of Laborers for the Harvest-the laborer's call, vision, char-
acter, passion.. and reward. These sermons challenged all present to
be faithful laborers for Christ, so as to reap a bountiful harvest of
souls in this last decade of the 20th century.
This book of Minutes of the General Assembly is prepared to serve
our churches. It contains a Journal of the worship services and busi-
ness sessions of the 1992 General Assembly, including the two
addresses of the general overseer. It also contains a Supplement
describing the teachings and government of the Church of God; a
Directory of church leaders and ministers, local clerks, and churches;
and, finally, a Statistical and Financial Report for the Church of
God worldwide.
Many have contributed to the gathering and preparation of the
information in this book of Minutes, so that it might be accessible to
the church at large in a handy and permanent form. This 1992 book
of Minutes is presented with the sincere hope and prayer it will effec-
tively serve this purpose, for the glory of Christ and the edification
of the church.
Robert E. Fisher
General Secretary-Treasurer
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This publication of the book of Minutes of the General Assembly is
presented with grateful appreciation to the following individuals.
Robert E. Fisher, Liaison to the Executive Committee
Hoyt E. Stone, Chairman of the Minutes Committee
Homer G. Rhea, Member of the Minutes Committee
Daniel L. Black, Member of the Minutes Committee
Julian B. Robinson, Member of the Minutes Committee
Denise Watkins, Administrative Secretary to the
General Secretary-Treasurer
RECORDING SECRETARIES, 1992 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Dee Cason, AdministrativeC oordinator to the
General Overseer
Betty Smith, Administrative Secretary to the General Overseer
Anne Thomas, Administrative Secretary to the First Assistant
General Overseer
JoAnn Humbertson, Administrative Secretary to the Second
Assistant General Overseer
Betty Simons, Administrative Secretary to the Third Assistant
General Overseer
Carrie Hum bertson, Administrative Secretary to the Third
Assis tan t General Overseer
Kara Clanton, Administrative Secretary to the General
Secretary-Treasurer
CHURCH OF GOD PUBLISHING HOUSE
DonaM T. Pemberfon,D irector of Publications
Homer G. Rhea, Editor in Chief of Publications
Virgie Parker, Secretary to the Editor in Chief
Daniel L. Black, Editor of the book of Minutes
Melissa Snyder, Secretary to the Editor
Wilma Amison, Copy Editor
Carmen Miller, Typesetting
6 MINUTES OF THE 64TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PREFACE
Since the first Church of God General Assembly, held in 1906
and attended by 21 people, the published Minutes of the General
Assembly has been the most accessible record of the activities and
decisions of each Assembly.
This record of the 64th General Assembly of the Church of God
documents the fact that the Church of God is still a Pentecostal
church-Pentecostal in belief and experience, still committed to holy,
Christlike living, and still committed to reaching people near and far
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This Assembly was characterized by heartfelt spiritual wor-
ship, Holy Spirit-anointed singing and preaching, sincere prayers of
personal consecration to Christ, and business conducted with respect
for one another and reverence for God and His Word.
The 15,000 Church of God people at this gathering-people
young and old and in-between, and from dozens of nations around
the world-worshiped together with a keen sense of belonging to
each other in Christ and of the shared commission to reap the grow-
ing harvest of souls
The church's commitment to its evangelistic mission and pas-
toral ministry was reaffirmed by the unanimous approval of major
recommendations and resolutions aimed at reaching the world's
major cities with the gospel, providing better training for the
church's ministers, involving the laity in evangelism, and giving
greater moral support and spiritual guidance to families.
If you did not attend the 1992 General Assembly, I urge you to
read the Jounnal account of the worship services and business meet-
ings in this book of Minutes. This will make you aware of what was
said and done in this Assembly and also give you a feeling for the
spiritual atmosphere and Christian fellowship which prevailed.
If you did attend the 1992 Assembly, reading the Journal of the
worship services and business sessions will refresh your recollection
of what was said and done. It will also give you new insights into
the happenings at this Assembly.
The pu'blication of this edition of the Minutes of the General
Assembly marks another milestone along the road of spiritual pil-
grimage God has given to us as a church. By the grace of Christ and
equipped for service by the Holy Spirit, we are progressing steadily
toward the future God has for us. The best is yet to come.
R. Lamar Vest
General Overseer
I. JOURNAL
STATISTICAL SUMMARY 1990-92
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORSHIP SERVICES
GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUSINESS MEETINGS
WORLD MISSIONS AWARDS
TEEN TALENT AWARDS
STATISTICAL SUMMARY
AUGUST 1990-92
CHURCHES
...............................................
United States
..........................................................
Canada
............................................
World Missions
.............
WORLD TOTAL CHURCHES
MEMBERSHIP
.................................................
United States
Canada ...........................................................
..........................................
World Missions
.........
WORLD TOTAL MEMBERSHIP
MINISTERS
........................................................
Ordained
.........................................................
Licensed
......................................................
Exhorters
.........................
Ministers of Music and C.E
.............................
TOTAL M!.NISTERS
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
................................................
United States
..........................................................
Canada
...............
TOTAL SUNDAY SCHOOLS
SUNDAY SCHOOL WEEKLY ATTENDANCE
.................................................
United States
Canada ...........................................................
TOTAL S. S. WEEKLY ATTENDANCE
PROPERTY VALUATION
(Figures roundecl to thousands)
United States ................................................. $1.04397. 000
Canada ........................................................... 14.200. 000
World Missions ......................... .. ............. 118.687. 000
................
TOTAL LOCAL PROPERTY $1.176.434. 000
TOTAL STATE PROPERTY ................. 59.181. 000
TOTAL GENERAL PROPERTY ........... 40.295. 000
WORLD TOTAL PROPERTY ............... $1.275.910. 000 $1,407.980. 000
JOURNAL 9
JOURNAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORSHIP SERVICES .......................... 11-72
Monday. August 10. 1992 7 p.m. ................................................... I1
Assembly Declared in Session ..................................................... 11
General Overseer's Preliminary Remarks .................................. 13
.....................
General Overseer's Message (Opening Address) 15
Tuesday. August 11. 1992, 7 p.m. .................................................... 32
..........................................................................
Memorial Service 33
The Word Proclaimed ................................................................... 34
Deceased Ministers. 1990-92. ........................................................ 35
........................................
Wednesday, August 12,1992, 7 p.m. 41
....................................................
Introduction of Special Guests 41
..................................................................
The Word Proclaimed 43
Thursday. August 13.1992. 7 p.m. ................................................. 44
World Missions Worship Service)
Greeting and Welcome ................................................................. 45
Special Presentation: Children ..................................................... 45
Video Vignettes of World A4issions ............................................ 45
Friday. August 14.1992. 7 p.m. ....................................................... 48
.........................
Letter From the President of the United States 48
.........................................................................
Prayer for Pastors 50
..................................................................
Proclaiming the Word 51
Saturday. August 15.1992, BO:45 a.m. ........................................ 52
Lay Ministries Emphasis ............................................................... 52
The Message ................................................................................... 53
Saturday. August 15.1992, 5 p.m. ..................................................
........................................................
Welcome (Theme of Service)
..................................................................
Introduction of Speaker
.....................................................................
The Word Proclaimed
..................................................
Sunday. August 16.1992. 990 a.m.
commissioning Service)
. ..............................
Resolution of Appreciation to Lewis J Willis
Charge to Leadership .....................................................................
Installation of Officials ...................................................................
. .........................
Installation of General Overseer R Lamar Vest
Introduction of General Overseer ................................................
General Overseer's Response. ........................................................
...........................................
Remarks of General Overseer's Wife