Where UCG Ministers Stand

(I am keeping this post up-to-date with latest UCG events. For latest updates, go to the bottom of this post. Last updated 3/10/11).

It is becoming clearer where individual United Church of God pastors and elders stand on the issues that are dividing UCG.

James Malm in the Shining Light blog has published the names of ministers who have signed two documents, the first a letter of concern about recent actions of the Council of Elders sent to the Council February 23, 2010 and the second an appeal to the Council and administration to reconcile with the Latin American ministry signed August 4, 2010. The February 23 letter was signed by 54 ministers and the August 4 letter was signed by 168 ministers. These men are concerned about recent actions of the Council of Elders and the current administration that have led to the polarization within UCG and the division that has resulted in a number of ministers leaving UCG. I have combined the two lists of ministers and listed their names in alphabetical order below, along with comments about which documents they have signed and if they have left UCG (in cases I am aware of). I have also included some links to relevant posts in some other blogs or in this blog concerning particular individuals:


Flavious Adkins - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Benjamin Agyopong - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Ofori Amanfo - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Bruce Anderson - signed August letter

Dan Anderson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Leif Anderson - signed August letter

Alfredo Arboleas - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Rick Avent - signed August letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Eleodoro Avila - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Joseph Baah - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

David Baker - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from Council of Elders - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
Links to UCG Current Crisis posts:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5537231-council-of-elders-update

Link to COGwriter post:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-more-resignations-and-a-new-chairman/

Link to Inside United Realtime post:
http://realtimeunited.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/dec-7-letter-from-the-council-and-president/

Jeffrey Baker - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Kambani Banda - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Steve Basant - listed in COGWA congregation page

Neil Becker - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

James Beymer - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter

Gary Black - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Mike Blackwell - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from Council of Elders - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
Links to UCG Current Crisis posts:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5537231-council-of-elders-update

Link to COGwriter post:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-more-resignations-and-a-new-chairman/

Link to Inside United Realtime post:
http://realtimeunited.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/dec-7-letter-from-the-council-and-president/

Adonijah Blay-Miezah - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Stan Botha - signed August letter

Dempsey Bruton III - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Leeford Burke - signed August letter

Andy Burnett - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Arnold Burns - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

James Capo - signed February letter - signed August letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Todd Carey - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Carl Carmichael - signed August letter

Paul Carter - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
Posts in UCG Current Crisis blog:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5439603-paul-carter-s-resignation-letter

Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1434

Post in this blog:
http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/2010/11/are-ucg-ministers-learning-anything.html

Jeff Caudle - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Paul Cebrian - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Jim Chapman - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Thomas Clark - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Martin Cole - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Merle Cunningham - resigned from UCG ministry

Tom Damour - signed August letter

Fred Davidson - resigned from UCG ministry

Lorne Davies - resigned from UCG ministry

Dave DeHart - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Roy Demarest - suspended - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1612

Tom Diaz - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Reuel Dima - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Pablo Dimakis - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1434

Eriz Dizon - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

David Dobson - signed August letter

Glenn Doig - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter

Behrman Doucet - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Osmonde Douglas - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Roy Dove - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Dan Dowd - signed August letter

Kevin Epps - signed February letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Cory Erickson - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Don Erickson - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Stan Erickson - signed August letter

David Evans - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Eric Evans - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

George Evans - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - on board of directors of COGWA
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Steve Ferenchiak - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Donald Finger - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

King Finlay - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Herchial Fisher - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

John Foster - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Jim Franks - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from Council of Elders - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on interim governance team of COGWA
Links to UCG Current Crisis posts:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5537231-council-of-elders-update

Link to Shining Light post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1464

Link to Inside United Realtime post:
http://realtimeunited.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/dec-7-letter-from-the-council-and-president/

Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Ken Giese - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - a director of International Ambassador Outreach - listed in COGWA congregation page - on board of directors of COGWA
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
Posts in UCG Current Crisis blog:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5241698-ken-giese-resigns

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5438706-an-open-letter-from-ken-giese

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5545434-kenneth-giese-refusal-to-transfer-
Links to International Ambassador Outreach (IAO) site pages:
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/

http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/directors.htm

Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1434

Post in this blog:
http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/2010/11/ken-giese-resigns-and-ucg-finances.html

Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Alonzo (Lonnie) Gjesvold - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Eleodoro Avila Gòmez - signed August letter

Alberto Gonzalez - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry

Bruce Gore - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Larry Greider - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Jaime Guiñez (Guinez) - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry

Jim Haeffele - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Arnold Hampton - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Mark Hampton - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Mike Hanisko - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - suspended - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on board of directors of COGWA (chairman)
Link to Shining Light post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1543
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Glenn Harmon - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Neil Hart - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry
Link to UCG Current Crisis post:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year
Link to Shining Light post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1483

Charles Haughee - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Walter Hawk - signed August letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Peter Hawkins - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Alton Head - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Tim Heine - signed August letter

Jack Hendren - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - started Church of God - South Texas - listed in COGWA congregation page
Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1126
Post in this blog:
http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-church-of-god-south-texas-pastored.html
Church of God - South Texas website:
http://www.cogst.org/

Don Henson - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Eduardo Hernandez - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
Post in UCG Current Crisis blog:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5372047-another-minister-edward-hern-ez-resigns
Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1434

Harris Hlazo - listed in COGWA congregation page

Bernard Hongerloot - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Doug Horchak - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on interim governance team of COGWA
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Jim Hudson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Michael Isaac - signed or endorsed December 4 letter

David Jackson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - letter to Council about Chile - resigned from UCG ministry
UCG Current Crisis post:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5583503-a-servant-s-plea-for-chile-a-ucg-elders-personal-visit

Ed Jacobs - removed from UCG ministry

William Jahns - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Bill Johnson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

David Johnson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Doug Johnson - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Eddie Johnson - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Bob Jones - signed August letter

Norman Julag-ay - resigned from UCG ministry

Ron Kelley - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1443

Barry Kenavan - listed in COGWA congregation page

Clyde Kilough - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on interim governance team of COGWA (president)
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Dick King - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Tom Kirkpatrick - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Barry Korthuis - signed August letter

Morgen Kriedemann - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

William Kubon - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Dennis Kuhns - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Tom Kuver - signed February letter - signed August letter

Larry Lambert - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Adan Langarica - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Saul Langarica - signed February letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Maurice Ledet - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Ralph Levy - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - fired from UCG employment - resigned from UCG ministry
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Tony Levy - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Jerald Kliewer - signed August letter

Scott Lord - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Paul Luecke - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

John Lusk - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Mike Machin - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Cecil Maranville - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Graemme Marshall - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
Post in UCG Current Crisis blog:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4483560-pastor-resigns-ucg-ottawa-canada
Post in this blog:
http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/2010/08/ucg-pastor-graemme-marshall-resigns.html

Kingsley Mather - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Charles May - resigned from UCG ministry

David Mazcek - listed in COGWA congregation page

David McCarble - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Gary McConnaughey - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Don McCoy - signed August letter

Frank McCrady Sr. - resigned from UCG ministry

Thomas McCrady - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Les McCullough - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Daniel McKinney - listed in COGWA congregation page

Pete McNair - signed August letter

Melton McNeely - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

James McTiernan - signed August letter - resigned from UCG ministry

George Meeker - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Joel Meeker - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - fired from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Arnold Mendez, Sr. - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - member of the board of directors of International Ambassador Outreach (IAO)
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
Links to International Ambassador Outreach (IAO):
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/

http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/directors.htm

Bob Mitchell - signed August letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Chris Moen - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Steve Moody - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Luis Mundo - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Dave Myers - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Fermín Naín - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry

James Neff - signed August letter

Larry Neff - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Leroy Neff - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Wilson Nkhoma - signed August letter

Ed Oliver - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Jaime Gonzalo Ortiz - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry

Alan Pachinger - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

David Pavlik - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Alberto Gonzalez Peña - signed August letter

John Pentlin - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Bob Peoples - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

John Perry - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Gary Petty - signed August letter

Frank Pierce - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Jon Pinelli - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
Post in UCG Current Crisis blog:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5448788-jonathan-r-pinelli-resigns
Post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1434
Post in COGwriter blog:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/with-jon-pinelli-ucg-now-lost-9-ministers-in-november/
Post in this blog:
http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/2010/11/are-ucg-ministers-learning-anything.html

Richard Pinelli - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Eschun Plange - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Garry Poffenroth - resigned from UCG ministry

Manuel Quijano - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Richard Rand - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 - resigned from UCG ministry

David Register - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on interim governance team of COGWA
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Harold Rhodes - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Jaime Guíñez Rojas - signed August letter

Larry Roybal - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Elifazi Salawila - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - listed in COGWA congregation page

Larry Salyer - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - suspended, removed from UCG ministry - joined with International Ambassador Outreach as board member - listed in COGWA congregation page
Posts in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=957

http://theshininglight.info/?p=979

http://theshininglight.info/?p=1553

International Ambassador Outreach (IAO) pages:
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/

http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/directors.htm

Posts in UCG Current Crisis blog:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5096189-larry-salyer-relieved-of-ministerial-duties

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

Post in COGwriter blog:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-crisis-and-larry-salyer/

Post in this blog:
http://ptgbook.blogspot.com/2010/10/united-church-of-god-suspends-larry.html

Link to International Ambassador Outreach directors page:
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/directors.htm

Sergio Sanchez - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter

Phillip Sandilands - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Greg Sargent - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on board of directors of COGWA
UCG Current Crisis resignation letters page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm
COGwriter blog post:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-asks-and-receives-kansas-city-ministerial-resignation/
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Floyd Satterwhite - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Dale Schurter - signed August letter

John Seiver - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Thomas Seltzer - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Jim Servidio - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Jerry Shachoongo - signed August letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Ward Shamblin - signed August letter

Donald Shaw - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Don Simpson - listed in COGWA congregation page

Florante Siopan - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

David Smith - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Neville Smith - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Jim Springer - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Blaney Sproul - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter
- resigned from UCG ministry

Paul Suckling - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Bill Swanson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - forced to resign from UCG ministry

Greg Swartz - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Vince Szymkowiak - signed August letter

Heamasi K. Ta'ufo'ou - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Britton Taylor - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Luis Mundo Tello - signed August letter

James Donald Thomas - signed August letter

Don Thomas - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Ken Thomson - signed August letter

Richard Thompson - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on interim governance team of COGWA
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Herb Tietgen - signed or endorsed December 4 letter

David Treybig - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from Council of Elders - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page
Links to UCG Current Crisis posts:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5537231-council-of-elders-update

Link to COGwriter post:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-more-resignations-and-a-new-chairman/

Link to Inside United Realtime post:
http://realtimeunited.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/dec-7-letter-from-the-council-and-president/

Ken Treybig - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

John Trotter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Steve Tshabalala - listed in COGWA congregation page

Andre van Belkum - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Art Verschoor - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Steve Villaescusa - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Maxwell Victor - listed in COGWA congregation page

Tim Waddle - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Leon Walker - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - removed from UCG ministry
- member of board of directors of International Ambassador Outreach (IAO) listed as "Latin America Advisor" - now director of Church of God - Latin America.
Link to Shining Light blog post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1553
Links to International Ambassador Outreach (IAO) site pages:
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/

http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/directors.htm

Link to Church of God - Latin America (Spanish language site):
http://www.iglesiadediosunida.org/

Don Ward - signed August letter

Don Waterhouse - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

Lyle Welty - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

David West - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Roger West - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page - on board of directors of COGWA
Link to COGAW FAQ page:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html

Jack Willoughby - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Howard Wills - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry

Mark Winner - signed February letter - signed August letter - signed or endorsed December 4 letter - resigned from UCG ministry - listed in COGWA congregation page

David Witt - resigned from UCG ministry

Matthew Zollner - signed August letter


Here are links to the posts that list the names of the signers of these documents as well as the text of each document:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1406

http://theshininglight.info/?p=1420

http://theshininglight.info/?p=1523

http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5551307-an-open-letter-to-the-president-of-the-united-church-of-god

Now, for the first time, most members in UCG will be able to know where their pastors stand on this issue, even if the pastor has not openly spoken about it. However, not every minister who is concerned about this issue and disagrees with direction the Council of Elders has been going has necessarily signed either of these two documents. But probably most have. By bringing this into the open, the discussion will be sharpened between members of UCG congregations and their pastors as well as among themselves. It would be interesting for example if a pastor is on the side of the Council majority, but local elders in his congregation are not, or vice-versa, and the members become aware of it and question those ministers separately about their views.

Ministers will have to practice being "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Not that they have not had to practice that till now, but the challenges for some are about to intensify. It will not be easy. Some ministers may find they need wisdom to stand for what is right, to speak the truth, and at the same time to respect authority, even locally (James 1:5-6).

The crisis is going beyond dividing the whole United Church of God at the corporate level. It is going into a phase where many local congregations will also be divided, member against member, minister against minister. This kind of thing happened before in Worldwide. Not every congregation will suffer severe division, but some will. Even families can be divided in some cases. This will test where people stand with God. Loyalty to Christ will separate brethren and ministers from those who are not loyal to Christ (Matthew 10:35-38).

God works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). But God can also use painful experience to teach lessons for our good in the long run (Hebrews 12:5-11). This experience will work good in the long run for those willing to learn the lessons God is teaching.

Look at it this way. Does God punish you? If not, then He does not love you, because if He loves you, He chastens and rebukes you (Revelation 3:19).

More than fifteen years ago, Mr. David Hulme and the ministers who organized United Church of God made a decision to vest authority in a process of balloting by the entire ministry. Now, many of those same ministers will have to revisit that decision. As some of them leave UCG to go elsewhere or to organize anew they will have to make decisions about governance.

This might be a process of several months or several years. But there will be no reconciliation between the two sides. The division runs too deep.

Either the Council majority and their supporters will remain in power and force out those who disagree with their agenda, or those who disagree will regain power, and if that happens they will have the opportunity to revisit the issue of the structure of governance. Many of them will be motivated to make changes to prevent what has occurred from ever occurring again.

Admitting mistakes is hard. It is especially hard to admit mistakes you have defended for years. I think most UCG ministers are not ready to admit that ballot-box governance is a mistake. Many may want to tweak it, to change details, but not scrap it altogether. This is shown by the fact that there is a petition being circulated for a resolution to be put on the ballot for an investigation into the actions of the Council of Elders.

The real significance of the petition for a ballot being circulated in UCG is that the UCG ministers who disagree with the Council majority are trying to resolve UCG's problems from within rather than leave UCG. They are trying to use the ballot box to solve the problems that the ballot box has helped to create.

What this means is that many ministers will do everything they can to try to stay in UCG with ability to vote to keep their vote tallies high. They will not try to leave yet. But at the same time, the Council majority and administration may try hard to get rid of those ministers, finding excuses to expel them, trying to provoke them into quitting, etc.

But this also means that the majority of ministers who are alienated from the Council majority are not giving up on UCG as an organization, and they are not giving up on the ballot box to govern the Church.

The petition process and related processes may last past Passover till the next election, IF the Council majority is not able to force opposition ministers out.


The decision to organize the Church under the authority of the collective body of all the ministers should certainly be reconsidered by UCG members and ministers.

One of the points that the doctrinal paper on Godly Governance tries to make is that the form or structure of governance doesn't matter because God uses a variety of forms, and the only thing that matters is the faithfulness and righteousness of those who lead. This is not true, but even if it is, there is certainly no command in the Bible that mandates ballot-box governance. No one claims that the Bible forbids top-down government. Therefore, top-down government is always an option.

The decision to base governance on the voting of the ministry was made 15 years ago by ministers inexperienced with elections and balloting. It was based on limited information, or lack of information, about that form of governance and its results.

But today more information is available. The Church has 15+ years of experience with government by voting in the Church. The ministry has more information upon which to base a decision today. Remember the principle, "get the facts". If a decision was made, and more information becomes available, you should be able to reconsider the decision in view of the new information to see if it should be changed.

When situations change, or when more information becomes available, or when one learns new things by experience, that new knowledge may indicate that decisions made in the past should be changed.

So why not the decision about governance 15 years ago? When that decision was made, the ministry coming out of Worldwide had no experience with ballot-box governance. Now they do. They have fifteen years of experience with it and they should be fifteen years wiser.

Whatever else one can say about the Bible's teaching about governance, it is safe to say that the Bible does not mandate balloting. The decision to set up ballot-box governance was a human decision, and human decisions can be wrong.

And for those ministers who disagree with the present makeup of the Council of Elders, they must realize that it is the ballot-box governance system they designed fifteen years ago that has PLACED those men on the Council.

The present situation in United Church of God is the direct result and fruit of the decision in 1995 to let the entire collective ministry elect those who will lead the Church.


UPDATE:

Shining Light blog has posted an analysis of the the letter from Melvin Rhodes in which Mr. Rhodes questions the legality of the petition for an investigation by the GCE. Here is a link to that post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1443


UPDATES:

The Shining Light blog reported that Mr. Melvin Rhodes sent out a letter announcing that Paul Carter, Pablo Dimakis, Ken Giese, Eduardo Hernandez, and Jon Pinelli have resigned from the General Conference of Elders. Link:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1434

Ron Kelley was dismissed from the UCG ministry.
Link to post in Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1443

David Treybig, Michael Blackwell, David Baker, and Jim Franks have resigned from UCG's Council of Elders. Neil Hart resigned from UCG ministry. Link to UCG Current Crisis post:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year
Link to Inside United Realtime post:
http://realtimeunited.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/dec-7-letter-from-the-council-and-president/

Links to Shining Light posts:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1464

http://theshininglight.info/?p=1483

Link to UCG Current Crisis post:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5537231-council-of-elders-update

Link to COGwriter post:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-more-resignations-and-a-new-chairman/

UPDATES 12/8/10:

UCG Current Crisis blog has published a letter from Mr. Ken Giese on why he resigned rather than transfer. Link:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5545434-kenneth-giese-refusal-to-transfer-


UPDATES 12/9/10:

Shining Light blog has published an open letter of concern to Mr. Dennis Luker from 87 signing ministers. The letter is dated 12/4/10. Here is a link to the post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1523
UCG Current Crisis blog posted that same letter with 110 signatures, explaining that the letter was originally signed by 57 ministers but more added their names later to endorse the content. Link is below:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5551307-an-open-letter-to-the-president-of-the-united-church-of-god


UPDATES 12/11/10:

Shining Light blog has published a post indicating that Mr. Mike Hanisko has been suspended and told not to attend Sabbath services. Here is a link to that post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1543


UPDATES 12/12/10:

Shining Light blog has reported that Larry Salyer is a member of the board of International Ambassador Outreach, along with Leon Walker. Here is a link to that post:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1553


UPDATES 12/13/10:

Six more ministers have signed the December 4 open letter to Mr. Dennis Luker. Link below:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5551307-an-open-letter-to-the-president-of-the-united-church-of-god

Mr. Larry Salyer is now a member of the board of International Ambassador Outreach (IAO), listed as "Director: Advisory Board". Links:
Shining Light blog:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1553
IAO main site:
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/
IAO directors page:
http://www.internationalambassadoroutreach.org/directors.htm

UCG Current Crisis blog has published a letter from Mr. David Jackson to the UCG Council of Elders and administration about the situation in Chile. Link:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5583503-a-servant-s-plea-for-chile-a-ucg-elders-personal-visit


UPDATES 12/14/10:

More names have been added to the list of those signing or endorsing the December 4 letter, including endorsements by ministers who have resigned or been terminated. Link:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5551307-an-open-letter-to-the-president-of-the-united-church-of-god


UPDATES 12/17/10:

More names have been added to the list of those signing or endorsing the December 4 letter:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5551307-an-open-letter-to-the-president-of-the-united-church-of-god

Shining Light blog has reported that Roy Demarest has been suspended. Link:
http://theshininglight.info/?p=1612


UPDATES 12/17/10:

I have added information about affiliation with new Church of God organizations for Leon Walker, Jack Hendren, Larry Salyer, and Graemme Marshall for the new churches associated together through Church of God - America if I had not listed that before.


UPDATES 12/18/10:

There is a new tab in the UCG Current Crisis blog that lists and gives the text of various resignation letters all in one place. Most of these letters have been reported before, but new ones will be added as time goes on. Here is a link to that page:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

Gregory L. Sargent has resigned. Mr. Greg Sargent's resignation letter is in the UCG Current Crisis resignations page, but is also reported by COGwriter blog:
http://www.cogwriter.com/news/cog-news/ucg-asks-and-receives-kansas-city-ministerial-resignation/


UPDATES 12/21/10:

I have added latest resignations and removals from ministry from the list in the UCG Current Crisis post linked to below:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year


UPDATES 12/23/10:

I have added latest resignations and removals from ministry from the list in the UCG Current Crisis post linked to below:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year


UPDATES 1/4/11:

Resignation letters have been published by Michael Machin and Chris Moen in UCG Current Crisis site. Link:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/resignationletters.htm

A large number of ministers (pastors and local elders) have recently resigned. Since the split started, I count 138 ministers who have left the UCG ministry, either through resignation or removal, based on the announcements in UCG Current Crisis blog. The number of voting ministers in recent elections has been just over 500 as I remember. Not all ministers who have been eligible to vote have been voting however. So the number of UCG ministers who have left UCG is probably a little over 1/4, but less than 1/3. I have updated my list of ministers to reflect the new resignations.

UCG Current Crisis blog also lists the areas many of these ministers are from. Here is a link to the post:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year


UPDATES 1/5/11:

Based on new list of ministers who have resigned or been removed from the UCG ministry published by UCG Current Crisis blog, I have added Dave DeHart, Dave Pavlik, and Steve Moody. This brings the count to 141 of those who have left the UCG ministry through resignation or removal. Link to UCG Current Crisis post:
http://ucgcurrentcrisis.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year


UPDATES 1/7/11:

I have added some associations with new COG organizations to names of ministers who are part of those organizations.


UPDATES 2/1/11:

Added 21 new resignations from UCG ministry:
Kambani Banda,
Neil Becker,
Gary Black,
James Capo,
Paul Cebrian,
Jim Chapman,
Eriz Dizon,
Behrman Doucet,
Roy Dove,
Walter Hawk,
Norman Julag-ay,
Morgen Kriedemann,
Tony Levy,
Charles May,
Frank McCrady Sr.,
Richard Rand,
Jerry Shachoongo,
Florante Siopan,
Neville Smith,
Howard Wills,
David Witt,
from UCG Current Crisis blog post:
http://www.freewebs.com/ucgcurrentcrisis/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year


UPDATES 2/3/11:

Added information about which ministers are now listed as persons to contact in the COGWA (Church of God, a Worldwide Association) listing of congregations. Link to source:
http://www.cogwa.org/local.html

Added information about which ministers are now listed as members of the COGWA board of directors or interim governance team. Link to source:
http://www.cogwa.org/faq.html


UPDATES 2/5/11:

Added links to resignation letters from Harold Rhodes, Joel Meeker, and Ralph Levy in UCG Current Crisis site. Link:
http://www.freewebs.com/ucgcurrentcrisis/resignationletters.htm


UPDATES 2/11/11:

Updated status of Peter Hawkins and Eddie Johnson to show they have resigned from UCG ministry.

Added link to resignation letter from Peter Hawkins in UCG Current Crisis site. Link:
http://www.freewebs.com/ucgcurrentcrisis/resignationletters.htm

Added about 18 names as being listed as a contact person in the COGWA list of congregations webpage. Link:
http://cogwa.org/congregations


UPDATES 2/22/11:

Based on new list of ministers who have resigned or been removed from the UCG ministry published by UCG Current Crisis blog, I have added Floyd Satterwhite, Heamasi K. Ta'ufo'ou, Benjamin Agyopong, Ofori Amanfo, Joseph Baah, Adonijah Blay, Reuel Dima, and Eschun Plange. Link to UCG Current Crisis post:
http://www.freewebs.com/ucgcurrentcrisis/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year


UPDATES 2/24/11:

I updated a number of names as being listed as persons to contact in the Church of God, a Worldwide Association list of congregations page:
http://cogwa.org/congregations


UPDATES 3/10/11:

Based on new list of ministers who have resigned or been removed from the UCG ministry published by UCG Current Crisis blog, I have added Bill Swanson. Link to UCG Current Crisis post:
http://www.freewebs.com/ucgcurrentcrisis/apps/blog/show/4214920-individuals-who-have-resigned-or-been-removed-from-their-positions-in-the-last-year

I have also made updates for names that appear as persons to contact in the COGWA congregations page:
http://cogwa.org/congregations


More to come...


Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:

A Brief History of the Scattering of the Church, Chapter 5

Government in the Church, Chapter 5

Following the Bible -- Pattern of Government, Chapter 6

Church Government, Chapter 7

How Is the Church Organized?, Chapter 7