In a surprise move, Ed Rosenberry resigned as CGGC Executive Director effective June 30, 2105 as a part of his report to the most recent meeting of the CGGC Administrative Council. Ed announced his resignation to the denomination in the September 12 article of the
CGGC eNews, the weekly email update on his comings and goings.
In announcing the resignation, Ed said, "...there are challenges, but good things are happening too." If the position has not been filled by the effective date of his resignation, Ed has offered to continue at the board’s pleasure as needed.
In explaining the decision, Ed noted: "The priorities God laid on my heart back in 2007 are being met...It’s time for next-generation leadership to take the helm" and, "Linda and I are convinced the Lord is leading us into a new phase of ministry...We believe the Lord would have us be engaged in church planting in Pennsylvania."
Response to the resignation by the Ad Council was businesslike. This announcement of a search for Ed's successor appeared in the same edition of the eNews that carried the resignation:
The Churches of God, General Conference, based in Findlay, Ohio, is now receiving applications for the position of Executive Director of the denomination. Bill Reist, CGGC president, is serving as the chairperson of the transition team along with eight others from across the Church.
An application, position description and desired attributes of the Executive Director will be available on the
Churches of God website after October 1, 2014 or by contacting
wreist@collegefirst.org or
revrockey@gmail.com. Applications received by December 15, 2014 will be given priority, with a decision to be made, Lord willing, by March 31, 2015.
For more information regarding values, beliefs and history of the CGGC you may visit
http://www.cggc.org/about/ online. Please direct all inquiries pertaining to the Executive Director position to the e-mail addresses above and not to the CGGC offices.
The last paragraph of the announcement seems to suggest an openness to the hiring of someone from outside the CGGC.
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A few editorial comments:
1. The CGGC is now at a crucial moment in determining its future for the Kingdom. How it moves forward in regard to the opening in the position of CGGC ED may, in fact, determine if it has any future for God's Kingdom at all.
2. I believe that the make up of the 'transition team' is crucial. There truly is a Shepherd Mafia in the CGGC. In recent generations, that small group has chosen its next leader. The two people we know are a part of the transition team are both Shepherd Mafia "flockists." In my opinion, they are both men of integrity who are good-hearted. They are, however, insiders who have prospered from the leadership culture which has led the CGGC's numerical and spiritual decline for generations. Bill is, perhaps, the leading intellectual among insiders. Jeff is a highly respected progressive. Interestingly, neither are from the denomination's largest region, the ERC.
If the transition team is to act according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, it seems extremely likely to me that at least four members of the transition team will have to come from outside of the good-old-boy network that has been hiring CGGC leaders. For this to happen, the insiders will have to begin by engaging in a significant act of repentance.
We should all pray that such repentance will take place.
3. I already know exactly who I think should succeed Ed. I have been thinking about how Ed should be succeeded for a long time. I will announce who I think should be the next ED on a future thread on this blog, if God is willing.
Two hints: I don't think it should be me and, if you are reading this and hoping for my support--or, more likely, hoping not to receive my support--it's not you, either.
4. The CGGC needs to take this opportunity to, as the Old Testament prophets preached, turn from our wicked ways and live. Through his resignation, Ed has made repentance and conversion a real possibility for the CGGC. I pray that the CGGC body, from its highest mountain peaks to its most humble hollers, will seize upon this opportunity.
