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.
The last paragraph of the announcement seems to suggest an openness to the hiring of someone from outside the CGGC.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.
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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.
Very early on when the announcement of Ed's resignation appeared in the CGGC eNews, I received this comment from one of the under-the-radar participants on this blog:
ReplyDeleteVery interesting that [Ed's resignation] comes now. I think you may have been more of a reason for this change than you know.
And, I must admit, I was already wondering if things I've blogged about Ed's apparently heretical theology and what I believe to be his insubordinate behaviors might have had something to do with his resignation.
Clearly, we don't know the whole story.
Don't misunderstand.
I'm not wondering if, because I said what I said and did what I did, Ed either decided to or was, essentially, forced to resign.
I am wondering if Ed resigned because of things HE said and did.
Am I the only person in the CGGC who thought Ed acted popishly by running the Credentials Symposium by veering the conversation only toward what those who attended by invitation wanted to keep, drop and add--WITHOUT ANY REFERENCE AT ALL TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE WORD AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE CGGC ELDERSHIP?
Am I the only person who questioned how Ed could believe in the Trinity if he could also say, "...it was quite interesting to learn that the leadership challenges in banking are not that much different than those in the Church."
Was I the only person offended that Ed would write and promote the Mission Statement claiming that we are "establishing churches on the New Testament plan" and then, along with his staff, also promote the "SEEK GOD FOR THE CITY" Lenten devotional and then follow that up with an entire issue of the CA promoting and defending the observance of Lent, a practice that has no support in the New Testament?
Am I the only person stunned and perplexed over Ed's the historian's trashing of the thesis of Jim Moss' "Returning to our First Love?"
Am I the only person in the CGGC who noticed and was disturbed by Ed's math in celebrating our 28,000 in worship in 2013 when 20 years ago our leadership were striving for 35,000?
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For about a month, I've been working on a thread for this blog entitled, "Sycophants "R" Us" in which the core idea is that no one in the CGGC seems to love the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the way of the New Testament enough to speak up and oppose Ed when he spouts ridiculous and dangerous theological drivel and defies the authority of the Eldership and writes revisionist CGGC history.
Now, at least two of us are wondering if Ed went off the deep end one too many times. At least two of us are wondering if, somewhere behind the scenes, there is some love for truth in the CGGC.
And, I hope that that is the case. If not, I despair for the future of the CGGC in the Kingdom of God.
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Two comments:
1. It was never my hope or intention that Ed's leadership of the General Conference would come to an end. Over and over again, I have expressed my goal and desire as clearly as I know how: I wanted--STILL want--Ed to repent. I want us, as a body to repent.
2. I know that there are more than a few us who do not dwell on the CGGC mountaintop who are looking for a move toward love for and submission to truth as the CGGC moves forward. We will be watching and praying.