Announcement: UCG and LCG Representatives Meet
January 12, 2012
From: Dennis Luker, president
United and Living Church of God Representatives Meet
As the end of this age draws near, it seems more appropriate than ever that God’s people, wherever they may reside, support one another in fulfilling the commission Jesus Christ gave us. With this in the forefront of our minds, representatives of the of the United Church of God, an International Association, met with the leadership of the Living Church of God at Living’s Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 9-10 for a two-day visit.
The purpose of the visit was to rekindle friendships and discuss ways to cooperate in serving God’s people. The meetings were cordial and positive and included an open and frank discussion about those things that we have in common, and some of our differences, including church government and the way each Church is organized. We also discussed our different strategies for preaching the gospel in this modern age. There was no discussion of any type of merger.
Discussions about areas of cooperation within the greater Church of God community included humanitarian concerns, disaster relief and other unforeseen events where we can help our members meet critical needs by supporting and loving one another as Jesus commanded. Cooperation could also include helping members who have difficulty getting time off for the Sabbath and Holy Days, and other legal matters that affect both organizations. It was agreed that open communication between Church of God organizations will become more important as world events move towards their ultimate prophetic fulfillment.
Those in attendance at the meetings in Charlotte on behalf of the Living Church of God were Dr. Roderick C. Meredith, Mr. Richard Ames and Dr. Douglas Winnail. Those who traveled from Cincinnati for the United Church of God were Mr. Dennis Luker, Mr. Victor Kubik and Mr. Peter Eddington. Mr. Luker commented that the Cincinnati team felt most welcome and were treated very warmly. In addition to the meetings, the UCG visitors were given a full tour of the Living Church of God headquarters and adjacent media center.
Inside United: Realtime 
This is a great step…I was so happy when I read this…we as brethren need to show love for one another…no matter what group we attend…Let remember we as the body are the church no matter want group we meet with…lets work together and preach the gospel of the soon coming Kingdom of God…
Its always good news to hear different Cog Org’s get together and find ways to cooperate. I find this news very uplifting
this can only be a GOOD thing! my dream would be to have a combined feast (or at least sharing the building) especially in sites (like branson) where both meet.
THIS MESSAGE WAS READ TO US AT SABBATH SERVICES AT BETHLEHEM, PA.
AND IT WAS A MUCH WELCOMED GOOD NEWS INDEED. IT MADE US FEEL LIKE
STANDING UP AND CHEERING BUT WE HELD OUR COMPOSURE AND KEPT OUR JOY WITHIN. IT CONVEYED A RAY OF HOPE IN THAT WE COULD FINALLY BRIDGE A GAP BEYOUND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFERENCES WHERE BOTH PARTIES COULD SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF BONDING TOGETHER IN A BROTHERHOOD OF COOPERATION IN ORDER TO MORE EFFECTIVELY DO THE WORK THAT GOD HAS CALLED THE CHURCH TO DO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CHRIST. LET US ALL HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A STRONG RELATIONSHIP AND THAT IT WILL GROW PRODUCTIVLEY TO THE GLORY AND HONOR OF OUR GREAT GOD. WE THANK ALL ENVOLVED FOR THEIR MOST APPRECIATED EFFORTS AND MOST OF ALL FOR THE WISDOM AND
GUIDANCE OF HIM WHO HAS MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
I am very pleased that this meeting took place…….. communication between Churches of God will foster goodwill toward each other. We all serve the great Eternal God and should work toward having One Church of God.
Hopefully this can work for good, if we all are working for the good and all doing Gods will and grow closer as God’s family. That would be wonderful.
The WORK our Father and Y’shua has given us to do has NEVER been about ourselves but in SHARING the mystery of our Father and Y’shua which has been so FREELY shared with us by our FATHER as a testimony and as a witness to ALL nations of the earth – I tell you the truth we can become a GREATER WITNESS by trusting and relying on the Son of man who walks up and down in the midst of the churches – He knows our NEEDS both spiritually and physically and HE is so READY to help us if we as our Father’s church humble ourselves and with a LIVING VISION let Y’shua LEAD us – He is so ready and willing for He seeks the glory of His and our Father – we as His people have the GREATEST POWER in the universe to perfect that which He has called us to do – we must use that power WITH ONENESS OF MIND AND WITH ALL HUMILITY – then when Y’shua returns and gathers us unto Himself we can then say humbly from the heart, “WE HAVE DONE THAT WHICH WAS OUR DUTY TO DO WITH A PURE CONSCIENCE.”
That is very good news.
What about having some combined services with other Church of God’s? It would be Great if we could combine for Spring/Summer Holy Days and Dances. It would give a chance for brethren to visit with each other and maybe some singles could meet their future mate. It seems like it would be a win win situation for everybody.
There is a social networking site for Single COG members, btw.
I think the members would be more inclined to combine, but I’m not entirely sure about the ministers (sorry, I don’t mean it as a put down).
I had thought of posting about combined services as well. especially since there are cities that host both groups for the feast of tabernacles. sharing services would be a blessing to everyone.
Excellent Points Doug. Couldn’t agree more. I have friends in the Chuch of God International & Intercontinental Church of God… ALL of them want unity. I like the idea of combining for things like dances or how about the Winter Family weekend?
I am filled with joy to hear of this positive meeting with LCG and UCG. I’m also thrilled about the discussions, that when implemented, will work for the good of serving God’s people and preaching the gosple to all nations. I am looking forward to the day when we will all be together as God’s little flock, working together, loving one another as we prepare for the return of Jesus Christ our King. Please continue with these talks as they bring much joy to my heart!
When the Brothers and Sisters in Christ speak to one another in Godly love it can only be a good thing. As one in the Living Church of God I am delighted to hear of this news. So let’s pray for one another and ask God to guide us towards the togetherness God provides in His Family.
I totally agree. By the way, I’ve gone to Living’s website and have not seen anything about this meeting. Has anything been said about it at Living’s services?
It was included in the weekly update and read at services last week.
In some areas God’s people are so scattered and divided between various Church of God groups, that there isn’t enough people for services to be held by any group and individuals are all left to keep Sabbaths and Holy Days by themselves – dividided. Cooperation between groups can only be a good thing, especially if it means the scattered and isolated followers of God may have the opportunity to worship God, encourage, support and fellowship together in their local areas.
Love – not divide!
I just pray that before our Lord returns, there will be just one Church of God, united under one form of governance…
Good news, someday we will all have to be back on the same page. We have been divided into numerous groups far too long.
If we can’t get along in the here and now what will we do when Christ returns? Putting forth a united front should be our priority . it is a sad state of affairs when two or more groups of the Church of God meet in the same building yet in separate rooms. At one time we all met together in unity and love. We are the sane people- what happened?
Well said! That is a very succint way of putting it!
I am glad to read this. God is in charge. I am praying for all of us. Thank you for sharing with us. Hugs sandy
Yes, this was good news! I was very happy to hear about it. I have long thought we could at least be “sister” churches since we come from the same tree. It seems both LCG and UCG believe the same Word of God and we look into the written word of God to guide and lead us. I, too, would love it if we could have some combined meetings sometimes–maybe a Bible study at the Feast or invitations to a regular Bible study, or a potluck, or a picnic. It would be so good to fellowship together. I am thankful to God for leading our leaders!
Last year at the feast in Anchorage Alaska, the feast coordinators for both united and living, got together and surprised us with a joint church event. The event was the Alaska Rail Road sightseeing train trip. They arranged it so that we booked the entire train, and spent the day together. The fellowship was very uplifting and we truly were one big family. It was amazing how brethren from both groups kept saying that we should be together all of the time, and that the only real difference was the leadership structure. I saw elders and members from both groups completely together in God’s love. We are one church, in one body of Christ, when we humble ourselves before God! I pray that this recent meeting will be the first of many, that will bring us closer together.
When i heard that feast greeting about that train trip i was in tears of joy.
Awesome! I have been longing for this and it’s inspiring to see God’s people realising the need to work together.Pls let’s put our differences aside in the Name of Y’shua who’s the real head of the church and do the most important work on earth.Can’t wait to see LCG n UCG and all God’s people coming and holding bible studies n feast together.i tell u,this what God n Y’shua want to see.Hope this will be the beginning of hope for God’s church.
Thank you for sharing this to us. This is a good gesture for Gods people where ever they are!
Hey Thomas! Did you get to see the Baluga’s breach out of the water. It was awesome. As for our spiritual sons of Israel trying to set some differences aside; this is good to see them talking again. Kind of like Joseph when his brother’s arrived in Eygpt because of the famine in the land of Cannan. Good job guys. I will continue to pray for all COG’s leaders and brethren, we will need each other in the end. May we all forgive each other tresspasses so our Father in heaven will forgive ours.
This is exciting news! We need to do our utmost to set aside our differences and to strive for closer collaboration. Ultimately, it is all about creating and fortifying meaningful relationships as well as being faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to us. There are economies of scale if we could collaborate more closely. Keep it up! We are looking forward to next steps, as we break down any artificial barriers!
PRAISE GOD and His Holy Spirit for this long overdo blessed news.
ORIGINALLY, “In the beginning … of the Church of God community”, we know there were 12 apostle/discples. After Christ’s death and ascension … do you think those valiant, Christ-like, men went forward as “Cookie-Cutters”? NO WAY!! Yes, they had spent the past 3 1/2 years learning all the HOWS of preaching the gospel … but … EACH had their own compelling styles of doing the ‘work of God’. So to, it has been for many years now.
Here in western Canada, CGI, UCG, CEG, LCG and WCG have come together for Passover, NTBMO and 1st DUB. For the past 2 years CGI and UCG have joined together for Pentecost celebrations in eastern Canada. OPPORTUNITIES like Sabbaths and Holy Days help ‘solidify’ God’s FAMILY — not divide. MORE “Sharing” must take place as the ‘End of the Age’ rushes full steam toward us all.
Excellent James! More of this would be great!
Thanks for sharing this, James – although it makes me wonder why UCG didn’t share that information before now. The old “groupthink” with its related fears can be hard to dislodge.
This is excellent news, I like that leadership isn’t waiting around for someone to visit them. Being proactive is good. Now what about the Church of God International, Charles Groce the President is a fine man and would be willing to talk? Intercontinental Church of God is another, Mark Armstrong, Grandson of Herbert W. Armstrong is the president and is also a dedicated servant? Reach out to these men and organizations too. They are all brethren.
Doug made a comment earlier on working to combine for things such as Dances and Holy Days… what about the FOT or co-host FOT activities. Panama City has many COG groups. What about the Winter Family Weekend?? Why not co-host it?
I had a dream many years ago, when CGI was the only known other coG. I dreamed that WCG and CGI, in the 1980’s held seperate services in the Tacoma Dome, with only a curtain between WCG holyday services, and Garner Ted’s CGI services. In the dream, I thought, how strange!? Like one said, we are so many of us alone and scattered greatly,and many keep sabbathw and holydays alone! This is a step in the right direction, and I hope a leap soon!
This truly made me smile when I read the e mail and got the announcement this past Sabbath. I have put much thought and meditation into these thing in the past and more so here lately. The COG’s aren’t that much different from one another, Only difference seems to be government setup, but we are all working toward the greater good of the Kingdom to come and following God’s Law. I thought back to the split back in 95 how we were caught off guard with what had taken place. Thrown to the wolves of the world looking for a shepherd teaching the truth, Thus forming and joining different organazations. Bottom line we are all God’s people called from the world and minds opened up to the truths God provides for us. I think it would be a good idea to have gatherings of God’s people for activities such as like winter family weekends, feast site activities,local activities for the COG groups. One day we will all come together again, but why not at least befriend one another again and see our long lost relatives again before the end times.
As a longtime member of the Living Church of God, this meeting was very encouraging and exciting for me. It’s nice to see both organizations cooperating in this manner. Someone mentioned was this meeting announced at LCG services? Yes it was, last Sabbath. It was also posted on our members website at cogl.org. Look under “Weekly Update” for January 12, 2012. Take care everyone.
Wade, It is nice to hear some perspective from the LCG side. It is a very difficult time in which we live and we will need to stand together as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. I truly hope that we can all recognize each other as such.
In God’s time all things will be answered. In God’s time all be one. But God says that there will be factions among us, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. ( 1 Corinthians 11:19 ) And it was the one who holds the government of God the key of David ( Revelation 3:7-9 )
U.C.G and L.C.G, make it right God b with us all.
Make it right God b with us all. U.C.G and L.C.G
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This is, of course, good news. I hope it is a ‘first step’ in the path to unity. It is shameful what has happened to the body of Christ. We, the people, have been mortified and some have been seriously injured by our ‘shepherds’. I would not wish to be in the shoes of those who are responsible for the injury done to the church.It is about time our leaders came to their senses.
Please, let us get united so God can bless us again. We must get on with the work of God.
This is truly a delight. To God be the glory.
I believe ALL Church of God groups should work together on the doctrines that are the same. For example Matt 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” For example how great it would be if All groups put in some money each to buy some prime time TV spot and deliver to the world the doctrines that we ALL have.
Amen!
It is wonderful the churches are willing to work together but I do not want the “Strictness” that was prevalent in the old World Wide. Vera